In every culture, respect is a quality that communities embrace around the world. Whether it be to remember a person’s achievement or to provide a sense of connection in a community, monuments link together the present and the past with the motive of respect. Memorials are far more relevant than a seemingly trivial granite monument that one could notice in a park (Source B); they embellish meaning, symbol, emotion, and memories into a collective emblem. In memorializing an event and creating a monument, it is essential for the group or agency to not only consider the basic elements such as the historical significance or size, location, and materials but also to acknowledge the emotional linkage the event or monument may induce through attachment …show more content…
In creating a monument and memorializing an event, the group or agency should consider its importance in bringing together a community, thus providing a sense of attachment. In creating public monuments, it furnishes “a face-to-face encounter in a specially valued place set aside for collective gathering” (Source A). Essentially connecting the past and the present, monuments stand as an absolute reminder of our past. Not only does it serve as a reminder, but it also acts as a holy site as people come together to experience the monument in a simple but powerful way. Monuments establish the sense of community in both a real and imagined fashion. Connections between the people among themselves visiting the authentic public space, and connections between people and history are made. As Source A states, “The public monument speaks to a deep need for attachment that can be met only in a real place, where the imagined community actually materializes.” With memorializing an event, it is important that the emotional connection built off of its fundamental historical significance is considered. Based on Source E, controversy over not only just creating the monument, but also the idea of memorializing the Holocaust was deliberated. Because the United States made little to no effort in preventing the Holocaust, the memorialization of the event drew protest as opponents felt as if this act of remembrance would be offensive emotionally. From this, it is clear that it is important to assess the emotional underlying behind an event and how it could affect communities consequently. Memorializing an event should connect a community, not divide
From Trajan’s Column, completed in 113 AD, to the statue of Christopher Columbus in Easton, Pennsylvania, monuments and memorials have been a significant element of celebration and honor throughout history (Source B). Though monuments are typically meant as a symbol of honor, recent controversy over statues dedicated to Confederate leaders and generals has sparked the debate over how to choose subjects to memorialize, and the actual development of these memorials. When considering what or who to honor, one must also consider the subjects impact on history, ensuring that it is positive. In creating memorials and monuments, groups and agencies should examine the historical significance of the events or persons they wish to memorialize, and the
"For famous men have the whole earth as their memorial" (Pericles). Memorials are an icon to represent some historical events that have happened or even people who have made a significant impact on society. For example, they symbolize many things that had happened in the past and people could go there and remember some good things that it has caused. People can even go there and pay tribute to the person the memorial is about. There are three sources that show the importance of memorials and why they should be built.
The size of a monument or museum is important to think about because you must ensure that the person or event you are memorializing receives the recognition it deserves. After it was decided that there needs to be a Holocaust museum on the Washington Mall, protesters stated that the proposed design was too large (Source E). “The purpose of the museum was to remember the Holocaust, not overpower the mall or its visitors” (Source E). By downsizing the design plan, curators were able to create a place of regard without overpowering the other memorials and museums. The materials used to construct a monument also play a role in ensuring a person or event receive the respect they/ it deserves. When designing the Vietnam Veterans memorial in Washington, D.C, Maya Lin decided to use “Black granite in order to make the surface reflective and peaceful” (Source G). Lin’s choice of black granite helped to create a somber feeling while still showing respect and remembrance to those who fought in the war. The size and material of a monument can have a huge impact on those paying their respects to a person or event and the way they recieve its
Monuments are important in keeping history in the present. The viewer experiences the emotions and actions in that specific part of time. Some monuments have awkward locations or the people chosen are unsuitable to represent the time. Any group or agency must consider who the person is and where the monument’s location should be before publically displaying it.
many people create meaningless buildings and sculptures just to please the eye which is why they need to people need to identify reasons a memorial would benefit them.
Just like the two other monuments this one has a special place in our hearts, Pentagon Monument. The Pentagon Monument is commemorate all those who have fallen in the pentagon on September 11, 2001 when there terrorists hijacked three civilian planes and crashed two into the twin towers along with the Pentagon tempting to take down our armed intellectuals in the Pentagon. To conclude my essay I went over the different memorials such as the Gateway Arch in St.Louis, Missouri being a resemblance of the westward expansion in the United States in nineteen fortyeight and the first and the first ever modern monument, Zumthor’s memorial in Norway to remember the ninetyone socalled witches that were burned at the stakes. As well as the Pentagon Memorial which is to honor the Men and Women who have fallen in 9/11.
