Why do people build monuments in cities? Which institutions are involved in the preservation of cultural monuments? Necessity and main aspects
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Already in ancient times, the rulers were well aware of the influence of monumental structures on the consciousness and psyche of people. Monuments with their grandeur give an emotional charge, inspire respect for the history of their country, help to preserve a significant past. They are designed to instill in citizens a sense of pride in their ancestors. Sometimes monuments are erected to living people who distinguished themselves by something good. Quite a bit of time will pass, and there will be no survivors of the Great Patriotic War. The presence of a monument that tells about the feat of the Russian people will allow descendants not to forget about these years. In any locality of our country, you can find stone evidence of this cruel time. There is an invisible connection between monuments and society. The historical and cultural environment, of which monuments are a part, influences the formation of the worldview of each inhabitant. In addition, historical and cultural monuments are information that is needed to predict future processes. Science, using such archaeological material as monuments, not only restores what happened in the past, but also makes predictions. In architectural terms, monuments help to organize space, play the role of a visual center of public space. For an objective understanding of cultural and historical processes in society, it is important to preserve monuments. Attitude towards them is determined by the position of society towards its past and can be manifested by ignorance, care and deliberate destruction. It depends on many factors - on the level of education and culture of the population, the dominant ideology, the position of the state towards its cultural heritage, the political structure, the economic state of the country. The higher the education, culture, economy of a society, the more humane its ideology, the more consciously it relates to its historical and cultural heritage.
What only does not exist in the world of monuments! Grateful humanity erected majestic buildings in honor of the dead just rulers, brilliant musicians and poets. In the prehistoric era, heads of state did not want to wait for their own death and built monuments to themselves during their lifetime. Monuments are erected in cemeteries and in the center of city squares. Why do people in all countries and at all times do this?
Mankind began to put at the dawn of civilization. Scientists are still finding the oldest stone sculptures created by primitive sculptures and still raising questions and debates about what or who they are. One thing does not cause controversy - all images of fictional or real creatures had a cult value. The first monuments were created as objects of worship, magical supernatural powers were attributed to them. Later, deceased leaders and respected members of tribes and ancient communities began to be endowed with magical powers. People began to create monuments to perpetuate and exalt. This function is preserved and . Statues depicting generals, rulers of states or great writers can be seen in any country. The grateful pay tribute to the talents or heroism of their great compatriots. But in the history of mankind, monuments were erected not only to the dead, but also to living people. The cult of a living person and his deification were especially pronounced in ancient Egypt. The pharaohs built tombs for themselves and erected their own next to the statues of their many. This tradition was later picked up by emperors in the ancient world. Monuments were erected to them during their lifetime, and emperors could enjoy divine honors and glorification of their merits even before the inevitable departure to another world. However, the passion for exalting one's own person among the greats of this world can be observed today. Lifetime monuments were erected to Kim Ser In, Stalin, Turkmenbashi Niyazov, Mao, and the full list is not limited to these names. As a rule, the initiative to build monuments to a glorified person came from this person himself or his faithful associates. The presence of monuments to living people is considered by many sociologists as one of the proofs of an unhealthy society and a totalitarian system in the country. With the development of society, the monuments became more and more diverse. Not only people, but also animals began to be honored to be immortalized in bronze and marble. There are monuments to rescue animals who died in the service. For example, in Paris there is a monument to St. Bernard Barry, who saved the lives of people caught in an avalanche. In Japan, you can see a monument to dog loyalty. It was erected in honor of the dog Hachiko, who for several years daily came to
This problem seems to me extremely relevant, because today it is a very important problem that needs to be paid attention to, because many monuments are being dismantled under various pretexts and shops, parking lots, etc. are being built in their place.
Many Russian writers touched upon this most important problem in their works. It is worth remembering the poem "Borodino" by M.Yu. Lermontov. In the poem "Borodino" Lermontov refers to one of the most dramatic moments in Russian history - the Battle of Borodino. The whole work is imbued with patriotic pathos, the author is proud of the heroic past of his Motherland, admires Russian soldiers, heroes of the Battle of Borodino. This example testifies to the heroic deed of a soldier who deserves to be remembered.
