LINES OF THE DAY

". . . But the past does not exist independently from the present. Indeed, the past is only past because there is a present, just as I can point to something over there only because I am here. But nothing is inherently over there or here. In that sense, the past has no content. The past -- or more accurately, pastness -- is a position. Thus, in no way can we identify the past as past." p. 15

". . . But we may want to keep in mind that deeds and words are not as distinguishable as often we presume. History does not belong only to its narrators, professional or amateur. While some of us debate what history is or was, others take it into their own hands." p. 153

Silencing the Past: Power and the Production of History (1995) by Michel-Rolph Trouillot

Thursday, September 8, 2011

The Ulysses S. Grant Memorial Sculpture on the Washington Mall

A fairly decent photography guide to this brilliant Civil War memorial sculpture can be found here.  The expressions on the faces of the men, and of the horses, capture the exertion and agony of battle in a succinct manner one might not expect could be done in bronze.

Here's the wiki that describes what we see.

However, this blogger, Aporetic, in his entry, "The Unseen Spectacular," provides a personal reaction to the sculpture. with both the photographs and the description.  It is highly recommended.

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