Description of the Monument
The monument of Martin Luther King, Jr. is a critical symbol for modern society, which strives to live in a peaceful world by respecting each other’s’ rights. The masterpiece is located in Washington, DC, and is devoted to the memory of Martin Luther King, Jr., who fought for equality and people’s rights (National Park Service, n.d.). The creation and building of the statue were initiated by Martin Luther King’s fraternity members (Sayej, 2022). The statue itself is a giant rock with the engraved figure of Dr. King. He is depicted with a strict gaze and crossed arms, holding a piece of paper and watching into the farness. A board with the words of Martin Luther King is placed near the monument.
Original Intentions and Evolving Interpretations of the Monument
The author’s original intention was to create artwork devoted to the words of Dr. King only. Eventually, it was decided to build the statue to draw people’s attention to this person’s individuality (Sayej, 2022). The purpose of memorial creation is to symbolize respecting racial distinctions. However, people usually interpret the initial meaning wrong, which affects the masses and makes them ponder deeper (TEDEd, n.d.). Later explanations changed the monument’s meaning through its message on racial discrimination (Meeks & Walker, 2018). The cultural understanding was modified by the memorial’s sense and enhanced African Americans’ integration into the various levels of the country’s social life. Historically, the artworks of cinematography and architecture had gender and race issues (Buchanan, 2016). Over the years, the interpretations remained the same, although people added more meanings to Dr. King’s words’ understanding.
Comparative Reflection: Insights from Resources and Personal Interpretations of the Monument
The resources that describe the statue of Martin Luther King, Jr. involve architectural and meaningful interpretations. The first point learned from the sources is that the monument was built to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. and his fight for African Americans’ rights (National Park Service, n.d.). The idea for the monument establishment was initiated by Dr. King’s fraternity members (Sayej, 2022).
Another aspect learned is that the intentions of artworks’ authors usually differ from people’s interpretations (TEDEd, n.d.). The resources provided the information that various creations, such as movies or other works, possessed gender issues earlier (Buchanan, 2016). The example of Martin Luther King, Jr. has changed this tendency with its message to respect black individuals during all generations’ existence (Meeks & Walker, 2018). Eventually, the resources ensured sufficient information about the monument and its description and importance for American society.
References
Buchanan, K. (2016). The awards show show: How critics affect the Oscars, and how bias affects critics. Vulture. Web.
Meeks, S. & Walker, D. (2018). On MLK Day, let’s tell the whole American story. Time. Web.
National Park Service (n.d.). Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial: Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope. U.S. Department of the Interior. Web.
Sayej, N. (2022). The improbable story on how the Martin Luther King Jr. monument came to be. Architectural Digest. Web.
TEDEd (n.d.). Who decides what art means? – Hayley Levitt. Web.