Memorialization In Academe: A Preliminary Investigation Of The Content Patterns And Author Motivations In Crtnet Memorials

This study examines the extent to which the Memorial Attribute Model accounts for the memorials posted on the Communication Research and Theory Network (CRTNET). Results show that the model\u27s strength is its emphasis on the surrogacy function of memorials and the role that relationships between author and deceased play in illuminating the memorial content, length and author motivations. Colleagues are the most prolific authors of CRTNET memorials while \u27colleague and friend\u27 was the most frequent combination of author-deceased relationships indicated in the memorials. However, the model falls short of recognizing the prominence of expressing admiration and gratitude for the deceased above expression of grief, addressing unfinished business and treating the deceased as a social presence. © 2010 Mudra Institute of Communications