Road Scars: Place, Automobility, and Road Trauma

Roadside car crash shrines are memorial assemblages built by private individuals at sites where family and friends have died in automobile accidents. They are now present throughout the U.S. and around the world, ranging from small white crosses to elaborate collections of objects, texts, and materials. This book explores the emotional and cultural significance of these shrines.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 15 December 2022
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Despite the prevalence of automobility, the reality of automotive death is often hidden from everyday view. Roadsides are dotted with accident blackspots that we pass by every day, yet the individuals who have died or been injured there are not marked unless by homemade shrines and personal memorialization. This practice is particularly prevalent in the United States, where roadside car crash shrines serve as a powerful testament to the collective trauma of living in a car culture.

Roadside shrines, also known as road trauma shrines, are vernacular memorial assemblages constructed by private individuals at the sites where family and friends have tragically lost their lives in automobile accidents. These shrines can take various forms, ranging from simple white crosses to elaborate collections of objects, texts, and materials from diverse cultural and physical origins. What sets roadside car crash shrines apart is their location—not in the home or in a cemetery, but on the roadside, in drivable public space. Here, private individuals perform their private identities alongside each other in public, often in close proximity to the sites of their tragic deaths.

Roadside shrines are a reflection of the complex relationship between private mobility and public space. They negotiate the tensions between individual grief and collective trauma, offering a space for individuals to express their emotions and find solace in the aftermath of a devastating loss. These shrines also serve as a reminder of the risks associated with automobility, highlighting the human cost of road accidents and the need for safer road practices.

The book "Road Scars: The Visual Culture of Roadside Car Crash Shrines" is a highly visual scholarly monograph that explores the phenomenon of roadside car crash shrines in depth. Authored by Dr. Lauren Rosewarne, the book offers a comprehensive analysis of these shrines, their history, cultural significance, and social implications. Through a series of essays and photographs, the book sheds light on the ways in which roadside car crash shrines place the collective trauma of living in a car culture in the everyday landscapes of automobility.

One of the key themes of the book is the role of roadside car crash shrines in shaping public memory and mourning. Shrines serve as a means for individuals to commemorate their loved ones who have died in car accidents, providing a space for them to express their grief and remember their lives. These shrines also contribute to the broader cultural narrative of automotive death, challenging the dominant narratives of safety and progress that often accompany the development of automobility.

Roadside car crash shrines are not limited to any particular region or culture. They can be found throughout the United States and around the world, reflecting the global reach of automobility and the devastating consequences of road accidents. The book explores the diverse ways in which roadside shrines are constructed and maintained, from simple markers to elaborate installations that incorporate a wide range of objects and materials.

In addition to their visual impact, roadside car crash shrines also have social and cultural implications. They serve as a space for community building and social activism, as individuals come together to support each other and advocate for safer road practices. Shrines can also be a source of tension and conflict, as they may evoke different interpretations and meanings among different communities and individuals.

Overall, "Road Scars: The Visual Culture of Roadside Car Crash Shrines" is a thought-provoking and deeply researched book that offers a unique perspective on the phenomenon of roadside car crash shrines. Through its visual analysis and scholarly insights, the book sheds light on the complex relationship between private mobility, public space, and collective trauma, challenging us to think critically about the ways in which we navigate the world and the impact of our choices on others.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781538148334