Arts & Culture
The Semiotics of Public Monuments and Contested Histories
Quick fact
When Confederate monuments in the United States were removed in 2017, the act of toppling a bronze general often made frontline news—revealing that the monument's meaning was so potent that its removal became a political act in itself.
Why this is interesting
Have you ever walked past a statue and felt a surge of pride—or discomfort—without knowing exactly why? Why does a metal figure on a pedestal carry so much emotional weight?