“Digital Sentiments: Transforming Loss and Memory” presented by Bruening and Ahrndt
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This paper examines the emotional and cultural implications of digitizing sentimental artifacts, such as family heirlooms and digital mourning objects. Focusing on examples like Geocities gifs and 3D-scanned replicas of physical heirlooms, we explore how these digital artifacts mediate shifts in familial connections and memory-keeping practices as families become increasingly decentralized. By situating this inquiry within the context of digital preservation and the ISEA2025 theme of “Dong-Dong,” we reflect on how digitization acts as a form of creation, transforming emotional resonance and enabling connections across physical and temporal divides. Like the theme’s aspiration to “transcend material and social barriers,” this paper investigates how digital technologies bridge fragmented familial histories while complicating the dynamics of memory work. Through this lens, we consider the role of creators as preservers of beauty and emotional resonance in a digitized world.
