Public Monuments Normalize War Imagery Across Nations, Study Reveals

In a 2021 audit conducted by Philadelphia's Monument Lab, an examination of 50,000 monuments across the U.S. indicated that nearly 60% are centered on warfare, while a mere 10% focus on religious themes. Among principal monuments, one in four features a general, only 6% highlight women, and 10% showcase Black or Indigenous individuals. More than 70% represent landowners. The analysis shows that discussions of war outnumber those of peace by 13 times and kindness by 59 times. Italy has recorded 12,000 World War I monuments, lacking a thorough survey like that of the U.S. In Sweden, which has maintained neutrality for two centuries, war-themed monuments comprise less than 10%. Since 1937, the Statens konstråd has managed public art, steering clear of war glorification. Scholar Lisa Parola's 2022 publication "Giù i monumenti" explores themes of colonialism and racism.