The statue created in 1922 was originally depicting a representation of victory of Civic Virtue, symbolized by a naked muscular man, stepping on vice and corruption represented by two naked mermaids not women. Today an interpretation by a New York City politician stated that this statue was sexist and demeaning to women. The two female figures are mythological Roman or Greek mermaids, not women. This is a blatant misinterpretation of the meaning of this beautiful carrara sculpture.
Current, moral perceptions of women being preyed upon by men now or in the past is misleadingly read into this 1922 sculpture.
These forms beneath the ideological "Civic Virtue" are not women but sirens, mermaids of danger corruption. The message of the "Triumph of Civic Virtue" over vice and corruption is still relevant in our society today, especially to those public servants residing in New York City or any American city.
Another monument in Central Park, "J. Marion Sims" statue 1892, father of modern gynecology, who more recently was found to have experimented on female slaves, maybe banished as well.
I believe if we keeping judging these human events or leaders of our past carved in stone or shaped in bronze, we will surely banish a lot more historical leaders. Some great art and sculpture will be also in danger, much like book burning in the past American and European history.
Monuments of men and women, leaders in their various fields, are mentors who must be emulated for their good and positive characteristics not their faults. It is their faults that make them human. We as people must see the difference. Banishment is not the answer in this case.
"Boston Bronze and Stone Speak To Us" can be purchased at the following locations: Old North Church Gift Store, Bestsellers Bookstore Cafe, USS Constitution Museum Gift Sore, Museum Of Science Gift Store, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble Book Stores.
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