Kenneth Foote’s Shadowed Ground: America’s Landscapes of Violence and Tragedy
examines monuments and memorials that deal with a variety of events in American History. He
uses a variety of types of monuments dedicated to natural disasters, mass murders,
assassinations, freak accidents and other varieties. Such monuments and memorials deal with
what Foote believes is a “sense of place.” In doing so, Foote articulates the various meanings of
the memories attached to sites of memorial and commemoration. He also explores the concept of
shared meaning as it relates to the people and events that the sites stand for. Foote also facilitates
a discussion regarding temporary versus permanent status of markers and memorials. Foote’s
background as a Cultural …show more content…
Several “fields of care” are related to
sanctification. They include: the heroic struggle, martyrs and heroes, and a sense of community
loss. Foote’s example of the heroic struggle is The National Cemetery at Gettysburg. He uses
presidential assassinations as examples of martyrs and heroes. Lastly, Foote uses the victims of
the Jonestown Floods as an example of community loss.
Foote argues that designation pertains to events that some believe, will be of importance
in the future. It often times overlaps with sanctification. Designation is sanctification without any
of the ritualistic activities. Often designations such as markers are temporary rather than a
sanctified stationary monument. Foote articulates that designation, “is sometimes best viewed as
a transitional phase in the history of a site.” Many sites of designation have the possibility of
becoming sanctified in the future. Fields of designation include: the minority cause, places in
progress, and the unforgettable event. Foote uses the MLK assassination at the Lorraine Hotel in
Memphis, Tennessee as an example of the minority cause. He uses The Bunker Hill Memorial
examines monuments and memorials that deal with a variety of events in American History. He
uses a variety of types of monuments dedicated to natural disasters, mass murders,
assassinations, freak accidents and other varieties. Such monuments and memorials deal with
what Foote believes is a “sense of place.” In doing so, Foote articulates the various meanings of
the memories attached to sites of memorial and commemoration. He also explores the concept of
shared meaning as it relates to the people and events that the sites stand for. Foote also facilitates
a discussion regarding temporary versus permanent status of markers and memorials. Foote’s
background as a Cultural …show more content…
Several “fields of care” are related to
sanctification. They include: the heroic struggle, martyrs and heroes, and a sense of community
loss. Foote’s example of the heroic struggle is The National Cemetery at Gettysburg. He uses
presidential assassinations as examples of martyrs and heroes. Lastly, Foote uses the victims of
the Jonestown Floods as an example of community loss.
Foote argues that designation pertains to events that some believe, will be of importance
in the future. It often times overlaps with sanctification. Designation is sanctification without any
of the ritualistic activities. Often designations such as markers are temporary rather than a
sanctified stationary monument. Foote articulates that designation, “is sometimes best viewed as
a transitional phase in the history of a site.” Many sites of designation have the possibility of
becoming sanctified in the future. Fields of designation include: the minority cause, places in
progress, and the unforgettable event. Foote uses the MLK assassination at the Lorraine Hotel in
Memphis, Tennessee as an example of the minority cause. He uses The Bunker Hill Memorial