A Tribute to the Dogs 9/11 magnet set

Tribute magnet (3 magnets) set for dogs (related to Ground Zero service, etc) from the 9/11 Memorial.  Similar to the published book on this topic. 

CBC Day 6 Interview: "The 9/11 gift shop: kitsch and grief"

An interview I did recently with Brent Bambury on his program Day 6 with the CBC.  You can listen here.

The 9/11 gift shop: kitsch and grief

Thursday, May 22, 2014 | Categories: Day 6 Blog 0

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The National September 11th Memorial Museum opened this week, displaying wreckage, destroyed emergency vehicles, and photos of the victims. But the museum drew fire from critics for its gift shop, which sells cheese trays, coffee mugs, sweatshirts, and plush rescue dogs. Producer Jane Cramer spoke to visitors about their gift shop purchases on the museum's opening day, and Brent spoke with Andrew Marietta, a man who has amassed the world's largest collection of 9/11 memorabilia.

Hard to argue 9/11 isn't about money: 9/11 Museum to Charge $24 Admission Fee

Crain's reported that the 9/11 Museum will charge a $24 admission fee.  This isn't a shock, and you can read the article about their reason (fee will fill a gap for operating).  I fully support this approach, and it is completely justified (and needed).  But, I do think there is a bigger implication.  This approach and the way the Museum is being positioned clearly demonstrate that 9/11 has become monetized.  On the surface, the Museum is about memory and mourning, but it has taken on a life as an economic force.  The 9/11 Museum will have economic impact.  You know this is part of the backroom discussions (it always was and will be).  9/11 will drive admission sales and gift shop sales.  And restaurant sales and hotel overnights and taxi fares and so on.  The Memorial already has this impact.  The 9/11 Museum, through no fault of its own, has further developed 9/11 into a revenue generating force.  In a way, this is a culmination of the material culture response that I relate through my collection here.  Although the Museum will display objects related to the actual event, the Museum will also feature the material culture that developed around 9/11.  And many of these items were tied directly to sales and consumerism, which I've highlighted here.  Ironically, the 9/11 Museum's Gift Shop now perpetuates this phenomena.  I always know that if I really want to look for new examples to add to my collection, I can always visit the 9/11 Gift Shop. 

9/11 Flag of Honor

 

 

I purchased this flag at the gift shop at the 9/11 Memorial.  Right, I said gift shop.  There is a retail experience at the 9/11 Memorial, but it is low key (especially compared to what's out there and what I've featured here).  The store carries mostly books and simple gift items.  I picked up this flag because I thought it pushed the envelope a little.  It features the names of all those who perished in 9/11.  Their names make up the stripes of the flag.  It also highlights proceeds will be donated to 9/11 charities.  That seems a little open-ended, and as I've highlighted in my collection, there isn't much (or any) accountability for corporate donations to 9/11 charities from the proceeds of various tribute, commemorative and memorial items.  I do want to clarify that it is my understanding that many of the 9/11 families like this flag.  If the families took issue with it, I'm sure it wouldn't be available for purchase.  Regarding the gift shop, I don't take any issue with its existence.  The 9/11 Memorial and soon-to-open Museum have operating expenses, and a retail operation allows them to generate earned income to go towards these costs.     

Visit to 9/11 Memorial

Pictures from my visit to the 9/11 Memorial back on June 10th.  The pictures also feature George William Morrel, brother of our good friend Cathy Raddatz.  The Memorial and reflecting pools are really quite striking and a must-see for anyone going to NYC.  You will also see the shiny, wavy-looking building in one of the pictures.  This building will be the September 11th Museum, which is slated to open in 2014.  We also had the pleasure of meeting with some Museum staff to discuss their 9/11 collecting efforts.  It was really a memorable trip.