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Cy K, Week 4, Monuments

I think the three monuments create a very interesting contrast and commentary on each other. The Bracero Monument is a celebration of an under represented and essential portion of the US's history compared to the giant war memorials of generals that litter parks and public spaces throughout the country. By contrast, Rumors of War and Fons Americanus are both critiques and condemnations of the memorials that they are emulating. Rumors of War also celebrates and uplifts black culture, but when considered with the context of its intended home in Richmond, Virginia, the critique is more overt than the celebration. The medium of monumentary already comes with a very loaded history, especially in the American South, with monuments often being an expression of power rather than a celebration or memorial. Kehinde Wiley's monument plays with that history in a very interesting way. Rumors of War celebrates modern black culture by representing it front and center in a huge publicly displayed statue and by using the historic narrative of power to re-frame where the power truely lies.

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