This term paper focuses on the topic of 9/11 memorials outside the USA and discusses the reasons behind them, their function and the reactions of others.
First, an introduction to the subject of memorials and the need for public grieving will be given to provide a theoretical foundation. Here, it will be stated why memorials became such an important part of our culture and what motivates people to plan and build these monuments. Subsequently, the attention will be drawn to three concrete memorials outside the USA. Their individual previous history will be explained to find out which circumstances led to their building. Finally, it will be discussed which functions memorials outside the US have and why there can also be found a lot of negative response on the part of the general public.
One way of dignifying the dead is building memorials. Memorials are an important part of human culture. Not only do they inherit the possibility to express strong emotions like pride, elation, or sorrow, they also serve the purpose of reminding future generations of very glorious or traumatic events of world history.
One of the most dramatic incidents of the 21st century surely is the terrorist attack of 9/11 when terrorists were to blame for the lives of almost 3000 human beings. After the first shock had been overcome and after temporary memorials had disappeared from the public places, people thought about creating permanent sites of grieving; a wave of 9/11 memorials spilled over the landscape of the USA. What many people do not know: not only did the Americans project memorials in memory of the terrorist attacks, but also (mostly European) foreign countries planned on building 9/11 memorials.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Memorializing the Past: The Need for Public Expressions of Grief
- Permanent Memorials outside the US
- Israel: 9/11 Living Memorial Plaza near Jerusalem
- Italy: Memoria e Luce in Padua
- Germany: 9/11 WTC Memorial in Oberviechtach
- Reasons and Functions of Memorials outside the US
- Reactions on 9/11 memorials Outside the US
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This term paper examines the topic of 9/11 memorials constructed outside the USA. It aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the motivations behind building these memorials, their symbolic functions, and the public reactions they elicit. The paper explores the significance of memorials in general, emphasizing their role in public grieving and the process of coming to terms with trauma. It then analyzes three specific memorials, delving into their historical context and design elements. Lastly, the paper discusses the broader functions and potential criticisms of these memorials in the context of international relations and public perception.
- The importance of memorials in public grieving and coping with trauma
- The diverse functions of memorials, including healing, remembrance, and education
- The role of memorials in shaping public memory and historical narratives
- The complexities of international reactions to memorials commemorating events that occurred in another country
- The symbolic significance and design elements of 9/11 memorials outside the USA
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction establishes the significance of memorials in human culture, particularly in the context of major historical events. It discusses the need for public expressions of grief and the therapeutic functions of memorials in aiding the process of coping with trauma.
Chapter 2 explores the theoretical foundation of memorialization, emphasizing their role in providing a space for collective mourning, reconciling with the past, and shaping future generations. The chapter highlights the therapeutic value of planning and building memorials as a way of reclaiming agency and transforming places of tragedy into sacred spaces of remembrance.
Chapter 3 presents three specific case studies of 9/11 memorials outside the USA: the 9/11 Living Memorial Plaza in Israel, the Memoria e Luce in Padua, Italy, and the 9/11 WTC Memorial in Oberviechtach, Germany. The chapter examines their historical contexts, design elements, and the motivations behind their construction.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The main keywords and focus topics of this term paper include 9/11 memorials, public grieving, trauma, memorialization, international relations, cultural memory, public perception, symbolic meaning, design elements, historical context, and international response.
- Quote paper
- Nina Groß (Author), 2017, Memorializing 9/11 Outside the USA. Reasons, Functions, and Reactions, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/1181961
