Non-Places of Memory – the Case of Urbex History

Abstract

The article presents the results of research on the phenomenon known in contemporary culture as urbex (urban exploration). I focus on just one of many issues relevant to this cultural phenomenon. I pose the question: In the context of the declared historical interests of those who engage in urban exploration, what are the explored places? The analysis is a case study of Urbex History, a group involved in urban exploration. I find that, contrary to Pierre Nora’s concept of the sites of memory, which are accessible, visited and experienced, the places explored by the members of Urbex History are heterotopias. As they are connected with historical memory, they are culturally non-apparent sites of memory – the titular non-places of memory. Such (non-)sites of memory and the memory associated with them are the result of an alternative experience of the past and practices of the past different than in the case of regular sites of memory. The contents of memory focused in these places is also different. They are a part of popular memory and popular culture, which play a key role in the relation with the past in contemporary culture.