The fundamental reason a monument is created is for a connection to be remembered or forged. It functions as a palette for the viewer to paint his own thoughts and emotions. When an organization sets out to create a monument, it must bear in mind that the monument must arouse a deep emotion, either positive or negative, otherwise, it will become obsolete. In Jim Deegan’s photo, Christopher Columbus is staring off into the distance, his clothes billowing in a seemingly long-forgotten sea breeze. A controversial character, Columbus vacillates between being the hero for some, by finding America, and the nemesis of others for his genocides. However, the angle of the shot, upward, as if in deference, and the thick, mystical fog, all contribute to the universal understanding that the man was a towering figure. Those who come to the park may be angered or joyous, but either way, their feelings leave them impacted by their visit. The organization that created this statue likely wanted a quiet place, a park, in which Americans could reflect upon their heritage and come to their own conclusions as to what they thought of Columbus. That makes for a good monument, one in which a person’s thoughts can settle, and he can form his true feelings. When Elroy Johnson’s lobster sculpture was finally created, no one was …show more content…
The planners of the building made an excellent choice. They understood that the building would spark controversy and that the museum itself would raise emotions from the horrors of the holocaust, and so they were willing to compromise on the building, by making it smaller, while still creating a monument that would forever cause deep, conflicted feelings. Since this time, the holocaust museum has become one of the most frequented buildings in Washington,