She traces the turbulent history of American monuments and its abundant ironies, starting with the enslaved man who helped make the statue of Freedom atop the US Capitol, and explores the surprising motivations behind such contemporary flashpoints as the toppling of a statue of Columbus at the Minnesota State Capitol. Thompson, the country’s leading expert in the tangled aesthetic, legal, political, and social issues involved in such battles, brings much-needed clarity in Smashing Statues. As statues topple across the US, a new women’s rights monument in Central Park has sparked debate over whether statues are a redeemable form of remembrance. Smashing Statues: The Rise and Fall of America’s Public Monuments Library Journal POLITICAL SCIENCE Smashing Statues: The Rise and Fall of America’s Public Monuments by Erin L. Some people risk imprisonment to tear down long-ignored hunks of marble others form armed patrols to defend them. Thompson notes in her new book, Smashing Statues: The Rise and Fall of America’s Public Monuments, the monuments didn’t stay out of sight for long. An urgent and fractious national debate over public monuments has erupted in America. Why do we care so much about statues? And who gets to decide which ones should stay up and which should come down?Įrin L. 'A leading experts exploration of the past, present, and future of public monuments in America. Some people risk imprisonment to tear down long-ignored hunks of marble others form armed patrols to defend them.

A leading expert’s exploration of the past, present, and future of public monuments in America.Īn urgent and fractious national debate over public monuments has erupted in America.

Erin thompson smashing statues