Intent and interpretation

We are studying intent and interpretation, specifically focusing on cultural works. For this assignment, select either the Statue of Liberty, the Crazy Horse Memorial, or the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial.

Research the intention of the creator of the monument you selected and how the monument is perceived today. Review the articles related to each monument in the Resources section.

Prompt:
Respond to the questions below in a few paragraphs. Specifically, you must address the following rubric criteria:

Describe the monument selected.
Explain the original intentions behind the monument selected and how later interpretations changed the meaning and cultural understandings.

Reflect on what you learned in the Resources section articles and compare your own interpretation or understanding of the monument selected with the intent of authors whose interpretations you chose to evaluate.

Full Answer Section Later Interpretations Over time, the Statue of Liberty has come to represent different things to different people. For some, it remains primarily a symbol of freedom and democracy. For others, it has come to represent the American dream of opportunity and success. Still others see it as a symbol of hope and resilience in the face of adversity. The Statue of Liberty has also been used as a symbol of protest and resistance. For example, in 1980, Cuban refugees staged a protest on Liberty Island, demanding to be allowed into the United States. And in 2017, protesters gathered at the statue to protest President Donald Trump's travel ban on citizens from several Muslim-majority countries. My Own Interpretation I see the Statue of Liberty as a powerful symbol of hope and possibility. It represents the American ideals of freedom, democracy, and opportunity for all. It is also a reminder of the importance of welcoming immigrants and refugees, who have played a vital role in building the United States. Comparison to Other Interpretations The interpretations of the Statue of Liberty in the Resources section articles are generally consistent with my own interpretation. The articles emphasize the statue's symbolism of freedom, democracy, and opportunity. They also discuss the statue's importance as a symbol of hope for immigrants and refugees. However, one article does offer a more nuanced interpretation of the statue. In "The Statue of Liberty as a Site of Struggle," author Mary L. Dudziak argues that the statue has also been used as a symbol of oppression and exclusion. For example, she notes that the statue was used to justify the exclusion of Chinese immigrants in the late 19th century. I find Dudziak's interpretation to be insightful and important. It reminds us that symbols can have multiple meanings, and that our interpretations of them can be influenced by our own biases and perspectives. Conclusion The Statue of Liberty is a powerful and complex symbol that has come to represent different things to different people over time. It is a reminder of the American ideals of freedom, democracy, and opportunity for all. It is also a symbol of hope and possibility for immigrants and refugees.
Sample Answer

Monument Selected: Statue of Liberty

Original Intentions

The Statue of Liberty was conceived in 1865 by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi as a gift from France to the United States to commemorate the centennial of the American Declaration of Independence and the friendship between the two nations. Bartholdi envisioned the statue as a symbol of freedom and democracy, and he chose to depict a woman holding a torch aloft as a beacon of hope for immigrants and refugees coming to America.

The statue was dedicated in 1886, and it quickly became a beloved icon of the United States. It was often seen as a symbol of welcome and opportunity for immigrants, and it also became a powerful symbol of the American ideals of liberty and justice for all.