Commodifying Memory

Whose history gets told? In this episode, Dr. Lisa and Dr. Shaunna unpack the unsettling intersections of memory, commodification, and state-sanctioned narratives. From the newly opened Jonestown site in Guyana to the controversial signage reshaping U.S. historical landmarks through QR codes, we ask: What happens when sites of trauma become tourist attractions—or propaganda tools?

Word of the Week [1:15]: Commodification: We're not just talking about grains and fruit. Buying and selling can go too far.

Phase 1 [5:25]: Guyana and the Jonestown Massacre: Dr. Lisa explores the ethics of opening the site to tourists. Unfortunately, this is the not the first time we have had to negotiate such a controversy. Amache, Sand Creek, and other National Parks point to a long history of shaping such narratives.

Phase 2 [25:39]: Deaf President Now!: Dr. Shaunna encourages us to study resistance by plopping down on the couch, grabbing the remote, and watching this documentary on Gallaudet University's fight. Four students led the charge for the first deaf president in the University's 122-year history.

Mentioned in the show:

Restoring truth and sanity to American History – Executive Order

May 20 order from Interior Secretary Doug Burgum

Backlash in Colorado as National Park Signs Urge Visitors to Report 'Negative' Views About America – KOAA News (Southern Colorado NBC affiliate)

The Site of the Jonestown Massacre Opens to Tourists. Some Ask Why - NYT

How the Word is Passed by Clint Smith

Deaf President Now! – Apple TV

A Movement that Changed History – Gallaudet University