Chapter 4 Gratitude - Mary Carson Irvine

I found this chapter, titled Gratitude, very interesting. That may be due to the fact that my discussion is on this chapter or the fact that I am fascinated by war memorials in general. Doss states that gratitude is "typically understood as a gesture of appreciation, an expression of thankfulness" (page 194). Yes, of course, gratitude is what memorials evoke, but I think it goes further beyond that. When I visit a memorial, especially the memorials for World War II and Vietnam in DC, I feel like "thank you" may not be enough.
One thing I found very interesting is that the participants of World War II are continuously referred to as the "greatest generation." However, Doss never gives any other reason to why this is other than the fact that these men fought in World War II. I am not saying they aren't the "greatest generation" but I wonder how participants in many other great wars feel about that title.
Obviously, the size of the National World War II Memorial is amazing. When I visited the National World War II Memorial on a field trip during my junior year, I was taken back by the size compared to some of the other memorials. Does that mean its more important? Doss states that "audiences struggle for meaning at the National World War II Memorial" (page 203). And, I completely agree because I struggled to find its meaning. Yes, I know its purpose is to honor World War II, but when I actually visited, I don't think I appreciated it for what it actually is. This may have been because I was just a junior in high school and our chaperones pretty much just left us on our own to explore each memorial. I remember my classmates and I just sitting around the pool, trying to pet the ducks that were walking around. I'm not saying the memorial is a joke, but its hard to appreciate the meaning when you do not know what each specific part of the memorial represents. For example, Doss states that many people do not know that the pillars with the names of the states at the time of the war are arranged in order of admission to the union. Also, the wall of stars is meant to symbolize soldier dead. I'm excited to visit this memorial next week to analyze and appreciate it more closely than I did before.
I thought the section on war porn was very interesting. War porn includes movies, TV shows, toys, video games, and magazines that "resemble" war in some way and show how America is fascinated by war. I also thought the fact that war dogs are being honored at The National War Dog Monument is great. I guess I didn't really thing about the fact that dogs are often used during war and sacrifice their lives for something they don't understand.
Finally, I thought it was interesting how Doss talks about how the Vietnam War seems to have been erased and somewhat compares the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the National World War II Memorial. The placement and size of the World War II Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is extremely different. For example, the World War II Memorial takes up 7.4 acres while the Vietnam Veterans Memorial only takes up 2 acres of the National Mall. Also, Doss sates that "situating the National World War II Memorial in the middle of the National Mall was entirely deliberate - a concentrated effort to challenge the memory and symbolic authority of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial" (Page 240). I found this confusing because I don't think any memorial should purposefully created to "challenge" another memorial as I believe all the memorials on the National Mall are equally important. However, the placement of the World War II Memorial and its size seem like a little too much, although the war is very important. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, which I see as just important, is off to the side of the mall and not nearly as grand but I think very moving due to the actual veterans' names on the wall.
In the end, I can't wait to go to DC next week. Although I have already been to the National Mall many times before, I'm excited to visit them again with this Gratitude chapter in mind.


-Mary Carson Irvine

Chapter 4--Kasey Cannon

      Throughout Chapter 4 in Memorial Mania, Doss discusses the importance of gratitude in relationship to memorials. Gratitude is typically understood as appreciation and thankfulness. Doss explains that “feelings of gratitude are crucial to the operation of stable, modern, and moral societies” (194). However, gratitude is often perceived in relationships with reciprocity: of benefits given and received (194). This view implies inauthentic thanks and appreciation; one is merely forced to give gratitude due to society’s moral requirements.

       Doss continues to discuss gratitude in relationship with the World War II Memorial. Doss believes that “national expressions of thanksgiving have typically followed outbreaks of social conflict and episodes of war” (195). She explains how the World War II Memorial continues this tradition of forced appreciation after conflict and war. Previously to reading Memorial Mania, I never would have thought of memorials as forced thanksgiving. However, I now understand why Doss makes such claims.

     I found Doss’ critique of the World War II Memorial fascinating. I have never visited this memorial, but I have always viewed the memorial as striking and very powerful based on pictures. However, as Doss points out, most audiences “struggle for meaning” at the memorial. I absolutely agree with Doss’ argument. Until reading this book, I never would have known the meaning or symbology behind the stars, wreaths, or pillars. Unlike other memorials, the World War II Memorial does not appear as an inviting or contemplative space (205). Furthermore, the National Park Service does not encourage visitors to leave gifts or offers. I believe this takes away from the purpose and personal connection one can have to a memorial.

      Doss further discusses the location of the National World War II Memorial. As Doss points out, situating the memorial in the middle of the National Mall was “entirely deliberate—a concerted effort to challenge the memory and symbolic authority of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial” (240). The World War II Memorial’s location, scale, and style all emphasize the country’s reputation as a highly militaristic empire (215).  I found it fascinating to consider if another memorial, such as the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, had been built in the location of the World War II Memorial. This just points to how crucial location is when constructing a memorial. 

        Doss explains war porn as “an instrument of national consensus, conformity, and normalcy” (220). War porn is viewed as conformity and national identity because of the unquestioned American faith in militarism (221). Warn porn also characterizes American lust for war. This is exemplified through Americans’ love for war movies, war games, war toys, and war memorials (221). War porn is increasingly realized through the growing number of war memorials.

       The growing number of memorials relates back to gratitude. War memorials create feelings of gratitude with “national imperatives, cultivating affective modes of citizenship and patriotism and persuading publics of the necessity of war itself” (251). Some memorials commemorate each individual by name, such as the Vietnam Memorial, while others give thanksgiving anonymously, such as the World War II Memorials. Still others invoke feelings of mourning, such as the Arlington West memorial, by naming and picturing dead soldiers (251). However, the over arching theme among all of these memorials is the gratitude and honor given to soldiers. I believe this is the most important take away from Chapter 4. 

