Monumenty glorii i żałoby
Monuments of Glory and Mourning

American Vietnam War Memorials

Summary/Abstract: The ambiguous attitude of Americans to the conflict in Vietnam is reflected in their war monuments. The aim of this article is to show how these ambivalent feelings affect the shape of monuments commemorating the soldiers who fought in Vietnam. Three types of monument are distinguished: figurative, abstract, and hybrid. The latter combines various solutions and styles; it is often a multi-element memorial site. In all cases, these monuments are devoid of the pathos of war and their message is focused on loss. The initiators and designers of the monuments concentrate on expressing mourning, while reminding us of the courage, sacrifice, and glory of the American soldiers. It is therefore possible to speak of the cultural matrix of the American monument dedicated to the Vietnam War, which coherently combines the celebration of losses with recognition of the soldier’s glory, while avoiding any assessment of the conflict itself. Thanks to this, these monuments fulfill a healing, bond-forming, and educational function.

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