I think in real life there are many examples illustrating this problem.
For example, in yesterday's news release, I heard that a monument to volunteers who fought in the Donbass was erected in Rostov-on-Don. This event testifies that there are people who are ready to defend the peace and tranquility of citizens at the cost of their own lives.
Thus, the author of this text made me think about the most important problem of preserving historical and cultural monuments. I came to the conclusion that it is necessary to preserve the monuments, because this is the historical and cultural heritage of the nation, which will help not to forget the exploits of brave people and significant events that have taken place all the time.
Updated: 2018-01-16
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Even at the dawn of civilization. Scientists are still finding the oldest stone sculptures created by primitive sculptures and still raising questions and debates about what or who they are. One thing does not cause controversy - all images of fictional or real creatures had a cult value. The first monuments were created as objects of worship, magical supernatural powers were attributed to them. Later, deceased leaders and respected members of tribes and ancient communities began to be endowed with magical powers. People began to create monuments to perpetuate and exalt. This function is preserved and . Statues depicting generals, rulers of states or great writers can be seen in any country. The grateful pay tribute to the talents or heroism of their great compatriots. But in the history of mankind, monuments were erected not only to the dead, but also to living people. The cult of a living person and his deification were especially pronounced in ancient Egypt. The pharaohs built tombs for themselves and erected their own next to the statues of their many. This tradition was later picked up by emperors in the ancient world. Monuments were erected to them during their lifetime, and emperors could enjoy divine honors and glorification of their merits even before the inevitable departure to another world. However, the passion for exalting one's own person among the greats of this world can be observed today. Lifetime monuments were erected to Kim Ser In, Stalin, Turkmenbashi Niyazov, Mao, and the full list is not limited to these names. As a rule, the initiative to build monuments to a glorified person came from this person himself or his faithful associates. The presence of monuments to living people is considered by many sociologists as one of the proofs of an unhealthy society and a totalitarian system in the country. With the development of society, the monuments became more and more diverse. Not only people, but also animals began to be honored to be immortalized in bronze and marble. There are monuments to rescue animals who died in the service. For example, in Paris there is a monument to St. Bernard Barry, who saved the lives of people caught in an avalanche. In Japan, you can see a monument to dog loyalty. It was erected in honor of the dog Hachiko, who for several years daily came to and waited for the arrival of his deceased master. In many European cities, there has recently been a trend to erect unusual and funny monuments. In Washington there is a monument to people standing in line, in Bratislava you can see a monument to a plumber sticking his head out of a sewer manhole, and in Paris to take a picture next to the monument to a finger. Such structures do not have any important social function, they are made for the mood, decoration of the city and attracting the attention of tourists to it. Human memory is short, life goes on as usual and new ones are constantly appearing. Monuments do not allow mankind to forget about the most important milestones in its history, about people and events that we would like to always remember.
Throughout our country, in view of its heroic past, monuments of military antiquity are scattered. Suffice it to name the Arc de Triomphe on Victory Square and the equestrian monument to M.I. Kutuzov near the museum-panorama "Battle of Borodino", Monument-chapel to the grenadiers - the heroes of Plevna as a reminder of one of the Russian-Turkish wars of the century before last. And there is nothing to say about the Great Patriotic War. In any settlement you can find stone evidence of that cruel time. Let's take Volgograd, one of those cities that suffered the most in World War II. The gratitude of the country for the resilience of Stalingrad was embodied in the world-famous monument to the Motherland and the sculptural ensemble "Mamaev Kurgan", which since those turbulent times have become a symbol of the city.
Be that as it may, but from any monument it breathes something grave and fatal. Moreover, this applies not only to military monuments, obelisks and tombstones, but also to sculptures erected to perpetuate the good deeds of cultural and political figures. Monuments, with rare exceptions, are erected in memory of people who have already died. And it doesn’t matter when a person went into eternity: a week, a month, 10 years or 200 years ago, anyway, his stone or bronze statue breathes the past.
