Objects and Memory

What things mean the most to us? How do otherwise ordinary items come to symbolize experiences, aspirations, and identity? "Objects and Memory" is about the otherwise ordinary things in our homes and museums that mean the most to us because of their associations with people and experiences. The film shows how we preserve the past and speak to the future through objects that have been transformed into irreplaceable conveyers of experience, aspiration, and identity. Guided by Frank Langella's narration and set to the music of Philip Glass, the film examines items recovered or offered in response to 9/11, the Oklahoma City bombing, and the Vietnam War, along with stories of people who find them important. Without the objects the stories would lack vibrancy; without the stories the objects would lack significance. Taken together, images of the objects, the stories they evoke, and the stories of their collection lead the viewer on a journey where the commonplace is transformed into the remarkable and where the stuff of history is highly personalized.

Episode Duration: 57 minutes and 38 seconds

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