Absence and Piecemeal Approaches to Commemorative Practice

Abstract

In this essay I utilize Natalia Molina’s (2014) definition of racialized script to interrogate how and to what extent AMNH’s efforts in 2019 to “flip” the racialized script of the TR equestrian statue with the temporary Addressing the Statue exhibit attempts to mitigate public perceptions of the statue being a blatant expression of racial dominance. This mitigation is done through the rhetorical recontextualization of the statue through the exhibit as a problematic but necessary history. Here I discuss why such actions are piecemeal efforts on the part of the AMNH, and how the museum’s choices to maintain other problematic displays inside the museum counter-productively embraces the commemorative absence of the TR equestrian statue (Maxson, 2019)—continuing to circulate the same problematic narratives the museum claims to detest. This analysis adds to our ability to continue asking, “How do we deal with our problematic history?” This question aids us in understanding the potential implications associated with preserving and circulating histories that promote discriminatory perspectives and reinforce hegemonic ideals by masquerading as a “necessary” or “entitled” history.

Keywords:

• Theodore Roosevelt
• public memory
• historical attachments
• commemorative absence
• TR equestrian statue
• Addressing the Statue exhibit

Acknowledgment

The author would like to thank the reviewers for their thoughtful and supportive feedback during the manuscript review process.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Parts of this essay are drawn from the author’s doctoral dissertation. Please see: Maldonado, C.A. (2019) Recovering Roosevelt: Memory and the restoration of American exceptionalism in contemporary visual culture. [Doctoral dissertation., North Carolina State University].

2 My observations of the TR equestrian statue are from multiple research trips to the museum in 2017 and 2018. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, I could not visit the Addressing the Statue exhibit in person before its removal in January 2022. Therefore, my analysis is based on the exhibit’s page on the AMNH website and the website of exhibit designer, Molly Magnell. Please see https://mollymagnell.com/Addressing-the-Statue.