The Vietnam Veterans Memorial was established to honor those who died in the Vietnam War. Jan Scruggs, a veteran of the conflict, spearheaded the creation of the memorial and after a nationwide design competition, Maya Lin's design was chosen. Her design was controversial for its minimalist and non-traditional approach, but ultimately it was built and has become an important place for reflection and healing. The work is simple yet profound. The polished black granite is reflective like a mirror. It forces visitors to confront their own image alongside the names of the fallen creating a sense of connection and shared humanity.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is one of the 250 artworks required for AP Art History. Learn about more of those works by listening to my AP Art History Cram Session playlist on Spotify.

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Check out my other podcasts Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab

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