Building this memorial was surely the right way to go. There were many people of all ages, ethnicity, and class. All the people gathered at the memorial created a sense of unity although we were all there for different purposes. Many of these people were in high spirits and were enjoying themselves.
Memorialization of any sort can be a tedious process, but those regarding Holocaust remembrance were particularly challenging given the surrounding social and political controversies that ensued. This is primarily seen through the issue of representation, which consistently played a key role in the creation of both the Holocaust museum in Washington D.C., and the Dachau concentration camp memorial. While the Dachau memorial’s conception stages, the designers were contemplating which victim groups to include. For instance, the mayor of Dachau stated, “Please do not make the mistake of thinking that only heroes died in Dachau. Many inmates were…there because they illegally opposed the regime of the day….You have to remember there were many criminals and homosexuals in Dachau. Do we want a memorial to such people?” (Harold Maruse, “Dachau,” 151). With this quote, the mayor implies that the memorial will only be dedicated to those he deems worthy of representation. Likewise, the White House officials orchestrating the American Holocaust Museum also debated a similar notion regarding the inclusion of ethic victim groups other than the Jews. However, Wiesel and other Holocaust survivors believed that commemorating non-Jews was an “…obscene incursion into the boundaries of Holocaust memory by those whose country-men had persecuted survivors” (Edward T. Linenthal, Preserving Memory, 53). For this reason, and in order to avoid the generation of false memories, these groups
After examining the collected data, I conclude that the memorial should be seen through a three step process of connection, individualization, and change. First, the memorial commands its authority over the guests by establishing a “connection” with them, a process where the memorial acts upon the guests. This link between the individual and the space is crucial to the memorial’s political and social power, for without it, the memorial is nothing special. By validating certain historical and cultural narratives, utilizing various actors on scene, and expressing itself through different senses, the memorial aims to impose an identical experience among the guests in order to confer its legitimacy.
A monument's purpose is to commemorate a person or event that has had an influential or significant impact on a nation, or even the world. When memorializing something, certain factors need to be considered to have the structure or site "manufacture its own aura" (Source A). The size, materials used, and color of a monument are all important parts in creating a memorable experience for the visitors. Location and the way it works with the surrounding nature is another key factor when constructing a monument. Price is another element to consider. Finally, the message sent to the audience needs to be clear and powerful. The most important piece of building a monument is the emotional connection it creates with the audience. The impact that is
When built to their true capacity, monuments can bring as much emotion to a citizen’s heart as any Caldecott-awarded book or oscar winning movie. The process of making them, however, is often complex and tedious. When beginning the process of building a monument, agencies should be sure to consider the location, design, and significance of their project in order to ensure a triumphant outcome.
When you think of a memorial what comes to mind? A memorial serves as an individual or national symbol of an important event or an important person that affects people of all ages, past and present, in their own ways. A memorial or monument can be made for many different reasons. There are many kinds of memorials such as: memorial plaques, gravestones, crosses, online memorials, statues, sculptures, fountains, and even entire parks. Each type of memorial has its own purpose and own special meaning as to why it was created.
Secondly, placement is a key factor in creating a monument of someone or an event. As described in Source E, placement could offend the surrounding population. In this source, the Holocaust Museum is located in The Mall in Washington, DC and it offended both Jewish and non-Jewish communities. This is “primarily due to the fact that a museum dedicated to the memory of the Holocaust would be built in the United States, who did little to stop the Holocaust from occurring, or…”...open our shores to the few survivors…””. The United States didn’t act on what it stands for, equality and freedom, and so to have it there seemed to be a sign of disrespect to many. On the other hand, supporters believed, such as George Will, a political columnist, that, “No other nation has a broader, graver responsibility in the world...No other nation needs citizens trained to look like in the face.” Due to what the United States stands for, he says this because by displaying your mistakes you can create a
On the other hand, it is completely wrong to construct a monument in a place that offered little to no help to the Holocaust victims. That is something that should be constructed in a place like Germany to