Doss Chapter 4 - Cory Smith

            The fourth chapter of Memorial Mania by Erika Doss describes the construction, critiques, and challenges surrounding the memorials associated with World War II.  These memorials were all constructed out of what Doss calls "gratitude" that came as a "duty and obligation" that was "forced" or "required" (195). She believes that gratitude should be expressed out of sincerity instead of being "expected--or required--to do so" (195).  In some ways, I agree with Doss that American society throws out "thanks" like it means nothing and is just simply said because it's needed.  This (and other phrases used daily such as "I love you") should only be said if meant in sincerity and from free will.
             With regard to the memorials, Doss makes it seem as if these memorials constructed after World War II were built out of necessity instead of truly expressing "gratitude" for the heroes of the 20th century.  She cites many former veterans who express that they are not content with the memorial constructed in Washington, D.C. for many reasons.  One veteran even says that he is content to give up his Purple Heart he won for his combat efforts in order to see the current memorial desecrated (215).  All I thought when I first read this was, wow.  I've seen this memorial on my trips to D.C., and came away impressed with the size and interesting choice to commemorate every state with a pillar.  But, what Doss explains is that not everyone agrees with the final product that is the memorial situated between the monuments honoring Washington and Lincoln.
             As for "war porn", Doss did not mean write this term with the implication that a sensual feeling should be captured by what she described.  What she refers to as "war porn" is the unification and an "instrument of national consensus, conformity, and normalcy (220)."  I am curious to know why she decided to use this term to describe unity, considering when I first read it, she was going to talk about the obsession society has with war.  To some degree, Doss does mention the obsession that is war in society, but it's important to realize that war is such a strong concept that it makes people choose between one side or the other, with no ground in between.  This therefore creates a sense of unification, which is what I think Doss was trying to convey when describing "war porn".