The narratives evoked by the souvenirs are important basis for finding out how memories were encoded on souvenirs during the journey. Four modes of encoding memories, discussed from the perspective of “souvenirs involved in the journey”, are proposed. The relation between souvenirs and memories can be clarified with two variables. One is timing and duration of getting and carrying souvenirs, or the “association” between the souvenir and the tourist. The other one is the part of journey which is encoded. Two
variables compose a mode which shows the operation of memories being encoded and the relation between souvenirs and memories. In this section, four modes are proposed respectively in the subsections.
5.1.1 Memories around time and place of obtaining souvenirs are encoded
The main point of the mode is obtainment of souvenirs. Things happening around the place and time that tourists obtain the souvenirs are easily encoded. In terms of place, the scene in which the tourist get the souvenir such as a store or a market can be encoded, so can some experiences or activities occurring in that area. In one of the cases, the memories of a festival were encoded on a t-shirt bought where the festivity took place, while the t-shirt itself did not have a strong link with the festival. In terms of time, events happening around the time when souvenirs are got can be encoded. When memories are evoked, they diffuse from the time of getting souvenirs. One of the informants recalled the travel experiences by a paper box got at dinner time. The memories popped out gradually, from things happening at the dinner time to the whole day. The obtaining processes are usually encoded, especially something which has to be done in order to get the souvenirs. For people, these processes make souvenirs more meaningful. Making a souvenir by the tourists themselves may be regarded as an extended obtaining process. In Littrell’s [14]
research, she categorized three origins of craft meaning for the tourists, one of which is
“encounters in obtaining the crafts”. If the encounters are impressive, pleasant, repeating all the time or involved in the interaction between travel companions, they will be easier encoded to the souvenirs.
Figure 18 Model for explaining mode one
The mode can be illustrated by the model.
The first axis shows the “association” between the souvenir and the tourist. In this case,
“process of acquiring” is referred. The segment of journey around the getting point is encoded, which is shown on the second axis. The two axes here can be regarded as either time or space. The encoded journey will become so called “memories” afterwards. A metaphor of “pipette” can be used to explain the way that journey is encoded. When the process of acquiring the souvenir is “sucked up”, the experiences around the getting point are also “sucked up” to become memories encoded on the souvenir.
5.1.2 Experiences corresponding to the receipts are encoded
When people keep bits and pieces such as stubs of tickets, leaflets and business cards as a record for the journey, these souvenirs can be regarded as “receipts of experiences”, which have a broadened meaning, not just referring to official stubs. A bus ticket is a receipt of a ride; a leaflet from a museum is a receipt of a visit, a business card of a restaurant is a receipt of a nice dinner time. People join the event then get the receipt of the experience.
Memories of the event are therefore encoded onto the receipt. The consistency between memories and the receipt is explicit. Some receipts need to be gained in a more active attitude, e.g., business cards, while some others can be received passively, e.g., stubs of the tickets. A general “receipt” in itself is a kind of record and evidence. These two concepts indicate people’s motivation of keeping the “receipt souvenirs”. As a record, collection of receipts forms a travel note, keeping memories in the journey in units of events. As evidence, the tangible receipt proves the intangible state once did happen.
According to Gordon [11], people can’t hold on to the travel experience but they can hold on to a tangible piece of it, which can be an object coming from it. When putting hands on a souvenir, people are not only remembering that they were there, but also proving it.
Figure 19 Model for explaining mode two
In this case, on the first axis, the getting point can be either at the beginning of the section or at the end. The section of the journey is explicit, namely the event corresponding to the receipt. A metaphor of “packet” can be used to illustrate the way that journey is encoded.
When dragging the thread tied to the packet, a packet of experiences can be taken away.
5.1.3 The journey that souvenirs joined is encoded
In the travel, an object which is used very often and staying with the tourist all the time encodes the journey it has joined. The useful map, for example, joins the whole journey and therefore encodes the itinerary little by little. Memories are encoded to the corresponding locations. When tourists leave traces on the objects, such as marking the map, the encoding is even more obvious. In this case, the map becomes a “check list” for showing the places people have been. Since the high frequency of usage is owing to the importance of the object, the importance of practicability in the journey will shift to the importance of meaningfulness after the journey. Another kind of “staying with tourists in the journey” is more like “company”. For one of the informants, a puppet called Ekeko accompanied him through the Inca Trail walk and therefore encoded the experiences during the four-day journey. This kind of object usually has an image of creatures and is regarded as a “traveling companion”. Time of staying together increases the capacity of memories.
Figure 20 Model for explaining mode three
In this case, the getting point is only a small part of the association between the souvenir and the tourist. After the acquiring, the tourist is accompanied by the souvenir for a period of time. Experiences happening during this period are encoded on the souvenir.
5.1.4 The memories created by the souvenirs are encoded
The souvenir obtained in the journey can bring special encounters, which will become cherished memories later. The memories created are deservedly encoded onto this souvenir.
For the informant mentioned above, the puppet of Ekeko brought about the conversation with local people and traveling companions he met there. Moreover, process of making souvenirs by tourists themselves can also be regarded as experiences created by people and the souvenirs together. People are involved in the course of producing souvenirs, which become memories and are encoded on the souvenir.
Figure 21 Model for explaining mode four
The causal relationship is emphasized. The company of the souvenir results in the experiences and therefore memories are encoded. If the souvenir is made by the tourist, the process acquiring will be extended.
Figure 22 Model for explaining the process of making a souvenir
As far as the causal relationship is concerned, the process of making a souvenir can be viewed form this prospective in mode four. However, it can also be viewed as mode one, in which the process of acquiring are extended.