A Day at the Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery - SEW

What a beautiful day! During our visit to the Stonewall Jackson Cemetery, I was able to look into the past of Lexington through the story told by the cemetery. The most striking aspect to me were the markers indicating graves of Confederate soldiers, especially considering that the graves of Union soldiers, which were the first at Arlington Cemetery in DC, don't have markers to indicate their affiliation with the North during the Civil War. The crosses also show the Southern pride that is found throughout the majority of the south still today, a sense of nationalism within a nation that does not exist in the north. I was also interested by what we were able to infer through the state of graves in various parts of the site. For example, a tomb in a closed off plot had a tomb within it that had yet another short stone barrier surrounding it, that has completely cracked from erosion and shifting of tectonic plates (see below) that shows the age of this plot that has been affected by physical movements over many years that made me question the changes that have taken place in Lexington over that time period as well.

I also noticed the economic disparities between families, evident in the differing sizes, shapes and styles of the tombstones. A particularly tall obelisk amongst more conservative graves caught my attention. It was probably between sixteen to twenty feet tall, and upon further inspection discovered its devotee was a man named Sam Houston Letcher who was a state senator, circuit judge, and president of the Board of Visitors at VMI. Clearly a very important man, which is reflected in his grave marker, perhaps  what sparked my attention.

Each grave is distinctive and reflective of the individual and their family. Some gravestones were plaques on the ground, others were large and rectangular with flat sides and rounded tops, some chose obelisks, and there was even a mausoleum. The information provided on each grave varied as well, some chose just a last name, others included dates as well, and some added information about their lives. Until going out and experiencing the Jackson Cemetery I would still be completely unaware of the potential knowledge to be gained from cemeteries, not just in terms of information gleaned from inscriptions on tombstonesn about individuals, but also what can be learned from the changes visible as the cemetery and its inhabitants grow older. The Free Mason symbol on one of the graves was also incredibly cool, to think a Lexingtonian could have been involved in the secret shaping of a nation!
(Sorry this is late, I forgot it had only been saved as a draft the night before it was due because the pictures wouldn't upload but I just tried again and it finally worked!)

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".

While visiting the Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery I first noticed how big it is. Having driven past it before I never really appreciated its size. Our class was lucky because it was absolutely perfect weather for being outside. It was nice to take the time to walk around the cemetery and to think about the people that are buried there.

We saw graves that were marked with Confederate flags, a mason sign and one marked as a firefighter. While there were many that were named there were even more that were unmarked. Some of them were really small tombstones with nothing on them, while another pair was marked mother and father.

         

One tombstone really struck me because of the message it bore: “to live in the hearts of those who loved us is not to die”. This idea of immortality through memory is one that writers, artists and poets use as the ultimate form of love.

Seeing that also reminded me of the unmarked graves. They may have no one that remembers them, or that their loved ones never knew where they were buried. This caused me to spend more time looking at the smalls for the rest of my time because the fancy and elaborate ones are already remembered, so I spent my time thinking about the forgotten. 

-Charlotte MacDonald

Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery

 

 

Today’s field trip to Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery accentuated many themes presented in our class. One theme the cemetery echoes is the variability that appears across memorials. Hundreds of tombs cover the cemetery, and every tomb is unique. In the middle of the cemetery sits a large memorial dedicated to Stonewall Jackson. 

I found it interesting that the main statue does not face any entrance to the cemetery, but in fact looks south, towards the confederate states.

A second memorial that caught my attention was a tombstone erected for a freemason from Texas.

 His tombstone highlighted his life in 3 events: “Having been a Texian revolutionist, a Mier prisoner, and a U.S. and C.S military officer”. 

The 4 sided tombstone has writing on 3 of the 4 sides and the passage above is the only one clear enough to read with a naked eye. The man’s name is not even  clearly legible.

The Last grave marker than stood out to me was a mausoleum. The mausoleum provided a final resting place for many members of a family.

The tombstone sitting to the left of the mausoleum proved equally provocative as it marked a member of the family who had essentially died to late to be buried in the mausoleum with his or her ancestors. 

- Chris Buckingham

Fear of Graveyards

I can't quite put my finger on it, but there is something about walking through graveyards that gives me chills. I wish I could explain it; I think it has something to do with the fact that I feel very uncomfortable with the idea of walking on someone's remains. Yes, I'm aware that people are buried six feed underground. Also, depending on how long they've been in the ground, the people in the graves have  decomposed to bare remains. Finally, thousands, if not millions of people walk through graveyards every day. I know and understand all of this, but I still can't manage to shake the cold feeling I get when I walk in front of a tombstone. It feels almost disrespectful to me, as if I were walking on grass that I've been told to keep off of. When I finally die, too, I can't help but feel like I wouldn't want people stepping all over my plot. This made the visit to the memorial yesterday somewhat difficult for me; there were few visible and easily accessible walkways other than the main one straight through the cemetery. Everywhere I went, I felt like I was stepping on someone's feet, or their face, or some other squished body part. I tried to put it in the back of my mind, but the exercise proved somewhat difficult for me. I was still touched by what I saw at the memorial yesterday, however. Being from the north, I've never visited a southern cemetery before, and I was amazed at the prevalence of the confederate flags that rested upon the graves of the soldiers. I'll be honest when I say that I didn't think people really still felt so strongly about the Civil War. It's never something that I'll be fully able to understand, but all the same it was still a very moving and important visit for me to experience. - Pauline Marting