"Remembrance at Five: The Media's Impact on Contemporary American Commemoration": A talk by Judith Dupre October 23, 2008

Over the past thirty years, new forms of American commemoration have emerged, abetted by the media and an expanding sense of who "we the people" are. This illustrated presentation examines the evolution of memorial design from neoclassical structures such as the Lincoln Memorial, that were intended to establish a singular national identity, to new and democratic monumental forms, including the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, AIDS Quilt, and spontaneous memorials, that emphasize the experiential, participatory nature of grief and commemoration.

Judith Dupré writes books that bridge the worlds of art, photography, and architecture in ways that delight and educate. She has written several works of illustrated nonfiction that have been translated into ten languages, including Skyscrapers (1996); Bridges (1997); Churches (2001), a New York Times bestseller; and Monuments (2007). The books' unique bindings and page designs call attention to the book as an object to be held and read, and comment on the way people read today.

Official Website: http://www.ias.umn.edu/thursdayscalf08.php