Edward Snowden & Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Monument
After watching the documentary by Laura Poitras, Citizenfour, I gained a much deeper and more authentic understanding of Edward Snowden and his decisions during his time in the NSA to release classified information on world governments spying on their citizens.
When analyzing this Edward Snowden hologram monument, I think it is important to know first that the monument was a bust. It was constructed out of hydrocal (a mixture of sand, water, and gypsum), and it was placed by two anonymous artists on top of a pedestal in Fort Greene’s Park in Brooklyn, New York, where even before that, the bust had never existed. It was placed on top of that Pedestal, which came from the Prison Ships Martyrs’ Monument which commemorated American Prisoners of war who lost their lives during their time serving in the Revolutionary War. The Edward Snowden bust was erected in 2014, the time when he had for the first time revealed his true identity– he previously went under the name “Citizenfour” which is the profile he created to contact American Film Director Laura Poitras by sending her encrypted emails containing these confidential pieces of information.
This bust was promptly covered with a tarp and shortly after removed by Brooklyn police because it was deemed a federal crime and illegal to impermissibly erect a monument of any sort without city approval. The response to that resulted in another three anonymous artists who displayed a holographic bust nearly identical to the hydrocal bust on the very pedestal with a tagline below reading “SNOWDEN”. This holographic monument was not permanent, but it was intangible, untouchable– a sheer image in our vision. The hologram display came down eventually, but here inlays a historical event that sheds so much light on these conversations regarding our liberties and privacy as human beings and the controversy surrounding all of it.
When discussing the the pros of the monument and how it works effectively in terms of how we interpret public monuments. As stated in the definitional guidelines, monuments “may commemorate, though not always celebrate an event or person”. This is an important piece of context to keep in mind because the American population has mixed views on Edward Snowden and the ethics surrounding him. However, that doesn’t differ much from how we feel about other monuments that we know and have treasured for decades, some centuries.
This monument’s controversy is its greatest attribute. There are many positives to this hologram and unpacking that information will help others understand the successful aspects of the monument and its purpose. The first element to further examine is its location– which is in Fort Greene Park and displayed upon the Prison Ship Martyrs' Monument– and given that context, some may argue that it is a means to communicate a “similar liberty movement”. When the first bust came down, and the hologram went up, the process of how that transition was executed is very important. Clouds of smoke, or in other words a “smokescreen”, was cast upon where the bust previously sat. Projected onto that smokescreen was the nearly identical holographic bust of Edward Snowden. A lot of people were upset that this had occurred, had been addressed by Police, and even occurred a second time– but others saw this as a positive and powerful message. Could the hologram resemble the Government as the smoke, and Snowden as the light? Could it be that this brought light to what people couldn’t naturally see or comprehend was going on with their privacy rights.
Snowden changed people's perspectives about how they think of the world. What isn’t discussed much, but is a very positive outcome of this– is that people get to have a discussion. It could be with themselves, or with others, but this is a reminder to us all that our privacy isn’t all that private, and Snowden will allow everyone to have their own opinion on how they feel about the monument and what it represents in relation to their citizenship, privacy rights– their Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness. What also came to mind which I find compelling is that this hologram cannot be “seized” so to speak. For one, the digitality of it is interesting in comparison to Edward Snowden, but its intangibility is important to realize because like a lot of physical monuments, it can exist forever through a small amount of data, ready to be projected up anywhere else again, but a bust seized by the Police may never be seen again.
As one dives deeper into their understanding of holographic monuments and how society accepts them as legitimate, valid, and ethical ways of commemorating the past, the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Monument is part of the conversation. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was a key figure in India's struggle for independence from British colonial rule. He was a charismatic leader who inspired thousands of people to fight for their freedom. The monument pays tribute to his contributions and sacrifices.
Before the physical sculpture went up, a hologram of Netaji went up powered by a 30,000 lumens 4K projector, and an “invisible, high gain, transparent holographic screen” was erected in such a way it was nearly invisible. During the time it occupied the shrine, many people visited. This particular monument did not have the controversy revolving around it like the Edward Snowden monument, for a handful of reasons. The two most evident are that it was
a planned and approved holographic monument, and not of someone who enacted several breaches of private federal information. The monument has a lot of educational value as it provides visitors with information about Netaji's life and achievements. It serves as an opportunity for people to learn about India's history and the role that Netaji played in shaping it. It represents the country's struggle for independence and the values of courage, determination, and self-sacrifice that are at the heart of India's cultural heritage. He is depicted with his right hand raised in a fist, representing his strength and determination. He is also shown wearing a military uniform, which highlights his role as a commander in India's struggle for independence. Surrounding him are pillars, floral decorations, inscriptions, and India’s National flag. These are all crucial elements of iconography to understand in assessing the significance of the monument.
To see all of this displayed holographically doesn’t appear to be much of a problem, if none at all. The positive way to see this is recognizing that if the holographic monument of Netaji were not to have been displayed, there would have been an empty shrine, with no physical being there to be commemorated. It existed there in the time it took for the actual statue to be completed. In many ways, this can be seen as a sign of respect. A symbol of gratitude, and that this monument is not empty under no conditions whatsoever. Overall, the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Monument is a powerful and inspiring work of art that celebrates the life and legacy of one of India's greatest freedom fighters. Its iconography is rich in symbolism and meaning, and it serves as a reminder of India's struggle for independence and the sacrifices made by its people to achieve it.
Through inspecting these artworks, one’s understanding of how holographic monuments have been strengthened. The many positive attributes of these monuments produce a multitude of ways to understand our past, in ways that are raw, innovative, motivational, or even inspiring. This is demonstrated through how the Edward Snowden monument impacted not only the people of New York but the entire United States and further. The Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Monument is a perfect example of how we can utilize holographic technology to commemorate the past and create new ways to educate society on their cultural memory through holographic monuments and memorials.
Bibliography ________________________________________________________
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