A Rift in the Earth: Art, Memory, and the Fight for a Vietnam War Memorial

Author:	Reston, James Jr.
Binding:	Hardcover
List Price:	$24.99
Our Price:	$3.55 USD
Qty Avail:	17

Additional Info
Overview

ISBN:	9781628728569
Publisher:	Arcade Publishing
Language:	English
Page Count:	267
Publication Date:	9/5/2017
Size:	9.50" l x 6.50" w x 1.00"
Series:	N/A

Category	Subject
History & Geography	Military
Architecture	Buildings
Biography & Autobiography	Artists, Architects, Photographers

A Rift in the Earth tells the remarkable story of the ferocious "art war" that raged between 1979 and 1984 over what kind of memorial should be built to honor the men and women who died in the Vietnam War. The story intertwines art, politics, historical memory, patriotism, racism, and a fascinating set of characters, from those who fought in the conflict and those who resisted it to politicians at the highest level. At its center are two enduring figures: Maya Lin, a young, Asian-American architecture student at Yale whose abstract design won the international competition but triggered a fierce backlash among powerful figures; and Frederick Hart, an innovative sculptor of humble origins on the cusp of stardom.

James Reston, Jr., a veteran who lost a close friend in the war and has written incisively about the conflict's bitter aftermath, explores how the debate reignited passions around Vietnam long after the war's end and raised questions about how best to honor those who fought and sacrificed in an ill-advised war. Richly illustrated with photographs from the era and design entries from the memorial competition, A Rift in the Earth is timed to appear alongside Ken Burns's eagerly anticipated PBS documentary, The Vietnam War.