46 – Monument

Man of Steel Answers Insight Commentary

Segments originally recorded March 29th, April 30th, and July 19th. Heroes Park monument, memorial, and the Superman statue.

Answers, insights, and commentary on:

• Motif of monuments, memorials, and memory throughout the film
• The Superman statue as political expedience
• A scar on the city
• National September 11 Memorial parallels
• Remember the city as it was, incorporating the city
• Impact of Vietnam Veterans Memorial
• Maya Lin’s design, intention, and overcoming criticism
• The certainty of youth
• Chronological listing of names
• Names as a meaningful abstraction
• Symbols of the Wall
• Criticism over abstraction and ambiguity
• Critics can turn anything into a controversy
• Critics upset over the unexpected and unconventional
• Public grieving changed by Vietnam Veterans Memorial
• Accessibility of art beyond the directly connected and invested
• Interpretation and understanding increasing appreciation of art
• Benefits of wonder and awe
• The pose, humility, and abstraction of the statue
• Do heroes have to be known or perfect to get a monument?
• Wallace Keefe’s objections to the statue
• Monuments versus the fluidity of history
• Keefe’s arrest as the central statement
• Superman’s feelings about the statue, being put on a pedestal

…and much more!

Sorry, I don’t have access to Doc’s notes. He’ll update the show notes with links after Suicide Squad.

Time Out Shortlist Metropolis & Gotham | Dan Wallace (editor)
Dawn of Justice: The Art of the Film | Peter Aperlo
Maya Lin, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, 1982 | Smarthistory
American Icons: The Vietnam Veterans Memorial | Studio 360
Maya Lin and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial | Rear Window
Hidden Brain: Great Vacations and Awe | NPR
Heroes are good – let’s make statues of them | Nikolas Lloyd
ISIS destroys ancient artifacts in Mosul | CBS
A History of Controversial Monuments | Eveline van Rijswijk

Web: ManOfSteelAnswers.com
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8/8 – Thanks to H.H. for publishing the episode and moderating the site!