People frequently use artifacts, such as carvings, as symbols of enhancing them in order to have long-lasting memories of events that may have long-term effects on their community. Warfare, the death of a beloved king, and even genocide are examples of such events. Kristin Ann Hass' book, Brought To The Wall: American Memory and the Vietnam Veterans Monument, depicts some of the items used by Americans to remember the Vietnam War (for example, a Bronze Star, a baseball, a ring with a note, and a bottle of Jack Daniels). The Vietnam War is significant in the American history as it was one of the periods when the United States lost most of its soldiers. The Americans have set aside the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial as a way of recognizing the patriotism of their gallant soldiers who died during the war (Hass, 1). Apart from Hass’ view that objects may be used to denote a society’s remembrance of the historical events such as war, they (objects) may be used to mean the earliest settlers in a place, celebrate Independence Day of some nations, paying tribute to great philosophers, and revering its great leaders.
The Earliest Settlers In A Place
One of the practices that make people leave objects in a place is the need to signify that they were the first settlers in a respective locality. Scientists have always studied the objects left behind, through carbon (IV) dating, to identify the people who used the items and to trace the origin of such people as well. For instance, in northwestern and also at the Norton Bay, various objects were left behind, which denotes that the Norton people inhabited the area. According to the Government Printing Office, polished slates chipped knives, chipped projectile points made of stone, and some pottery were found at the Brooks River which depicts that the Norton people settled in the area (Government Printing Office, 31). As the generations who settled in the area changed, so did the objects used change. For example, the Falls phase was succeeded by the Brooks River Camp phase. As a result, the stone lamps that used oil were replaced with lamps made of clay, which was saucer-shaped (Government Printing Office, 36). The polished slates also replaced the chipped stones. Archaeologists have studied such objects and found that the Norton people inhabited such areas before the 500 BC period.
Celebrations of Historical Events Such As The Independence Day of A State
People may also leave behind objects such as spears and shields as a sign of the struggle they went through while liberating their countries. The new generations would always use such as items while honoring the sacrifices made by their ancestors. The Zulu people use weapons such as their shields – commonly referred to as the isihlangu – and their stabbing spears as a means of celebrating their warriors for defeating the British soldiers in the battle of Isandlwana. The shield was made of black color and a dry cow’s skin. Also, the spears had a leather pattern, which was a sign that young warriors used them. The experienced ones always used light colored shields (Garrat, 1). The Zulus used the shields to hide whenever they stabbed the British soldiers with their (the Zulu’s) long spears.
Paying Tribute to Renowned Philosophers
Most societies also use objects – for example, sculptures – to honor their great philosophers for their immense efforts in building the community. For instance, the Thinker portrait is used in reverence to the French sculptor, Auguste Rodin, and is located in the Baltimore Museum of Art. Rodin is acknowledged as a founder of the modern day sculptors and as a man with excellent craftsmanship skills. Nevertheless, despite his significant efforts in craftsmanship, most of his sculptures faced a lot of criticism from the members of the society as they were deemed to be quite different from the then traditionally accepted sculptures. The thinker had influenced people from when it was created till now. However, its popularity was greater when Rodin polished the original. The thinker has been incorporated in several areas over time especially in the culture of pop. When one looks at the sculpture, you tend to wonder what is ‘running’ in The Thinker’s mind. The way one hand rests on his lap while he supports his head with the other hand creates the impression of a person who is sinking into meditation. His brow is creased; a characteristic of one lost in thinking. Wilkins Gordon in an article by Peabody Essex Museum quotes an 1889 news article by Truman where he argued that the sculpture had a piercing effect: like a bird of prey (Wilkins, 1). It seems the sculpture affects one’s opinion based on how you explain its look. What is undoubtedly agreed on is that this is a man deep in thoughts.
Henceforth, the portrait should be interpreted from a philosophical perception. It is an explicit representation of an unseen character trait of human beings, the potential to ponder on the daily occurrences of life. The Thinker demonstrates the need for an individual to contemplate and, thus, make up his/her mind about the issues that might be affecting him/her. Also, the sculpture represents the image of a man who is bruised and is facing challenges in life, thus, the illustration of a tortured body and a damned soul.
