Zwierzęta jako podmioty pamięci. Kulturowe oraz językowe doświadczenie cmentarza dla zwierząt „Tęczowy Most” w Szymanowie
Animals as Subjects of Memory: The Cultural and Linguistic Experience of the “Rainbow Bridge” Pet Cemetery in Szymanów

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this study was to characterize the textual layer of tombstone inscriptions at the “Rainbow Bridge” pet cemetery in Szymanów near Wrocław, reconstruct behavioral patterns of contemporary people experiencing the loss of a close companion, and analyze processes indicative of cultural transgression in human-nonhuman animal relationships. To precisely reconstruct the socio-cultural dimensions of the described cemetery, the research focused on both the linguistic aspects of the inscriptions and the aesthetics of the cemetery space. The analysis of the collected material revealed that pet cemeteries serve as spaces where a remarkably strong bond between humans and their deceased animal companions is expressed through various forms of expression. Furthermore, the study highlighted a shift in the perception of nonhuman animals from objects to subjects.

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