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Dancing between the Raindrops : Localizing Memory as a Statement, The Memorial Site of the Supernova Trance Festival in Israel.
Sat, September 6, 8:00 to 9:15am, Communications Building (CN), CN 3103Abstract
At sunrise on October 7, over three thousand trans music lovers gathered at the Re'im site for the Supernova Trance Music Festival. At 6:29 a.m., the sound of rockets shattered the morning calm, followed almost immediately by an unprecedented attack by Hamas. The assault targeted multiple locations near the Gaza border, including Kibbutzim, the town of Sderot, and the festival grounds. More than 400 young people lost their lives in this tragic assault.
In the aftermath of the attack, as the conflict continued, families of the victims, supported by the concert organizers, "the tribe of Nova," began to honor their loved ones by placing photos on poles at the site. Gradually, more families joined, adding benches and creating small, personal memorial spaces. The site, which carries the trauma of that tragic day, has become a space for collective mourning. This initiative illustrates how ordinary citizens have taken ownership of a tragic event, offering a personal perspective that contrasts with the more neutral and detached versions presented by the institutions. The site has become a pivotal point for advocating a blend of collective and individual memory, challenging the state-driven narrative surrounding the event.
Our article will explore the timeline of the creation of the site and explore the uniqueness of the Nova site as a location where collective memory has been actively shaped, even during ongoing conflict. By exploring the perspectives of citizens who felt that institutions failed to protect the people they have lost or acknowledge the distinctiveness of their pain, we will illustrate how personal and collective memory merge to create a unique space for healing and memory activism. By opposing official narratives, grassroots efforts and local memory practices have utilized collective memory as a tool for activism, allowing communities to reclaim their own historical narrative.