Recurating Robben Island: cultural objects, digital memory, and the entropic afterlives of national heritage

Abstract This paper explores the intersection of cultural sociology, heritage management, and national identity through an analysis of visitor-generated Instagram posts at Robben Island Museum in post-Apartheid South Africa. Drawing on a dataset of 500 Instagram posts by South African visitors, it examines how digital cultural objects created by tourists reframe the museum’s curated narrative of resilience and reconciliation. Employing theoretical frameworks of cultural trauma and cultural entropy, this study investigates how embodied experiences at the museum are transformed into visual and textual artifacts that contest, amplify, or reimagine its intended message. While the museum positions itself as a symbol of democratic triumph, visitor posts reveal divergent, recurated interpretations, ranging from reflections on Apartheid’s brutality to aesthetic appreciations of the island’s natural beauty. Furthermore, this research has broader implications for heritage sites globally, including those with contested histories, where digital platforms similarly mediate diverse visitor perspectives. By analyzing these digital artifacts, this research highlights the multivocality of public memory and the need for inclusive, participatory approaches to heritage management in post-conflict societies.