Vietnam Memorial and Political Iconography

Vietnam Memorial and Political Iconography

In the document, "The Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Washington Mall: Philosophical Thoughts on Political Iconography," Charles L. Griswold discusses the effects of he Vietnam Veterans Memorial (VVM) on those visiting the site and reading the names and inscriptions on the fairly simple construction. An introduction to the issue of monuments and what they stand for is followed by three sections. The first section addresses the Washington Mall in general terms, focusing on the layout of the Mall and monuments. The second section progresses to a more specific description of selected monuments in terms of the VVM. The relation of the VVM to the two monuments to which it points - the Washington and Lincoln Memorials is also discussed in greater depth. Finally, the third section is an in-depth discussion of the VVM, its effects, and the various meanings attached to it as a memorial.

The reference to meaning and heritage connected with monuments is the central element of the article, and also serves as a cohesive device. This connects with the physical layout of the Mall, which appears to connect each monument in relation to all the other monuments. This is the premise that Griswold uses for his third section, where he connects his discussion of the VVM with the preceding sections. In this way, the article in many ways resembles the relationship between the different monuments in the Mall.