Digital Commons Network^™

On Unifying Declarative Memory, Thomas Ames

Theses

The distinction between episodic and semantic declarative memory systems, as introduced by Tulving (1972, updated in 1984, 1991), was a revolutionary approach to human memory. While the distinction is now widely endorsed in the study of memory, there are debates about what constitutes each system’s domain, how each system is used, how each system functions, and the phenomenal experiences associated with the functioning of each system. On the basis of clinical studies and insights from conditions affecting memory, this paper argues that the episodic/semantic distinction can be reframed as a result of a unified declarative memory system. In this view, …

/Səm/ Of The Parts, Marija Ratkeviciute

Theses

This thesis focuses on the role of memory in identity development and discusses the creation of work that explores transitions that we go through in life, the effects of time on our relationships, and the shifts that happen within the person involved. The emphasis of my exploration is the investigation of states of being where the past is more than a memory, and the future is yet unclear.

Everyone grows through liminal states, especially in this time of globalization and social change. There are some rituals to help us transition into different social roles and stages of life, such as …

Minutes, Days, Years, Lindsey Palmer

Theses

Minutes, Days, Years, is a body of photographic work presented in an installation format alongside a written companion book. In this work I seek to rebuild my mother’s memories which were lost to electro-convulsion therapy that she received in January 2012. The images are 42 cyanotypes on glass, made from personal archive photos from the years 2008-2011; the time period which her memory is most damaged, and the time I began learning photography. These images are placed atop a 60-inch by 14-foot paper backing, made of two images from the same time period. Minutes, Days, Years references photography as manipulatable …

Full Circle, Hang Zhang

Theses

This body of work “福壽”/“Full Circle” explores my grandparents’ experiences and aspirations, generational relationships in a traditional Chinese family, and my process of re-establishing a connection with my family. “福壽” is a group of multimedia works composed of photographs, videos, and sculpture. My grandparents’ experiences with the Cultural Revolution, coupled with my memories and desire to rekindle a connection with my family, inspired this project from a personal and cultural point of view. In this work, I aim to showcase for the viewer the history and current situation of the Chinese elderly while highlighting the importance for members of my …