American monuments reflect but also distort American history. In this course, we will study an array of historical and contemporary monuments that promote certain American myths, such as the Promised Land, the Self-Made Man, and the Myth of the West, but that also ignore other aspects, such as slavery and the oppression of minorities. Monuments are shaped by the times in which they were created, but their meanings are also affected by those who created them, and those who advocated or objected to them. Currently, many of the monuments that we will study are contested in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests and counterprotests. Calls to either defend or deface or tear down statues and memorials have become increasingly politicized, making this theme highly relevant for the times in which we live. Students will also ?adopt a monument? themselves, which will allow them to study why their chosen monument was created, what battles ensued before they were realized, and what contemporary value they still have.