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Thoughts on the Berlin Holocaust Memorial
May. 13th, 2005 06:38 amThey built a huge Holocaust Memorial in Berlin recently. It consists of 2711 concrete pillars of varying heights. Some of my first thoughts on reading about the maze like design was that it is a nightmare for security. I had visions of someone getting assaulted in there once the crowds stop coming to it in such great numbers.
My second was that it isn't something that will age well. One of the things that modern memorials seem determined to do is to stamp fresh grief into the bones of the earth so that it will never be forgotten like people who now picnic near memorials to the dead of the first World War. I see this as a negative myself. I doubt that in a century or two that people will remember the Holocaust the way it is now anymore than we now grieve for the millions who died in the wars of religion. Yet in our arrogance we attempt to dictate that this monument will forever be barren and sterile of green things of anything that would ease forgetfulness. And in time I think that will mean it will no longer be visited. It will turn into something resembling a abandoned industrial park in time I expect.
My third impression is that in some ways it is no worse than any other memorial. In time will carved names or great bronze figures convey any more meaning to passing tourists than do blank concrete pillars? Though pretty would be better in my opinion because in the long centuries after people cease to care why a monument was erected they will still like pretty and probably care for it better than otherwise.
My second was that it isn't something that will age well. One of the things that modern memorials seem determined to do is to stamp fresh grief into the bones of the earth so that it will never be forgotten like people who now picnic near memorials to the dead of the first World War. I see this as a negative myself. I doubt that in a century or two that people will remember the Holocaust the way it is now anymore than we now grieve for the millions who died in the wars of religion. Yet in our arrogance we attempt to dictate that this monument will forever be barren and sterile of green things of anything that would ease forgetfulness. And in time I think that will mean it will no longer be visited. It will turn into something resembling a abandoned industrial park in time I expect.
My third impression is that in some ways it is no worse than any other memorial. In time will carved names or great bronze figures convey any more meaning to passing tourists than do blank concrete pillars? Though pretty would be better in my opinion because in the long centuries after people cease to care why a monument was erected they will still like pretty and probably care for it better than otherwise.