'Association' is a subject I often ponder, on account of being fascinated with what it is that causes us to associate one thing with another. Surely that's simple to understand, you say. Our initial impressions are usually the strongest, so when we experience something for the very first time - a place or product for example - we'll associate it with who we were with on the day (and vice versa) or/and some other element relating to it.
That's broadly true, but perhaps there can be exceptions. For example, my father once owned a NOBEL 200 car. We lived in one house when he got it, but moved to another house not too long after, and he owned the car for far longer in the latter house than the former. I therefore have more memories associated with the second, but my initial memories of the car are from the first, so perhaps they should be more prominent - and sometimes they are.
However, that could be because the only photos of the car are from the former house, so I simply associate it with there in a sort of 'default' way. Until, that is, the memories from the subsequent house reassert themselves and I'm reminded that I associate the Nobel with there at least as much (if not even more so) than its predecessor. However, because of those two photos (one taken on the road outside the first abode, the other taken on holiday that same year), I suspect that my earlier memories may have been reinforced down through the years in a way that my later ones haven't.
I daresay that if I had photos of the car outside the second house, that would probably be my primary association of it, or at least, it would depend on which photo from which house I was looking at at any given time. Same with comics I remember reading in the car. Namely, an issue or two of TV CENTURY 21 from when I lived in the previous house, and at least one issue of FANTASTIC from when I lived in the next one. My associations are different depending on just what comic I'm focussing on.
Anyway, no great insight here, I'm afraid. I just wanted to throw that out there and see what 'echoes' come back. Strike any cords with you?
One association I do recall having was the phenomenon of 'paired buying', for want of a better term. Back in the day I'd buy a lot of music and reading material (books, comics, mags) at the same time. Once home I'd put on the music while browsing the reading matter, and thereafter on hearing that music I'd be reminded of the book or comic and conversely reading the publication would remind of the music first heard when I first read it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for responding, PC. My brain was tired when I did this post, and I really didn't do justice to precisely what it was I was trying to convey. That's why I drew it to a close - the thoughts just wouldn't come, so I'm glad you could see through the haze I ended up with. I've done that as well - I remember back in 1982 buying a couple of Jim Reeves LPs within a short time of buying a Silver Surfer one-shot by John Byrne (and Stan Lee). I can't look at one without thinking of the others.
DeleteI mentioned on Crivens once about the day I went on an expedition to the old AKA shop in Virginia Street only to find it closed, and bought the Robocop movie adaptation in a newsagent in the Gorbals on the way home (had a quick search but can't find it right now).
ReplyDeleteI walk or cycle to and from work every day now, and pass that newsagent most days. Every time it comes into sight, the images of the red cover of the Robocop comic, and Pepsi in the old style white can (which was my other purchase on that swelteringly hot day) pop into my head like some Pavlovian response!
Do you know if the newsagent's is still the same inside, DS, or has it had one of those dreadful modern refits resulting in the loss of its character? Whenever I walk along the street that used to take me to my first primary school, I always think of TV21, because the shop I bought it from was on that route. The shops are still there, but not the original newsagent's, alas.
DeleteThe counter is in the same place, but yeah, the shop has been 'modernised' and robbed of much of its character.
ReplyDeleteThere's a newsagent in the south side that until recently sold every magazine you could think of, books, and all sorts of general bricabrac - I once heard Rowan Atkinson describe a similar shop as 'the kind of shop that you know will sell string'. Went in recently and found the family who owned it for decades have sold it- it is now a characterless icebox of a shop that seems to specialise in cheap alcohol, those electric cigarette things, and an enormous selection of porn mags. Really sad to see such a friendly place change so much- I remember going there with my best friend as it was the only place near us that sold Warlock magazine that he collected.
There used to be a newsagent's along the road from me that was just as I imagined Mr. Moss's sweet shop to be like in the Just William books. It was given a refit in the late '70s and immediately lost its magic, and it closed a few years back. I can't even remember what it is now. The memories that are tied up in those places, and now only the memories remain, alas. Eventually, there'll be no one left who remembers things as they used to be.
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