Movie Review: Maya Lin
Maya Lin is an award winning film that explores the artistic work of Lin—a renowned designer of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The documentary focuses on her other works that have considerably impacted on the community’s social and political aspects. The archived resources such as old clips, interviews and modern footages are used to explain how Lin’s artistic work developed to be an important tool for activism, confront and healing. Lin from her viewpoint explains the implication of her work and attempts to explain to the audience the criteria and motivation behind developing her design and structures.
How Maya Lin’s Design can be Considered Courageous
Maya Lin’s design and structures can be considered courageous because she confidently confronted and challenged social and political forces to articulate her ideas besides being aware of the risks and resistance that such a move could face. Lin’s memorial monument has been identified as one of the most bitterly criticized public monuments in the American history. It is acknowledgeable that since her work was chosen in 1981, Lin has faced serious criticism. Some people have viciously attacked her monument that presents a simple artistic work of polished black granite engraved with the names of the people who died in Vietnam, describing it as “dishonorable” and “a black hole.” However, Lin remained unchallengeable in pursuing her vision and eventually the Memorial—a renowned tribute to the heroism and the sacrifice of these people was built as intended. The film initially describes the controversy that surrounded the selection of Lin’s controversial design. The documentary highlights that the protestors fought for the Monument’s color to be altered from Black to White. They argued that Black presents as the universal color of shame, sorrow and degradation. Her challengers also wanted a flagpole to be position at the vertex of the walls. However, Lin courageously protested these arguments stating that such a move would be tantamount to inserting a mustache on the Mona Lisa. Her firm position and argument worries most people as they find it hard to believe how a young artist of her age would stand and face such tremendous pressure. Lin’s courageous move is further evident in her future work, in which she continued designing monuments and structures that challenged or confronted important American social issues.
Impact of Maya Lin as an Individual and her work on Society and Politics
Maya Lin as an individual and her work have considerably impacted on society and politics. Lin has found a way in important social and political issues of historical relevance. In this context, her film has remained relevant up to date. For example, Lin’s Civil Rights Memorial has over time acted as a memorial to the heroes who were motivated to end racial discrimination. The social and political impact of the Lin and her work is evident in the controversy that characterized her work and her ability as a woman. Initially, the film clearly highlights various issues and concerns that emerged when Lin’s design was presented. The timing of the creation of this monument can be attributable to the witnessed conflicts. Designed on 1982, the situation of the Vietnam War was still very “fresh,” as people had not healed. The Memorial somehow triggered the emotion because the Americans were defeated. This meant that the monument would present as a symbol of USA’s loss instead of acting as an icon for celebrating and honoring the dead soldiers. Politically, Lin and her work presented as a victory for the Blacks as they successfully challenged racial discrimination. Particularly, Lin as an individual is also of great Lin’s work was criticized on the basis of her gender and race. Accordingly, her success presented as a social-political success for the women and minority group. She was eventually acknowledged as a prominent and woman of great ability.
