MONUMENTS are BUILT FORMS erected to CONFER DOMINANT MEANINGS on SPACE
functions
cognitive
axiological & emotional
pragmatic
dimensions
visual
political
contexts
How have monuments been studied?
the "semiotic" approach
Urban and art historians
Sociologists and cultural anthropologists
Geographers // Archaeologists
Style
Iconography
Materials & Technology
commemorative practices
tools of power
elites
define identities
selective historical narratives
social properties
lazy machines
horizon of meaning
users's knowledge
knowledge embodied by the monument itself
selective history
how users act around monuments
meeting point
commemorative practice
protests
skateboard...
axiological
emotional
positive value: euphoria
negative value: disphoria
hot monuments
cold monuments
strong reactions
debates
conflicts
neutral landmark
indifference
trauma
material level
symbolic level
dimensions
location
materials
form, shap
regularity / irregularity
colors
iconographies
symbols
repertoire of semiotic ressources
monuments are political construction
monuments are built forms deliberately erected to promote selective and dominant historical narratives
discourses on the past
selective points of views
elites finances monuments focusing on convenient events, marginalizing discomforting events
educate citizens on what to remember
basic values and principles
national identity
political elites inculcate specific conceptions of the present and encourage future possibilities
the interpretation of monuments can change dramatically over time
monuments can become ridiculous, peripheral, they can be resisted
dynamic sites of meaning
cultural context
the same monument can be a sacred site for one community and a source of traumatic memories for others
shared stock of knowledge but different selections
spatial context
one culture, different communities
setting
site specific
manipolation of spatial surroundings