Canonizing new heroes : the proposed Heroes Monument in Durban

Abstract

Two years ago, a competition was held for a Heroes' Monument to be erected in Durban, as part of the City's wider initiative to celebrate the heritage of those previously marginalized and redress imbalances of the past. However, as a new canon of heroes is thus being created, important questions must be raised around selection criteria and the very concept of hero worship. Such questions also fundamentally affect the aesthetic aspect of any monument design.