Toppling Statues and the Damnation of Memory, with Martijn Icks and Eric Shiraev

In recent years, statues of historical figures across the world have become the focus of fierce discussion. However, this debate is hardly a new phenomenon. From ancient Rome to downtown Prague, monuments to the high and mighty have always been contested, defaced and removed. In this episode originally recorded in June of 2020, historian Martijn Icks and political psychologist Eric Shiraev travel to ancient Egypt, the Roman Empire, and Eastern Europe to put the toppling of statues in historical perspective. They explore the history of what the Romans called "the damnation of memory," the many reasons why people destroy, deface, and remove monumental art, and how this form of iconoclasm has changed over time. Finally, they offer their own modest suggestions on how we might reconcile the past and present. 

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Show Notes

To see the photos that Eric and Martijn discuss in the episode, watch the interview on Youtube (and check out our other videos while you're there.)

Check out the CARP Research Lab website here. We're also on Twitter @CARP_Lab.

Follow Dr. Shiraev on Twitter @EricShiraev and Dr. Icks @Martijn_Icks.