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.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Memorializing the Past: The Need for Public Expressions of Grief
3. Permanent Memorials outside the US
3.1 Israel: 9/11 Living Memorial Plaza near Jerusalem
3.2 Italy: Memoria e Luce in Padua
3.3 Germany: 9/11 WTC Memorial in Oberviechtach
4. Reasons and Functions of Memorials outside the US
5. Reactions on 9/11 memorials Outside the US
6. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Key Topics
This paper examines the proliferation of 9/11-related memorials outside the United States, investigating the underlying motives and political functions behind their construction. The central research question explores why foreign nations establish these monuments, how they are perceived by the public, and whether they successfully serve their intended purpose of fostering solidarity or mourning in regions unaffected by the direct impact of the attacks.
- Theoretical foundations of public grieving and memorialization
- Comparative analysis of specific memorials in Israel, Italy, and Germany
- Distinction between official, public justifications and latent political motives
- Assessment of public reception and emotional engagement through digital platforms
- Evaluation of the effectiveness and long-term viability of displaced memorials
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 Israel: 9/11 Living Memorial Plaza near Jerusalem
The 9/11 Living Memorial Plaza is a memorial on the mountain side near Jerusalem in Israel. The plaza, which was designed by the artist Eliezer Weishoff and commissioned by the JNF/KKL (Jewish National Fond), is about 2 ha and was opened in 2009 (Aahren). The 9/11 Living Memorial Plaza commemorates the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and “is made partially from steel taken from the wreckage of the Twin Towers and is the only memorial outside the U.S. that includes the names of all who perished in the attacks” (Johnson). The main monument, which is a bronze statue that is located in the centre of the plaza, is the only one outside the USA which lists all the names of the 9/11 victims and has the form of an “American flag that forms the shape of a flame to commemorate the flames of the Twin Towers” (Johnson).
The first hint of its purpose can be found at the engraving on the monument, which says: "This metal remnant was taken from the remains of the Twin Towers that imploded in the September 11, 2001 disaster. [...] This metal piece, like the entire monument is a manifestation of the special relationship between New York and Jerusalem and an expression of gratitude to Keren Kayemeth – Jewish National Fund." The initiator of the whole construction was the Jewish National Fund whose aim was it, on the one hand, to remind of the attacks since there have been five victims from Jerusalem as well, and, on the other hand, it should serve as a meeting place for American and Israeli politicians (Jewish National Fund). Therefore, the whole monument is supposed to be a symbol of the friendship between the USA and Israel and serves the purpose of being a sign of solidarity.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The chapter introduces the cultural significance of memorialization and outlines the scope of this paper, which focuses on 9/11 monuments built internationally.
2. Memorializing the Past: The Need for Public Expressions of Grief: This section provides a theoretical framework for why societies build monuments and the therapeutic role they serve in collective trauma.
3. Permanent Memorials outside the US: This chapter analyzes three specific case studies in Israel, Italy, and Germany, exploring their design, intent, and historical background.
4. Reasons and Functions of Memorials outside the US: This section investigates the complex political motivations behind international 9/11 memorials, ranging from global protest against terrorism to demonstrating political alignment with the U.S.
5. Reactions on 9/11 memorials Outside the US: This chapter evaluates public sentiment through social media and online forums, highlighting a notable lack of emotional connection and frequent skepticism regarding these monuments.
6. Conclusion: The summary concludes that these memorials are largely political symbols that often fail to evoke the intended emotional response from local populations, potentially leading to their eventual social insignificance.
Keywords
9/11, Memorialization, Public Grieving, Trauma, Collective Memory, International Relations, Solidarity, Political Symbolism, Commemoration, 9/11 Living Memorial Plaza, Memoria e Luce, 9/11 WTC Memorial, Terrorism, Cultural Studies, Public Response
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic paper?
The paper explores the phenomenon of 9/11 memorials constructed in countries outside the United States, analyzing the motivations behind their creation and how they are perceived by the public.
What are the central thematic fields covered?
The work touches upon cultural studies, political science, sociology of memory, and the aesthetic representation of trauma within international landscapes.
What is the core research objective?
The objective is to understand why nations that were not directly attacked built 9/11 memorials and to determine whether these sites effectively serve the public need for mourning or act primarily as political instruments.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The author uses a qualitative approach, combining literature review, historical analysis of specific monument sites, and a modern analysis of public opinion via Web 2.0 sources (Facebook, blogs, etc.).
What does the main body of the text discuss?
It provides a theoretical overview of memorialization, presents three case studies in Israel, Italy, and Germany, identifies the political and economic reasons for these structures, and analyzes the skeptical public response to them.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key terms include 9/11, Memorialization, Public Grieving, Collective Memory, Political Symbolism, and International Relations.
How do these memorials differ from those in the US?
Unlike US memorials, which are often built at or near the sites of the trauma to facilitate grieving, these international memorials are frequently physically and emotionally dislocated from the actual tragedy, often serving political rather than purely commemorative functions.
What is the significance of the "Memoria e Luce" in Padua?
This Italian memorial is analyzed as an example of a project where local officials potentially used the 9/11 theme to gain international relevance, despite a lack of direct local ties to the victims of the attack.
What does the author conclude about the future of these memorials?
The author suggests that because many of these memorials fail to create a deep emotional connection with local residents, they risk becoming obsolete and fading into obscurity as time passes and the immediate political necessity for them diminishes.
- Quote paper
- Nina Groß (Author), 2017, Memorializing 9/11 Outside the USA. Reasons, Functions, and Reactions, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1181961
