The Importance of Family Photographs and Cultural Memories

Abstract

This paper throws a light on the significance of keeping the family albums and their cultural memories. These photographic albums are a memory to cherish with and enhance the core family values which can be exchanged across generations to promote a family's culture. Today's hectic living does not allow intimate relationship bonding, however, the cherished memories of these relationships can remain alive till eternity through preservation of the family albums. Photographs reveal the mood, dressing, personality and surrounding of the people. One can feel relax and forget their miseries of life through these photographs. The family albums also help people to remember their deceased family members through snapshots and can immerse them in their past. Like albums, cultural memories are also recalled and evolve in a collaborative manner in a certain society. These memories shape the individuals in a certain way that is acceptable in a particular society.

Introduction1

Family Albums and their Memories2

Family Albums in Modern Society3

Photographic Memories as a Mirror Reflection6

Family Albums as Recollection of Family Memories6

Family Albums and Cultural memories7

Conclusion8

References9

The Importance of Family Photographs and Cultural Memories

Introduction

The importance of photography in life is beyond description due to the role it plays in capturing feelings and memories, and the way it preserves that moment in the history. Photography is an art to capture feelings, touch and love through a snapshot forever. It then becomes a living memory by remembering everything that has been forgotten by people over a long span of time. Family is the closest unit in a society and such familial relationships are memorable. However, these memories can relieve one of their fatigued routine, revive one's life and give them the satisfaction to lessen their loneliness. This memory remains alive in the hearts of the people all through their lives and even after death stays with them in their thoughts and in the cherished family albums. Most of the times family trees are being illustrated in the books and elsewhere through family photographs. The modern day fast paced living does not let people in our society to maintain happy family life and in these situations; one always has the advantage of keeping their loved ones with them and carry their photographic memories everywhere. Communicating ideas and family values across generations become very easy and candid through remembering family albums in a society like ours where people meet rarely only on particular events and take photographs. Cultural memories also play a significant role in molding a person's thoughts and personality. Cultural memories are being transferred through spreading shared values through televised programs, literature and story telling to the children to better incorporate them in the future generation.

Family Albums and their Memories

Family photography and its memories are being discussed by many scholars and yet the exploration on this topic does not end because of its high influence on humanity. “Every photograph is a certificate of presence” (Barthes, 1981). Family albums serve as a memorial which Barthes believes, is symbolic, an emotional catharsis and ...