Ceremonial and symbolism of objects; The case of the last column of the 11 S

Abstract

The morning of September 11, 2001 became universal history as it was the date on which the greatest terrorist catastrophe occurred in the United States. during the following weeks, there is an element that during the cleaning of debris in zone 0, took center stage; a beam of 9 meters that survived the attack, and that emerged from more than 8 million tons that the attack generated, becoming an object of worship and symbolism for those who directly or indirectly were involved in one of the greatest attacks Terrorists of history.

We are used to the ceremonial being offered around someone present or not present, even ethereal, but what if that special event were celebrated around an object?

Today the symbology is associated with the values and unity of a group affected by the same cause, it means memorability of a tragedy unprecedented in the world, where through an ritual solemnity is given to an object for what it implies.

With this work we want to lay the foundations of a new line of research around the ceremonial and the symbology that can be observed in the 21st century, where the importance of the values that are professed to objects as symbols not regulated by official regulations, also have its own space. The “11 S beam” being a good example, a leading part of the ceremonial in the grieving acts of this tragedy and as an element of memory and resilience .