Browse Exhibits (7 total)
How the "Fox Point Veterans Memorial" Diminishes the Contribution of Female Military Personnel
This memorial recognizes the sacrifice made by the men and women of Providence who fought in World War II. The involvement of the United States in the war was marked by the need to intervene to preserve democracy. As I mentioned, this memorial has the power to shift the dominant perception of World War II. Unfortunately, the The Fox Point Veterans Memorial fails to adequately provide information about Providence veterans' involvement and ultimately serves to acknowledge the sacrifice of male veterans while portraying the contribution of female military personnel as negligible.
Irish Political Power in Cathedral Square
Providence saw a significant influx of Irish immigration throughout the nineteenth century. Initially, the Irish were persecuted for their Catholic faith. They built community and political power around their churches. This exhibit traces the history of Irish political power: from early immigration to political dominance through the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in what is now downtown Providence.
Korean War Memorial: The Face of Struggle and a Space for Grieving
The Korean War Veterans Memorial adds a more somber and mournful tone to Memorial Park. It is unique from the other monuments in the park, and most war monuments in general. It does not simply laud soldiers’ service and America’s role in the war. The monument also emphasizes the soldiers’ suffering in the Korean War, showing a disheartened man facing miserable weather conditions. The soldier is nondescript - he is meant to be representative of all the soldiers in the war. As such he evokes the adversity that every Korean War soldier experienced. Soldiers in the Korean war had to face particularly harsh weather as depicted in the monument. Senator John H. Chafee, who commanded a rifle company in the Korean War, spoke to these difficult conditions in a speech given at the dedication of a monument at Brown University. He said that American soldiers were not just fighting against North Koreans and the Chinese army, they were also fighting against the weather and the terrain. Senator Chafee told listeners that “the rugged hills and mountains, the scorching hot summers, and subzero winters were challenges that no Marine or soldier who fought there will ever forget. It was aptly called ‘the coldest war.’”[1] The senator praised the soldiers resilience in these conditions, and opined that their endurance was the reason America was able to drive the North Koreans out of South Korea. The soldiers’ courage in the face of great struggle is strongly conveyed by the monument itself.
Nation as Sovereign and Power: White Surveillance through Monumental Sculpture and Capital Punishment
In his essay “Panopticism” in Discipline & Punish: The Birth of the Prison, Michel Foucault introduced the term "panopticon." He defined it as "enclosed space" in which every participant is "located" and constantly supervised. [1] This location of the subject is done through architecture, enforcing feelings of being watched and thus judged. I believe that the Federal Building at Kennedy Plaza and its accompanying monuments act as methods of surveillance, restricting who is allowed to belong at this site.
One of two monuments flanking the Federal Building, Nation as Sovereign and Power exemplifies the use of sculpture and iconography to demonstrate institutional power. Employing Roman symbols of the justice system and capital punishment, the monument impresses on the traveller that they are being scrutinized for any wrong doing. When one considers the proximity of the monument to surveillance cameras and armed marshals, it becomes clear that this is not a monument for citizens, but rather a tool of control for their government.
Rhode Island Irish Famine Memorial
The memorial's purpose is to pay tribute to the one and half million Irish people who left Ireland during the Great Famine and to recognize the Famine survivors. The memorial represents the stories of the Irish people during and after the Famine, honors those who made financial contributions to the memorial, and educates viewers about the Famine and its long-lasting effects.
The Hiker Monument: White Manliness, US Imperialism, and Colonial Erasure
Kitson condensed the Spanish-American War, Philippine-American War, and China Relief Expedition by following the popular tradition of centering the white male American soldier as a representation of the whole US military. As it promotes notions of Western imperialism and white manliness, the Hiker does not represent non-white Americans that fought in these altercations. From this monument we cannot know a version of history that isn’t white and male-centered; in other words, we cannot know a version of history that is authentic.
As I proceed to discuss the Hiker in its many historical, racial, and gendered implications, I will describe its positioning within the space of Kennedy Plaza and subsequently focus on its representation of white manliness, US Imperialism, and the erasure of colonial violence.
The Intent to Glorify: Roger Williams Statue in Prospect Terrace
When critically encountering the Roger Williams statue in Prospect Terrace, I discern that the primary intent of its creation and installment was to glorify and heroize Williams. This observation unlocked a series of interrelated questions: What narrative does this monument construct and reproduce about Williams? How does it use the physical design and location to convey that desired message? What are the implications of the incomplete narrative and silencing at this site? I propose that the monument’s messaging focuses on Williams as the heroic founder of Providence; the physical monument space silences indigenous communities and idealizes Williams.
Featured Exhibit
The Hiker Monument: White Manliness, US Imperialism, and Colonial Erasure
Kitson condensed the Spanish-American War, Philippine-American War, and China Relief Expedition by following the popular tradition of centering the white...