Currently thinking about the thematic links of the forgotten and how it ties to our ghosts.
- The chem lab being turned into a fallout shelter
- The guidance counselor office being turned into classrooms because of Rhonda’s murder.
- The change of the mascot and matching band uniforms
They were continually re-building parts of the school to try to erase the memory of tragedy. Janet, Mr. Martin, and Rhonda were all already on their way to becoming forgotten. (Perhaps Eugene Burgstrum and Marjorie were the only people keeping their memory alive)
It’s also interesting to me that the only 2 examples of memorials on school grounds are Wally, and the Marching band. Both are examples where the victims are (mostly) white men, and were most likely as a result of parents demanding (or donating) for their children to be remembered.
And ANOTHER interesting connection I made last night was with Quinn being in the same boat as Janet, Mr. Martin, and Rhonda, since they do not appear in the yearbooks because of their intentional picture day absences. On top of that, any forms of memorial of them would be as Jaqueline, not as their true self. If not for having current living family, they would be on track to be forgotten too.
Finally, more broadly, the students of Split River are unaware of almost all deaths at the school. With how much rumors and curiosity spread, there has had to have been a continued effort to discourage bringing up the schools past tragedies.
It’s a theme that fucking hits hard. The refusal to acknowledge tragedy and evil, does nothing but disrespect the memory of victims.
