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