quiet parks, bustling avenues, and artists

Sir Edward Lutyens intentionally placed his cenotaph dedicated to the missing British soldiers of WWI in a busy area of the town, believing that it would give a space for the dead in the center of the city. On the other hand, many other architects, such as Maya Lin, the creator of the Vietnam War Names memorial in DC, design their memorials to be in a quieter area, fit for proper reflection and mourning.

The Vietnam War Names Memorial, Washington D.C.

Though Lin's memorial is somewhat sequestered, plenty of visitors pass through the site each day and night. Because of the work's identity as a monument, its location becomes a spot central to its city. On the other hand, one might expect Lutyens' memorial to go unrecognized, gradually fading into an unremarkable feature of the town; much like the oddities of New York City, which often go unacknowledged as people make their way across the streets. However, I believe such a placement still manages to draw attention and reflection to the monument. Town squares and busy streets are often gathering places for people, allowing for many to view the monument and learn about its history, albeit sometimes unintentionally. Descendants of families who lost members to war will grow up alongside a testament to their sacrifice, and the seemingly invisible contribution of those who went missing becomes a focal point of their thriving hometowns. 

The Cenotaph on Whitehall, London

There are many contrasting ways to design a memorial, and each artist has their own vision for what a memorial should be. Ultimately, it is the care and respect that is laced into each aspect of these monuments that draws citizens, tourists, family members, and AP Lang students to study and appreciate them. 

During English classes in years past, we would analyze poems and all the symbolism included in each line. The class would be in disbelief. There was simply no way that the curtains being blue had anything to do with being depressed!! Though I still think we may have overanalyzed a little bit, as I wrote more poems and started putting more thought into my artwork, it became clear that details are not just coincidences, but choices. In other words, every stroke had to be penned by someone's careful hand. Even still, it is up to the viewer to find their own interpretation of the piece. Sometimes, that may involve going above what the artist intended, but since art, much like memorials, is for the people, they are invited to find their own meaning in it.