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Tuesday, May 18, 2010

The Art of Memory - 11

Monumental legacies: Site of mourning & remembrance
Readings:
Young, J. E., " The counter-monument: Memory against itself in Germany Today", Critical inquiry, Vol. 18, No. 2. (Winter, 1992), pp. 267-296.

Auge, M. "A Duty to forget", Oblivion (trans. Marjolin de Jager), London/Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2004.

Monument: a structure erected to commemorate persons or events  (n) monument an important site that is marked and preserved as public property (n) repository, monument (a burial vault (usually for some famous person) - from Princeton Universities Wordnet

The arc de triumph is exactly that..no mention of any losses..

Did the Gerz's Harburg monument encourage people to pay more attention to it in a short length of time so they could get rid of it quicker in the long term? If so was it successful in applying to the brief as a 'monument against fascism' when after 12 years it can no longer be seen.

On many points I think that the Harburg monument was successful. It's placement in the town centre rather than the sun dappled park catches people in any state of mind (rushed and harassed as well as relaxed). Interaction stays in the memory longer than a passive role. Writing ones name on a surface no matter if neatly or graffiti style, by day or in the dark binds you to that object. This monument is active..it descends in to the earth..depending on people's interaction. Though once it is gone...how effective is it?
Memories of WWII and the Harburg monument will fade..but perhaps the 'quality' of the memories of this particular monument will be stronger and more meaning full than those skimmed from passing by a static edifice.

I think counter monuments suit our times (quicker, interactive, multimedia, changeable).. as the traditional monument suited times past..how many Trad Monuments get commissioned now?

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