Vernacular sacred spaces: rethinking the roadside memorial in the United States

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper examines and theorizes the vernacular sacred as a different type of space, neither entirely private nor public, created by spontaneous memorials found along the side of the road in the United States. These memorials exist in public space yet are constructed by and serve a private audience of mourners. The bereaved act as agents of production when they build and maintain the memorials which exist in a type of bubble of private sacred space – existing simultaneously with and in public space.