Spontaneous Memorialization in Urban Landscape: the Case of Lokomotiv (Yaroslavl)

Abstract

This article describes the now forming brand new practices of spontaneous memorialization of resonant and tragic accidents accompanied by numerous or single human loss. We analyze commemoration and performativity (according to J. Santino) in spontaneous memorialization in Russian context and distinguish different types of it. We conclude that social injustice is (among others) an important driver in the very process of rising the memorials in nowadays Russia. On the other hand we find fundamental similarities between Russian, European and American memorial traditions. The paper draws on detailed analysis of the spontaneous memorialization acts after plane crash incident in which ice-hockey team «Lokomotiv» died on the 7th of September 2011.