Reverence of Great Leaders
Societies also use some objects like sculptures and statutes to revere their great leaders. For instance, the South African community has a statute of its former president South Africa, which is located in Johannesburg. Nelson Mandela’s carving is made up of bronze, and he is widely recognized as an anti-apartheid activist. The modeling of the sculpture was commissioned in 2002, and it was unveiled in 2004. A similar statute is also located in Parliament Square in London. The statute in London was unveiled in 2007. President Mandela is accredited for enhancing reconciliation in South Africa and, hence, the reason why his statue was unveiled on South Africa’s Day of Reconciliation (Jivanda, 1). The statute is located at the point where Mandela was inaugurated as the first president to be elected democratically in South Africa. It was designed in such a way that President Mandela has outstretched his arms as a sign that he has embraced the whole South African nation. Besides, one of Mandela’s legs is in front as an indication that the state was on the move to transformation and economic prosperity (South African Explored, 1). The South African society has also set aside the Union Buildings as a national heritage site in honor of the late President Mandela. Mandela’s body was laid in the buildings for three days before the statute was unveiled. The Americans also have a statue of the former President Abraham Lincoln, which is situated in the Lincoln Memorial – National Mall – Washington. President Lincoln’s statue was unveiled in 1922. President Lincoln is accredited for his relentless efforts in enhancing the union of all the states (in U.S.) during the Civil War period. Additionally, he is recognized as a major force towards the end of the slavery in the United States through his Emancipation Proclamation. During the Civil War, President Lincoln was pressured by some of his cabinet members, the Copperheads, and was even threatened that he would be assassinated if he did not bring the war to an end. However, he never succumbed to such threats. Instead, he opted to keep on fighting until the defeat of the Confederacy. On the other hand, the Emancipation Proclamation is deemed as the first significant move towards the freeing of slaves in the United States. However, the abolition of the slave trade was not successful until the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865.
Conclusion
As illustrated above, societies have embraced the use of various objects as a means of acknowledging some of the key happenings in their history. Hass demonstrates that objects such as a Bronze Star, a baseball, and a ring with a letter in honor of the soldiers who lost their lives in the Vietnam War. In addition, objects have been used for other purposes within the society. As demonstrated in this paper, statutes have been used all over the globe to revere the great leaders among states. Some of the notable statutes include the Nelson Mandela statue in South Africa (and also in London) and President Lincoln’s statue in Washington. Such leaders are accredited for their great efforts in building their societies. President Mandela is widely recognized for his efforts in bringing an end to apartheid in South Africa. On the other hand, President Washington is accredited for his efforts in Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation. Societies also use sculptures to honor its great philosophers such as The Thinker, which is used in acknowledgment of Auguste Rodin. It is believed that the primary portrait objective was to emphasize the need for people to take time and think about the course of their lives as well as analyze some of the days to day occurrences in life. The French society also embraces the sculpture to celebrate the efforts of Rodin as he is deemed as the pioneer of the modern day carvings. Among the Zulu people, some objects like the shields and spears are used to celebrate the sacrifice of its soldiers in ensuring that their nation gained independence. Therefore, the society views such objects as some of the crucial elements that played a key role on their nation’s road to independence. Some of the objects have also been used as a means of signaling that a particular group of society members had settled in a given place. For instance, in the Norton Bay, items like polished slates, chipped knives and chipped projectile points made of stone, which signify that the Norton people had settled in that area.
Works Cited
Garrat, Luke. ‘Zulu Weapons Used in the Slaughter of British Troops at the Infamous Battle of Isandlwana Set to Fetch £10000 at Auction.’ Mail Online, 2014, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2536544/Zulu-tribal-shield-used-slaughter-British-troops-infamous-Battle-Isandlwana-set-fetch-800-auction.html. Accessed 3 August 2017.
Government Printing Office. Memorial Services in the Congress of the United States and Tributes in Eulogy of Ronald Reagan, Late a President of the United States. Government Printing Office, 2005.
Hass, Kristin Ann. Carried to the wall: American memory and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Universityt of California Press, 1998.
Jivanda, Tomas. ‘Giant Nelson Mandela Statute Unveiled in South Africa.’ Independent, 2013, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/giant-nelson-mandela-statue-unveiled-in-south-africa-9008539.html. Accessed 3 August 2017.
South Africa Explored. ‘Mandela’s Statute at the Union Buildings.’ South Africa Explored, 2017, https://www.sa-venues.com/attractionsga/mandela-statue.php. Accessed 3 August 2017.
Wilkins, Gordon. “Thinking about “The Thinker’”. Peabody Essex Museum, 2016,
https://www.pem.org/blog/thinking-about-the-thinker. Accessed 3 August 2017.
