The Importance Of Monuments

Did you know that the people who built many of the Egyptian monuments we know today (also know as slaves) suffered while making creating the monuments.Well in ancient Egypt, slaves created the monuments that there still is and many of them were killed in the process of building them. Great achievements are not worth great injustices because slaves died, they had terrible lives and they couldn’t enjoy what they had made.

There are many monuments in the world and they are all built to honor someone or something that was done by that person. For example, after the Maine Lobsterman was built, the fake bronze statue returned to Maine and spent several decades being moved from city hall to museum to museum. No one seemed to want the man and his lobster. The issue at hand is if the monuments being built are memorializing the person or moment created accurately. Monuments capture legacy and preserve the individual's actions throughout history. Specifically, monuments should consider purpose, location, and size in their creation.

Karen Cox bluntly states which side she has taken in the argument. Her title blatantly says that the “Monuments Must Fall”. Throughout her article, there are few facts about how the monuments were built between 1890 and 1920, a time of extreme violence in the South between white supremacists and the African American Community. The article is lacking debate from other points of view. Therefore, the article seems very opinionated. Karen is a white female, she has empathy for the African American community. Although, she can’t possibly know how the monuments make them feel. Including an

In 1861 there was a war that turned north against south family against family. After their war the created monuments that represent the brave leaders that fought for what the believe in. Now there is controversy over if the monuments should be destroyed. This has created a titanic fight between tow sides one side is for the monuments being destroyed and the other side dose not want it to be destroyed. I believe that the monuments should not be destroyed. I believe they should not be destroyed because we need to remember our history. Finally is that it will not stop the violence.

When designing the monument, it is believed that Herman A, MacNeil had the intention of showing how strong those in the confederacy were, and that they would protect the confederacy as a whole during any issues that could arise. When looking at the statue, the first thing noticed is the semi- unclothed man with a shield and sword at the very front, and I feel that the designer placed him in that position to show that the confederacy at the time of the Civil War was extremely powerful. There is also a lady standing behind the man, presumably the mans wife, and she was placed there to

Depending on the placement of the monument the importance of the events contues genrations on. For an example, inorder for placing something of sagnificant value, the holocaust, would be placed somehwere of sagnifcant value, like a nations capital, but just anywhere in the nations capital. Eventhough DC is the nations capital "placeing the holocaust museum in a mall in DC is disrespectful and offensive" to the people who died and the servivers(source E). Just because its the national capital doesnt mean a mall in the nations capital is appropreate, besides lives were lost, not material things being bought. The failure for the creator(s) to think of that stripped the meaning and the pain behind the holocuast away. The placement of that museum made fun of, or even mocked the holocuast as if it is important to be remebered by America but not important to petray horrifying details of it. If the placement of the museum was to be in central DC near the White House, it creates a more important rule in Americas everyday life, because its near where the prisident lives, its near where people go to live the American dream. It would reinforce the meaning of the tragidy, the menaing of being saought out just becuase of you religion, the meaning of being gased alive, the meaning of being torn away from your family, the meaning of starving in the cold winters, and lastly

In Source B, the location of the Christopher Columbus statue is Pennsylvania. While Columbus is credited with discovering America, he never actually set foot in Pennsylvania. Making the need to have a monument for him there a bit unnecessary. Instead, a

This was not addressed when Mount Rushmore was constructed, and because of this the monument is tainted from its original purpose of honoring former United States presidents. “It is bad enough that white men drove the Sioux from hills they still hold sacred; did they have to carve faces all over them too?” Source C questions, enlightening the reader on the blemished past of Mount Rushmore, and how the placement of such a monument is wholly disrespectful (Source C). The planners of Mount Rushmore failed to recognize the faux pas of defacing the land of people who were disregarded by those to whom this monument is dedicated. Though a group may deem a historical figure or event as worthy for memorialization, when monuments are constructed paying no heed to placement, the original gesture can often be in

Statues are typically large and may cover a fair amount of space, plaques are small-scaled, even though they are not as big as statues they still achieve their purpose which is to make people see it and remember. In the making of a memorial agencies should work with the space they have and not try to overpower it. As Maya Lin said, “I wanted my design to work with the land, to make something with the site, not to fight it or dominate it” (Source G). The memorial should stand out but not overshadow the setting.

This way of life may have been acceptable before and during the Civil War, but in today's society that way of life is not acceptable because times have changed. It is very clear that these statues do not stand for things that our country should believe anymore. Is this what we want people to think of when they think of America. We used to stand for these things ,but now we have changed and our monuments should change with us.

During the process of designing a monument, how everything will be paid for is one of the most important things to discuss. The Crazy Horse Memorial, as well, has had years of financial instability. It has been in the process of being constructed since 1948, and still only his face is complete. It started out as one man’s dream, that later became his family’s main mission. All done in “an effort to honor the memory of a people this country once tried to mightily erase” (Source C, Downes).

The first factor that should be considered when building a monument, is the reason for the monument to be built. As stated before, there are some monuments that were built for a good reasons, others for horrific events. Though there are too many good memorializations to mention, the amount of bad memorializations are fewer. An example of one of those monuments is the Savannah Memorial Park from Source D. Graveyards are good places to have, because you can have a nice place to go visit those who are no longer with you. However, it is a memorial that was built for a very sad reason. Many people have died in order to make this a memorial, and there will be many more to come.

There are many memorials that are important, like the memorial that has been dedicated to Christopher Columbus. This memorial was made to honor the man and his crew, who, despite trying to find a new trade route to Asia for spices, re-found two continents. The continents being later named North and South America. This is one of the major reasons a memorial was commemorated, Columbus first voyage into the sea as a teenager, and was continually pulled back to it. It has been confirmed that Ancient Norse settlers found the American continent, calling it VInland. Altough this was an amazing discovery,

The history of our country and expanding into new territories can be a touchy subject for many. However, this is a part of the United State’s history that cannot be rewritten. Debates can go on about what was wrong and right, yet in the Black Hills, the carvings of Crazy Horse and Mount Rushmore can be found. Including Downes, there is skepticism on the Mount Rushmore monument. Downes shares, “It was bad enough that white men drove the Sioux from hills they still hold sacred; did they have to carve faces all over them too? It's easy to feel affection for Mount Rushmore's strange grandeur, but only if you forget where it is and how it got there.” This point is very valid, considering the very spot this monument is located and the history of people driven out there. When sculptors and designers are wanting to create a piece of work for everyone to look upon, thinking of people’s ancestry is a huge aspect that needs to be deeply considered. Yes, the Black Hills are beautiful and have perfect rock formations for such a piece of art, yet there is some harsh feelings in that area. Although, no matter what an agency wants to show respect to, there will always be someone offended, even in the aspect of people who lived long ago. Mount Rushmore is a beautiful, mesmerizing piece that captures many beholders. When fireworks are shot from behind it on the fourth of July, patriotism is shot through every American’s heart who is lucky enough to witness it. Even though the beauty is mesmerizing, people in the area’s ancestry should always be taken into consideration when placing a