Luu 1 Bryan Luu FA120 Professor Buschini 3/15/14 It Isnt Just Art Many people believe that war

is fought only for the benefit of the people, to defend their freedoms or take it away. However, some wars are fought to save history, not only the lives of the people, but their identity as well. Their identity is founded in culture, which lives on through the essence of their arts. Paintings, sculptures, dances, buildings, and so on, they all make up a civilization, show how that civilization lived and how it was uniquely separated from another. While many may not realize it now, each person has his own memento that makes him or her proud of who he is or where he came from. Art is the story of generations of cultures; it defines a societys achievements and failures, and its preservation is worthy of sacrifice. Although I was born in America, I grew up in a Vietnamese environment because both of my parents had come over from Vietnam. What did they bring over to the U.S. when they arrived? My mother arrived in the U.S. way before my parents even met. She was 12 at the time and did not have many mementos when she came over. My father escaped Vietnam and arrived in the U.S. when he was 21. He also carried no memorabilia and arrived in the U.S. with only 20 dollars. During those desperate times, many refugees did not have the luxury of bringing an item of heritage with them over to the U.S. Rather, their identity lied in the traditions they were taught as they grew up. It was stored in their minds so that no one could take it away from them. Many years later, after my father had a steady job and began a family, he and my mom began to collect and put up different works of Vietnamese art around the house. These pieces were mostly Vietnamese shell art and lacquer paintings. Some pictures showed landscapes and

Luu 2 others were genre works, depicting a farmer working in the field or fishing. Being taught the traditions and language and seeing the artwork reinforced me of my Vietnamese heritage. I cherish it and am proud of it. Yet, when I think about the extent I would fight for the art, I am not sure how far I would go. These pieces art do not impact me as much as one would think. In Europe, art was a huge part of their society. In terms of the dark ages and the renaissance, art was seen as a symbol of greatness. For example, cathedrals were the pride of towns, statues represented great leaders, and the renaissance is completely remembered by the art which it produced. In Vietnam, society is built upon the traditions and values which are passed down from parent to offspring. One could argue that paintings, toys, and architecture may preserve the past and history of Vietnam, but still, traditions and values are what give the people their identity. On a more personal note, there are items which I would protect that were handed down from my family. For instance, my grandmother gave me a necklace before she passed away. I would be devastated if I lost it or if it was taken. My father would probably take a picture of his father who died in the war when my father was three. Because family is such a large part of Vietnamese values, I think most Vietnamese people would fight for or conserve objects which symbolized their family. As mentioned above, art had major influence on western society and therefore its preservation was significant. The Monuments Men, in a sense, were not just protectors of art, but of humanity. The destruction of art in Europe would be like the burning of the American Flag or the destruction of the Statue of Liberty. It would kill the morale of that country and its people would give in to defeat. The Monuments Men saved Europe from being stripped of its achievements and progress. To them, art was beautiful in a deeper sense. Like parent who sees

Luu 3 her child grow up, The Monuments Men saw art as the aging and progressing of European society. They drew on this reality as inspiration to save the art. Now, places such as France, Italy, and England have their monuments to boast about, and everyday tourists go to those countries to admire their artwork. For example, France is known for its Eiffel tower and Le Louvre, which contains a vast amount of masterpieces. Italy attracts tourists to the great Coliseum and Trajans Column. Each of these countries takes pride in its monuments because they represent achievements of the past and the possibilities of the future. When it comes to size, big or small, all art is worth saving and each has its own story to tell. A large monument may stand as a witness the great accomplishment of a culture. A small toy can tell the story of how children interacted with each other or their environment. Large mosques show the glory of Islam, while small crucifixes represent Christs sacrifice for humanity. If the art of culture is erased, the existence of that culture and society will also perish. People protect children because they are the future of the world. If we protect the future, then should we not also protect the past? In Australia, there lie the ruins of multiple structures called the Australian Convict Sites. The sites were prisons and were built during the colonial expansion period England. These sites are significant because they demonstrated mass transportation of convicts. They transformed the national prison system and served as the first settlements in Australia. Essentially, Australia was founded by the English, but built by convicts. This history is why so many Australians are proud of these sites. They do not see them as a jail for criminals, but a beginning to a great nation. If these sites were destroyed today, then Australia would have lost a part of itself in a sense. As nations move forward today, it is important to recognize the impact the past has on the future. The future is empty if there is no past to fill it.

Luu 4 Once again, art has different significance where ever one goes. However, no matter what, it tells a story of the past and often defines a societys cultures and value. It makes up the common factor of all members of a community. The Monuments Men understood this and risked their lives to save art. Saving lives is of the uttermost importance, but a life without an identity to live for is an empty life.