Smashing Statues: The Rise and Fall of America's Public Monuments

The book "Smashing Statues" by Erin L. Thompson explores the controversial history of American monuments and the debates surrounding their removal. It examines the motivations behind these actions and provides insight into the complex issues involved.

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 22 March 2022
Publisher: WW Norton & Co

America is currently experiencing a heated and divisive national debate surrounding public monuments. Some individuals are willing to risk imprisonment to dismantle long-ignored marble structures, while others organize armed patrols to protect them. The question arises: why do we hold such significance towards statues? And who has the authority to determine which ones should remain standing and which should be taken down?

In order to provide much-needed clarity in this complex and contentious matter, Erin L. Thompson, a renowned expert in the intricate aesthetic, legal, political, and social aspects of such conflicts, has written Smashing Statues. Thompson delves into the turbulent history of American monuments, highlighting their abundant ironies, beginning with the enslaved man who played a significant role in the construction of the statue of Freedom atop the US Capitol. She also explores the surprising motivations behind contemporary flashpoints, such as the toppling of a statue of Columbus at the Minnesota State Capitol.

Written with great verve and thorough research, Smashing Statues offers readers the necessary context to consider the fundamental question: whose voices must be heard, and whose pain must remain private? This book is a valuable contribution to the ongoing debate and provides a thought-provoking exploration of the complex issues surrounding public monuments in America.

Weight: 440g
Dimension: 148 x 218 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780393867671