The signifying power if the monumental image

Abstract

The post-apartheid era in South Africa has seen much debate about the issue of commemorative monuments. Discussions still flare up on occasion as to whether or not a particular monument or memorial erected during the colonial or apartheid era should be removed, relocated or modified. Calls for new monuments that reflect the heritage of those currently in power are a constant item on the latter's politico-cultural agenda and an increasing number of such monuments have, in fact, been completed or are currently under way. The debate around monuments often prompts emotionally charged responses. Monuments are signifiers imbued with symbolic meaning by means of both image and text. But what exactly does any specific monument actually symbolise and who determines that? On average, people seem to be quite certain what exactly a particular monument stands for, which suggests that meaning is assumed to be fixed. Yet, most people will also agree that one and the same monument can mean different things to different peopie. Indeed, there are many examples of monuments that have been reinterpreted.