No one says that it is necessary to consign the exploits of the ancestors to oblivion and demolish all the monuments to the ground. No way: this is our history, our culture. It is about simply giving universal and timeless cultural values.
In Volgograd, for example, the first steps towards this have been taken. In 2005, in the shortest possible time, 3 new monuments were installed at once: a bronze sculpture of the Guardian Angel, a monument to the Lovers and a monument to the Doctors of Tsaritsyn - Stalingrad - Volgograd. They differ from all other monuments and sculptures of the hero-city by their non-personality, aspiration to the future and to spiritual values. In particular, the sculpture of the Guardian Angel is designed to protect the townspeople from harm.
The words "Holy angel, pray to God for us" are carved on the pedestal. And the sculpture itself is bronze angel with open wings, standing on a granite hemisphere. His soulful and kind face is turned to the Volga, his hands are folded in a majestic prayer for all the townspeople.
But, like any cultural phenomenon, there were both supporters and opponents. Some saw in the Angel a resemblance to a demon, more loyal critics simply emphasized the alienness of the monument to the Russian consciousness due to the fact that the sculptural image of an angel is not characteristic of Orthodoxy.
A capsule with innermost desires and dreams of Volgograd residents was placed at the base of the statue. After the erection of the monument, a sign was born that if you make a wish and touch the wing of an Angel, then it will certainly come true. Like it or not, history is silent. But the residents of the city still enjoy it. After all, it is widely known how quickly any cultural points are overgrown with myths and legends and how pleasant it is for people to believe in them. Even complete skeptics rub the nose of a dog to a shine in Moscow and the muzzle of a gun on Revolution Square in the metro, and in the hero city, which stretches for many tens of kilometers along the Volga in defiance of the circular laws of city formation, they now rub the Angel's wings.
The monument "Medics of Tsaritsyn - Stalingrad - Volgograd" is installed in front of the main entrance to the Volgograd State Medical University. The unveiling of the statue was timed to coincide with the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the university. The monument itself was erected in honor of all medical workers who selflessly fight for the life and health of their patients. The sculptural composition is a pair of hands carved in granite and connected in the form of a heart, from which a "sprout of life" breaks out against the background of a cardiogram. The author of this composition, as well as the sculpture of the Guardian Angel of Volgograd, is the Honored Architect of Russia Sergey Shcherbakov.
Hurrying about their business, the inhabitants of the city now and then peer with bewilderment at this "creation" of human hands. In this abstract sculpture, some are depressing by its excessive intricacy. Like, if it were not for the inscription on granite, it would be impossible to guess who this monument is dedicated to. But there is an inscription, the location of the monument speaks for itself, a granite slab, crossed arms and a cardiogram symbolize a vital organ - the heart, and therefore life itself.
Even less enthusiastic reviews of the townspeople refer to the monument to the Lovers, the author of which is no longer a Russian architect, but a Florentine sculptor Silvio Bellucci. However, the preferences of Volgograd residents are determined not at all by a sense of patriotism, but by aesthetic views. The Monument to the Lovers, or the fountain of love, consists of two bronze nude figures of a man and a woman, for some reason turned their backs to each other (people say it even more simply - see photo). There is nothing vulgar and vulgar in this sculpture, but something is still missing. Lovers who at all times love to date in "cult" places, this dubious place was immediately put on the "must date" list, but this is unlikely to add romance to their meetings. However, there is no dispute about tastes.
These are the new monuments of the new time ... And as for the speculation regarding the connection of the rapid "planting" of monuments with the change in the city's leadership, as well as the dubious aesthetic merits of the above "troika", so let them remain speculation. Despite all the apparent and real shortcomings attributed by harsh critics and ordinary citizens to the new Volgograd monuments, the very idea of putting the universal and spiritual on a pedestal cannot be condemned.