Destructing Art of the Past for a Brighter Tomorrow
Photo Credit: Ben Birchall/Press Association, via Associated Press
It is the last few days in June 2020, and if I’m honest it’s given me whiplash. This has been a heavy month of thinking, re-rethinking, immense anger, activism, and fear. I have learned so much more about myself and have tried educating myself more technically, artistically, socially, and politically….. But I have a long way to go.
I will say though that my core beliefs have NOT changed. I still believe that 2020 is bigger than us and that the idea that “going back to normal” after this is possible or that we should even consider doing that is just ignorant. Finally, I believe that the ingredients to a positive future is: education, art, design, unity, acceptance, and compassion.
The answer to the evolution of equality and a brighter tomorrow is that everyone receives the same tools, that we learn from the sins and revolutions of the past, and that we choose not to ignore it or think that because you are just ONE person your few actions will not make a difference. Think about it this way, it takes only one crazy person in major shootings like Las Vegas and Pulse night club to change the life of hundreds for eternity…. Another example is that every (ONE) individual has the ability to save the planet 1ton of toxic waste in their lifetime that will help the entire planet to breath better. Your CHOICE to not conform to the conditioning of the 20th century that all started, in my opinion, with aluminum foil in 1910 will quite literally re-write and correct what was done wrong in the past for a brighter future…. I could go on, but you get the idea.
A woman covered with blood at the festival. Credit...David Becker/Getty
This leads me into my next topic. I want to discuss the recent wave of statue removals in the US and my feeling towards it. It’s no secret that I love art, history, and psychology, so I’ve been bothered about the surge in protestors tearing down historical statues and monuments. At first, I was upset, I felt like removing the statues is removing history so in essence that is a form of living in silence and skimming over the real issues.
BUT! In many and most ways this controversial topic has relevance and while I am sad to see art of any kind demolished or removed, I now believe it does help pioneer the change that we are looking for in BLM and again in refresh that is desperately needed right now. Here are some quick points that may help change your ideas of why the removals of these historic artifacts is a step in the right direction.
Images sourced on Google
An example: Theodore Roosevelt Equestrian Statue
Statues are a glorification of a person or thing that acts as a symbolic eternal life of that being or story.
Teddy Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th American President. He was a Republican who’s big political fights were for a strong workforce, strong economic strength, and dispensing favors to none. That may sound great or ok on paper, and yes he made some good strives for the country, however, the statue is literally glorifying the man on a high horse with THE INDIAN CHIEF! and an Indian walking alongside him as though they are peasants. Also, have you seen photos of Teddy? He was a basic old white guy with a mustache. This statue is a remake of him into a huge buff looking God.
As seen on New York Post
Essentially this is a rewrite and a MAJOR wrong depiction of what really happened. People came to this country found the abundance of land, especially in Indian crops etc., and not only stole the land from them, but caged them in a boxed territory and then made them work the land because presidents and people like Mr. Roosevelt felt that everyone needed to pay their dues like every white person before them. It’s like being a hostage at gunpoint in your own home from the very guests you invited over for a dinner party. We are telling students, visitors, and children that this white man is the hero when in fact and in Teddy Roosevelt’s own words says, “'I don’t go so far as to think that the only good Indians are the dead Indians, but I believe nine out of every 10 are.”
Google sourced image
Google sourced image
Tax Payers are paying for this
The maintenance of these statues is expensive. In 2018 Smithsonian Magazine stated that taxpayers had spent at least 40 million dollars preserving Confederate monuments and sites…. It feels excessive that we are spending so much $$ to worship white men who are responsible for our country’s sins. Meanwhile schools, art museums, and other historical institutions are fighting for paper supplies. Also, if the Roosevelt family feels so strongly that the memorial of their historic family member should be preserved, it is their responsibility to pay for it. Similar to how the Lincoln Homestead & Cemetery in Virginia is privately owned. They’ve got the money!
Example: Mummification
Mummification was an Egyptian preservation of rich important people’s human body so that they could go onto their next life. It was a hard and lengthy process… but guess who paid for their preservation… The rich people and guess what now those mummies are worth millions and who pays to display those? Rich people or historians… NOT TAX PAYERS
What are we saying as a nation?
These attacks show how deeply white supremacy is rooted in our national structure and that we need to question everything about the way we understand the world, especially the past, in order to get to a better future.
Example: Freed Slave Kneeling Before Lincoln
We already know that slaves are a historic global sin that reduced the meaning and abilities against their will. Do we really need to show this unclothed weak black man begging a slave trader President for “freedom” which inevitably depicts the white American views of the 1863 Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. Let’s review what really happened after the slaves were “declared free.” Many died because without any education and proper nutrition they could not survive what was like releasing an animal into a new and unknown wilderness. AND blacks who did escape went to the unwanted lands of their state and tried to build a community out of nothing…. So you tell me, do we really need a glorification to Lincoln for this? Drop this bronze thing in front of his house have his blood homies that they can pay for this thing and can stick it up……