Monday, March 5, 2012

Faculty Blog and Photos

From Professor Tommy Jenkins: 

The stare and the crossed arms, the most conspicuous aspects of the Dr. King Memorial.  There is an element of defiance in the pose and in the eyes.   I think this symbolizes an attitude of courage.  It took an iron-rod quality of courage for this man to accomplish what he did.  It also speaks to his complete legacy.  Dr. King's activism did not end in 1963.  He continued until his tragic death to stand against injustice.  

We often speak frivolously of symbolism.  The true power of a symbol comes from our engagement with it.  A symbol asks us to enter into a dialogue with it to understand its qualities.  

The students at the base of the memorial add a sense of scale, but they also demonstrate a willingness to enter into that dialogue with this momentous symbol.  

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Inside the Smithsonian American History Museum's transportation section, sits this massive, shiny, locomotive engine.  The year of the engine is 1927 and it came from Salisbury, North Carolina. 


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