My Thoughts on Memorials and Monuments- Pauline Marting

Prior to taking this class, I never really distinguished between a memorial and a monument. I typically used the terms interchangably and without much thought or consideration. However, after taking this class I have now learned to see a clear distinction between the two. Monuments are impersonal; they attempt to appeal to a wide range of people and honor or revere a person or group of people. Their design serves to inform people of how great, grand or important a person or event was. For example, the Washington Monument isn't really a piece of personal architecture; it is a large stone obelisk that symbolizes the greatness and importance of our country's first leader. There is no denying its grand scale or historical influence; it is simply a reminder of something worth revering. Memorials, however, can be entirely different. To me, designs of memorials seem more artistic or up to the personal expression of the artist. The Vietnam memorial and the Spirit Warriors memorial to the Native American warriors at the Battle of the Little Bighorn national park are two examples of highly controversial designs that are truly up to interpretation by the person beholding the works. The Vietnam memorial is a somber, sad reminder of those who lost their lives in the war, and the Spirit Warriors memorial is very much more a work of art than, say, the stack of marble blocks that makes up the monument to the members of the US Cavalry who lost their lives at the same site in 1876. I don't view monuments as artistic in the same sense that I consider many memorials artistic. I think of monuments more as pieces of architecture to be admired; I find memorials more emotionally complex. Shrines on the side of the road to people who have lost their lives in car accidents are not monuments, but are instead emotionally- charged memorials. The Korean War memorial, the Pentagon memorial, and the Air Force memorial are all examples of memorials that serve to remind us to remember those who perished. The Washington Monument isn't about remembering the death of George Washington, but about celebrating what he did and the momentous effect his life had on our country. Therein lies the distinction; monuments revere, memorials remember.