Context of a Contested Landscape. (13th April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Evans, Jocelyn J.; Lees, William B.
• Other Names: Evans Jocelyn J. guestEditor.; Lees William B. guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Social science quarterly. Volume 102:Number 3(2021)
• Page Start: 979
• Page End: 1001
• Publication Date: 2021-04-13
• Subjects: Political science -- Periodicals; Social sciences -- Periodicals; 300
• DOI: 10.1111/ssqu.12961
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0038-4941

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: This piece outlines the historical contours of Confederate memorialization in the South, drawing attention to major types of monuments and the timing of their erection. It also identifies the agents of commemoration, groups who invested significant time and resources in forging the Lost Cause narrative, and sets these efforts within the context of broader patterns of historical memory and civic celebration throughout the South. Method: We review the scholarly literature across disciplines on Confederate memorialization and tease out themes of group agency, memory and identity, cultural narrative, and symbolism. Results: We reveal a periodization of memorialization marked by key moments and events, a systematic effort by civic associations, a typology of monuments, a deployment of neoclassical style in service to Lost Cause culture, and a lingering reference to Civil War era flags and symbols. Conclusion: Providing context for examination of Confederate memorialization in the South grounds academic and popular discourse on these public spaces as tools of racial marginalization and scenes of political contestation.