Memories and Monuments: Destruction as a Path to Progress

Is the past ever really the past?   The history of humanity is filled with conflict and torment mixed with episodes of heroic struggle and bittersweet victories that resonate still today.  Books and buildings can represent cultural shifts that champion historic milestones, as can artistic monuments cast and carved in wood, metal or stone.

Art, architecture and other cultural artifacts can unite or divide, depending on who you ask.  So what’s the role of preservation in times of social and political upheaval, and does a strong desire for change justify censorship or demolition?  Read more.