A WOMAN WHO IS TRULY A BAD-ASS.
May Lin and her Design of the Vietnam Memorial.
May
Lin was a true staple that broke the mold of transition in art. An architect student named May Lin was twenty
one years old when she submitted her idea to a contest for a memorial that had
no way of putting down or shining light to the negativity in the Vietnam war.
This memorial was supposed to be a design reflected those who have been lost, and
May Yin Lin wanted their honor to be honest. Lin experienced life and the war
with her eyes fully open. She didn’t see the soldiers being honored if the
design ended up projecting the guidelines presented. The names of those who
served would embody a message conveying that since the war was over we were
safe. May Lin wanted to reflect the understanding that while the war is over on
the surface maybe, its damage is far from over. From the beginning May Lin could
see how the people serving our country in the war were not being treated as the
hero's they are labeled as. The veterans and those who came back alive were not
only starting all over in every part of their life, they were almost classed
into a lower profile without help to stand on their feet again. She felt that
justice and what it claims to prevail should have something to show its
deception. People in the public who might have not had anyone in the war, or
who had been unaffected by the war, or didn’t care enough to make an opinion
now had both sides. Her true artistic talents shined thorough the form of the
design and the feeling she brought with it. She knew people out there felt that
the war ending was not a mark that it was all over. The form the black graphite
shows that at the ends there can always be more names added. What happened in
war and the damage control had only just begun.
True to the outcome Lin didn’t believe her design
would be chosen for the memorial. She understood what was wanted for the
memorial, and she was not playing by the rules. Even though the intructions
seemed light and understandable on the surface, it was filled with fear. The
directions to only memorialize these men in a way that doesn’t make the
government look bad, is a statement not much different than presented. May Lin
had the chance to atleast have her design rejected and even in the decision
making process May Lin became an over night reporter for her design and her
view. She had not anticipated the chance to do so. Not only was her design
remanent of what was not asked for it was pointing fingers at the injustice our
country exhibited during the war. May Lin was also a female young, and of a
different nationality than causcsion. She was going out there with every
possible sterotype built in her skin and veins with the notion of oppurtunity.
Her strong stance and willingness to put herself out there seemed to her more
like a gift or blessiong than a duty. When her voice had the chance to speak it
spoke much like her design. The young woman was focused, clear and voiced her
view by reporting the facts. Her approach also stirred public interest in the
memorial. Without the submission of May Lin’s design the memorial the number of
memorial viewers probably wouldn’t even skim the surface of what her design
surmounted to. The intention of a memorial is a presence to be seen by many. I
picture what a memorial would look like today had one been created by the
directions. I picture ciggarette buts and no one seeing its presence only the
wall or place that they can lean against. Reporting on the truth and carrying
an air about her that gave no room for others to question her statements gave
May Lin a great sounding board. have been seen, discussed, or known to as many
people
Washington announced the memorial design contest was won by May Yin Lin. Two triangle pieces of
black granite symbolize so much more than what it took to create the estimated
seven million dollar memorial. It doesn't jut out with colors of red, white and
blue and obvious intent for viewers. This one would take a lot longer to fade
or made to feel as public background. As an analyst t May Lin crafted the depth
of her design like a lit up cave that one would be intrigued to explore. The
simplistic but unique black granite was shaped and out in a way that wouldn't project
just a glance. Everyone would stop the first time they saw it. The names were
not showcased with bells, ribbons, colors, or symbols of triumph. They were
true to death and life and looked like graves. Ironically the representation of
each grave contained material that was probably a lot nicer than most of the
real ones; if there was one at all. The first signal that this memorial
produces fits Lin’s analysis and humanly universal response.
FOR WHAT?
That
is the exact two words I thought of silently after I analyzed pictures of the
memorial. As a person who did not grow up around the war, I can never fully
embrace it no matter how much I learn about it in my lifetime. As a reader my
first humanly, raw insticnt is to think that if this many people are gone then
what they were against was unstoppable. If their intention was to fight then that cause must have been one that is
unbearable or so catasrophic that not fighting would be unheard of. The ones
who came back when the fight was over would be carried on gold chairs with
people cheering and have the clothing of kings. Of course I am aware with
history of how people are treated as they actively serve and end their position
in the military, but analyzing this memorial made my human response take over.
Lin’s objective as an analyzer was to make observers understand this design on
a human level first. Natural response doesn’t debate. It is ingrained within us
to have the presence of a gut instinct. No matter how many times you lie to
yourself you can’t deny that no one makes anyone feel the initial understanding
of what is truly good and just but ourselves individually. May Lin showed
people the naked truth. She did it in a way that was still respectful, (even
though argued) and made the public cries against it not taken into action due
to its simplistic safety net of exposure.
Artists
who create amazing, famous or even historical pieces of art don’t usually
obtain the title of activist or hold a place in the advancement of equal human
rights. With open arms May Lin was able to not only become an activist for her
design but an activist when it came to her rights as a woman. Since May Lin’s
initial approach was easy for public scrutinty, it wasn’t easy for protestors
to go full throttle with those opinions. They might scream and write, or group
together against the memorial but it felt cowardly. They couldn’t go by using
truth in the numbers without a captain. Trying to make May Lins status as a female not born on American soil was a weak argument in opposition against the memorial. Any referenced op-posers injustice of her
design was ridiculous and too ironic. For once you saw an argument that was executed without being looked at straight in the eye.
Those claims only fired up the feminist movement, and how those opposed
to the memorial because a female was the creator. In a big way those who disagreed with the display only ignited publicity around what was made to be an issue needing attention. Instead of opposers looking seeming to carry some weight or belief they came off as scorned little children. They acted as if
the memorial represented a secret they didn't want anyone to see. Also, the fact that a woman
made this huge public statement that was based on reality was something people
had a problem with. Their last pitiful agruement in that this memorial should
have atleast had a male creator if it was going to built faded like dust in the
wind. The title of artist and activist under May Lin’s name fits with
perfection.
The
amazing design by May Lin represents what freedom in America is all about. No
one can change what happened in the war, or what will happen in the future
pertaining to that score. We are made to accept the outcomes, understand that
time heals wounds, ignore obvious irony, and forget. This memorial shows us
that they can take away everything else, but they can’t take the truth away. The
reason I didn’t use the word, “Vietnam,” in this journal was to make sure my thought
pattern was driving on the fact that this was sopposed to be a memorial
representing those who have fought for it, instead of referencing that name.
Also, I didn’t want to focus on May Lins race to factually so that wouldn’t take
away from what she did for the advancement in recognition of female rights. I
can understand exactly why we were chosen to break down this woman in the
contexts of experiencer, reporter, anyalyzer, and activist. When art imitates
life the artist usually doesn’t wear that many hats no matter how fiercly the
piece pushes social circumstance. The role of experiencer, reporter, analyzer
and activist were four hats May Lin wore perfectly. She wore each hat more
beatifully than the next, so there wasn’t one that could be coined more than
another. Using hats might be silly to explain my point but this assigment and
how it made me feel is not. I don’t believe everyone was born for a specific
purpose, but if anyone is it’s May Lin, the designer of the Vietnam Memorial.
