Revelations as a Spiritual Lie De Memoire

The word “spiritual” can have various connotations. In the Random House College Dictionary there are 24 definitions for spirit and 10 definitions for spiritual. What makes Revelations so unique and awe-inspiring, is that it embodies every one of those definitions. Even more ironic, is that the ninth definition for spiritual-- an emotionally expressive religious song of a type originating among blacks in the southern US -- is a lieu de mémoire in itself.

Revelations utilizes three of the five senses-- sound, vision and touch. First, is the massive waterfall.2 Standing 22 feet high and for a length of 50 feet, the resonant roar of the water drowns out the surrounding hustle and bustle of the city. Behind the cascading falls is a cavernous walkway where 12 glass plates carved with quotes by Dr. King adorn the wall. The translucent glass plates are illuminated f

“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.”

Unlike most memorials, Revelations commemorates not only a person, but an event and culture as well. Above all, it commemorates the coexistence of cultures. This coexistence is manifested by the mixture of black and white tiles on the floor, as well as the translation of the glass plates into 12 languages other than English.

And Revelations is no exception as a symbolic lieu. Most obvious are the biblical implications (just look at the title of the memorial). Since Martin Luther King Jr. is widely known as a reverend, many of his quotes paraphrase theological ideals. The most recognizable religious reference is in frame 12 of King’s quotes where he mentions the Promised Land:

At my first superficial look, I would have said that only two senses are experienced, but the sense of touch is perhaps the most important aspect of Revelations. The misty draft from the waterfall flowed through the grotto and caused me to shiver. Also, as I was observing the memorial, I took note of the numerous children that touched the glass plates-- feeling the grooves of the words as if they were reading Braille; I tried myself, and it only added to the overall experience.

So, to expound on this quotation: the source of this magnificent fountain is at the top of Revelations the monument, just as the source of the “river of the water of life” in the book of Revelation is at the throne of God, situated high above the human government-- not only in terms of distance but also in terms of a hierarchy. The twelve translucent glass plates are the crops of the “tree of life” and the leaves on this tree-- or the quotes-- “are for healing the nations.”

Just before I left, I noticed a mother with her three year old daughter. The mother stopped and narrated the 11th quote for her daughter.3 Almost automatically, as if it were instinct, I could feel the horror and atrocity of the Civil Rights Movement, but also the benefits from its sacri

Some topics in this essay:
Rights Movement, King Jr, God Lamb, Dr King, College Dictionary, English Nora, Jacob Israel, Stanford University, Sandy Jung, Jung July, de mémoire, lieu de, lieu de mémoire, lieux de, lieux de mémoire, glass plates, martin luther king, king jr, martin luther, promised land, throne god, luther king, luther king jr, personal lieu, throne god lamb,