Part 4/16:
Historically, statues and monuments serve to commemorate pivotal figures—heroes, revolutionaries, creators—whose actions have defined eras. The replacement of such definitive markers with statues representing abstractions or placeholders signals a shift: instead of celebrating influence, society now elevates the idea of inclusion itself.
This trend is exemplified by the 2017 "Fearless Girl" statue placed in front of Wall Street's charging bull, which aimed to symbolize gender diversity and challenge traditional corporate dominance by portraying a young girl standing down a symbol of aggressive capitalism. Critics have noted that these statues often serve as symbolic protests against the very history they stand before, unwittingly undermining the value of actual historical figures.