Statues To Get Protection From 'Baying Mobs'

[naomi24]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55693020

Good news? I think so.

[jno]

sounds like the government trying to centralise more power. If "baying mobs" want statues to slavery removed and the council agree, they should be able to do it without considering Jenrick's tender feelings.

[pixie374]

It makes sense if it is done all round. If councils do a democratic vote about all statues that currently exist and then any further ones they want to put up. But to suggest democracy only works one way... is irrational.

[archibaldy]

He wrote: "Our view will be set out in law, that such monuments are almost always best explained and contextualised, not taken and hidden away".

How does one contextualize a statue? Their context is one of reverence and aspirationalism and that's what gets up some peoples noses. Regardless of what the world was like years ago, the statue is here in the present, it means the same thing, and everyone still has to walk past it.

I don't agree with destroying them but I do think controversial ones should be moved to a museum or somewhere not everyone has to look at them. And not put any more up - at best it's an naïve, outdated and twee method of memorialising people. There's a reason Matt Busby's statue is outside the Man United ground and not in the middle of Manchester: because Man City fans would undoubtedly get irate and vandalise it.

[archibaldy]

Actually, bad example as Matt Busby played for Man City but hopefully my overall point still stands!

[Khandro]

pixie; // Did they ask for that to put them up in the first place? It seems a bit one-sided.//

Very few of the older statues were paid for from the public purse, most were paid for by private individuals or by public subscription.

[Khandro]

//because Man City fans would undoubtedly get irate and vandalise it.//

That sir, is a confounded slur on M/c City fans, please withdraw it!

[Sunk]

Maybe they coat coat the statues with covid paint.

[pixie374]

What difference does that make, khandro? Either statues represent what the majority of people want, or they don't. Which way do you want it?

[fcc]

Why not leave the statue's alone,if you don't like them don't look.

[Khandro]

The museums of the world are full of sculptures originally based on real people of whom most visitors haven't the slightest idea who they represent & yet they are admired as works of art & great skill.

[woofgang]

so put the statues that are unwanted in public places into museums where they can be explained and contextualised.

[Theland]

Our whole culture needs an overhaul to bring back patriotism and honouring that flag, along with its heroes such as Churchill.
The country would be a far better place with it.
(And apologies to the offended for putting my trivia in a news thread).

[tomus42]

It's good news, but aren't they protected anyway?

What I mean is, baying mobs aren't currently allowed to destroy statues - all the perpetrators they could find have been prosecuted as far as I know. So what are the changes - stiffer sentences?

[Khandro]

//So what are the changes - stiffer sentences?//

I hope so & the cost of restoration should be levelled at the perpetrators not paid for out of public taxes

[Ellipsis]

If there's a monstrous building in your town centre, most people have no problem with it being pulled down. If it's a lovely old building then people do have a problem. Often, buildings are given listed status, like Grade I, Grade II* or Grade II.

The same listed status can extend to structures, including statues. For example, the statue of Winston Churchill on Parliament Square is Grade II listed.

So the "solution" to the "problem" already exists. Statues that are of cultural significance could be listed.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listed_building
In the UK, the process of protecting the built historic environment (i.e. getting a heritage asset legally protected) is called 'designation'.

[Khandro]

Further to my point, there are some stunning portrait drawings on here by Sargeant, very few people would know who they are, many were high society sh# ts, but it doesn't detract from the quality of draughtsmanship. Similarly it is with sculpture statues

https://www.google.de/search?hl=en&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1680&bih=907&ei=a7IFYOa4Ee2SjLsPn_2nyAU&q=john+singer+sargent+drawings&oq=john+singer+sargeant&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQARgGMgIIADICCAAyAggAMgYIABAKEBgyBggAEAoQGDIGCAAQChAYMgYIABAKEBgyBggAEAoQGDIGCAAQChAYMgYIABAKEBhQpBlY7V9gipEBaABwAHgAgAF0iAGjEJIBBDUuMTWYAQCgAQGqAQtnd3Mtd2l6LWltZw&sclient=img

[TrevorThePug]

I would suggest that the Housing Minister should put his energies into solving the homelessness crisis rather than defend statues of racist slavers.

Jenrick, yet another useless and crooked idiot in cabinet.

[Khandro]

^^ How do you suggest he does that?

[Theland]

I hope that whilst the Queen still lives, really good authentic statues of her are erected around the country, but not some crazy impressionist garbage that would be an affront to her dignity.xf

[Peter Pedant]

// There's a reason Matt Busby's statue is outside the Man United ground and not in the middle of Manchester: because Man City fans would undoubtedly get irate and vandalise it.//

quite
who was it who asked what contextualising a statue meant?
oh oh reader it was the same poster as wrote the above