Why was the Vietnam memorial so controversial?
The design aroused a great deal of controversy, reflecting the lack of resolution of the national conflicts over the war as well as the lack of consensus over what constituted an appropriate memorial at the end of the 20th century.
Why did some people challenge Jan Scruggs idea of a Vietnam memorial wall?
His concern was that too few younger Americans knew much about the Vietnam War, and the memorial did little to educate them about the war or veterans’ issues.
What were some of Maya Lin’s ideas for this memorial?
Instead of something heroic or celebratory, Lin imagined two stark black walls that began inside the earth, then grew and grew in height until they met—like a “wound that is closed and healing.” The V-shaped wall, designed to point toward the Lincoln and Washington Memorials, would be inscribed with the names of the …
How is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial so effective?
“The Three Soldiers” statue and the names inscribed upon the wall evoke a specific memory and remembrance while the black wall and order of the names evoke a more generalized feeling of loss and time. Each is relatively more effective in evoking or creating memory. As a whole, they can create a complete process.
What does the Vietnam War Memorial symbolize?
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial stands as a symbol of America’s honor and recognition of the men and women who served and sacrificed their lives in the Vietnam War. Inscribed on the black granite walls are the names of more than 58,000 men and women who gave their lives or remain missing.
Why is the Vietnam Memorial black instead of white?
Free of overt historical reference to either the Egyptian or Greco-Roman traditions of monument design—the main visual touchstones for American memorial-building—Lin’s design broke with these traditions through its use of black granite, polished to a reflective smoothness (instead of white limestone or marble); its …
What was the criteria for the Vietnam memorial?
The guidelines stipulated that the memorial should contain the names of every American who died in Vietnam or remained missing in action, make no political statement about the war, be in harmony with its surroundings and be contemplative in character.
Why did people think that a Vietnam memorial was necessary?
The purpose of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was to honor all who had served, with a special tribute – their names engraved – for those who did not return.
Why is the Vietnam memorial black instead of white?
Maya Lin conceived her design as creating a park within a park — a quiet protected place unto itself, yet harmonious with the overall plan of Constitution Gardens. To achieve this effect she chose polished black granite for the walls.
Is Maya Ying Lin still alive?
| Maya Lin | |
|---|---|
| Maya Lin, in 2014 | |
| Born | Maya Ying Lin October 5, 1959 Athens, Ohio, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Yale University |