Heartbreak Written on the Landscape: Public Memorials and Remembering the Attack on the World Trade Center

Abstract

Gary Gumpert, Susan J. Drucker"
  "abstract": "This article analyzes the role of public memorials in shaping collective memory following the September 11, 2001, attack on the World Trade Center. The authors examine the diverse forms of spontaneous memorialization that emerged in New York City immediately after the event, including flyers, shrines, and media representations. The study explores how these memorials functioned as sites of mourning and commemoration, reflecting different stages of grief. Through case studies of specific locations like Union Square and Grand Central Station, the paper demonstrates how informal commemorative practices became increasingly institutionalized over time. The authors argue that these memorials served multiple purposes: honoring victims, indicting perpetrators, celebrating heroism, and processing collective trauma. This work investigates the complex interplay between public space and the mourning process, highlighting how memorials both reflect and shape societal values.

(The abstract and keywords were prepared retrospectively for indexing purposes using AI-assisted tools and editorial review, based on the original article. They did not appear in the original publication.)