The Mediation of Cultural Memory: Digital Preservation in the Cases of Classical Indian Dance and the Cherokee Stomp Dance

The article presents an examination of ways in which the digital preservation of archival materials can have an impact on cultural memory. Particular focus is given to efforts to preserve artifacts related to classical Indic forms of dance as well as the stomp dance of the Cherokee Nation. The author provides a description of the social and semiotic aspects of mediation as it relates to the formation of cultural memory. Along with the histories of each form of dance, other topics are explored including the role of the Guru, or teacher, in Indic dance, the Second Life computer game, and the website The Allotment in Cherokee History 1887-1914, located at www.cherokee.org/allotment.