Monuments, Pt 5
Dumb and Dumber
Amid the reign of chaos that is Trump’s Second Regime, yet another massively stupid move landing this week: this time, the largest monumental arch ever, were it to be built. It joins the wannabe dictator’s massive ballroom and his proposed presidential library in a gold-bedecked skyscraper in Miami as projects squarely within the self-aggrandizing monumental tradition of authoritarians and imperialists throughout history. When asked what the arch would commemorate, Trump replied, “Me.” Like the man, the arch is malignant, narcissistic, and stupid.
Some images:
Nazi Germany’s pavilion at the 1937 Paris World’s Exposition.
Interior of Nazi Germany’s pavilion at the 1937 Paris World’s Exposition.
Interior of Trump’s proposed presidential library.
Italian fascist dictator Mussolini saluting—compare to Trump in the preceding image.
More readings on the subject of narcissism and authoritarianism in design:
This belongs in the NY Times. Thank you for writing it. We all need to be reminded of this history (and semiotics) repeating.
The eagle wings on the Statue of Liberty replica at the top tell us ALL we need to know about the veracity and suitability of ANY Of this construct.