"The Monuments Men" (Reflection)

Galia, Anne Marie P.
Art Appreciation
BSC 1-1 Professor Gerlie C. Ogatis
“THE MONUMENTS MEN”

(Reflection)
Based on the fascinating true story, the effort to recover and preserve millions of cultural
objects such as the painting, relics, statues and etc. is earnestly recounted from being dismayed at
the immense amount of art that the Germans had stolen during the World War II and the historic
sites being damaged in the battle. As I’ve watched and finished the movie I was able to realize
how the Americans valued their art as part of their history and as part of their identity. It is so
saddening but at the same time it is heartwarming and inspiring to know that there are group of
courageous individuals who are willing to risk their life in order to recover and preserve their
history as well as their nation’s identity and who cared for their future generations legacy. The
human cost of the war rests heavily on the proceedings often enough not to be forgotten. The
touching moment reminds of what is left behind during the wartime and how objects have value
beyond their component’s worth, yet the melancholy it brings is an awkward fit with the overall
weightlessness of the character’s experiences.
As the nobility of the mission is definitely being questioned “Is an art worth a life?”, I got
a lot of thoughts arising from this question. I know that every individual had their different stand
or opinion whether they say it is definitely worth it or definitely not because of our different
beliefs and moral perspectives. However, with the “question “Is an art worth a life?” I can say
that “No it’s not!” Because I believe that, “No work of art is worth the life of any single
individual, but risking your life to fight for a cause is absolutely worth the effort.” As we based
on the story, The Monuments Men felt across the board that for one person to run into a burning
building to save a da Vinci painting, no, it's not worth a single loss of life. But to risk your life
for a way of life that includes respect for cultural property, yes, it is worth the risk. That’s why
the death of the two Monuments Men during combat in World War II is something to be proud
of because of the important reason which is valuing their nations cultural property that was
behind the risk they put themselves into.
The importance of the art as part of their culture and history is one of the main reasons
why the Monument’s Men came up with their mission. And they should be proud of themselves
for facing all the struggles and havoc that they’ve encountered in recovering and preserving their
arts and their nation’s identity, especially to those of their comrades who died in their mission.
Their death because of protecting their arts is not as shallow as how other people think, because
arts and culture are things that are “not just nice to have”. Art is very relevant as you look at the
paintings made in caves and rocks by the ancient people. It gives us an idea about their culture.
Art is a form of preserving culture. It reflects a society’s beliefs, cultural values, etc. They are an
essential part of our individual, community, and national identity. Cultural identity is important
for people's sense of self and how they relate to others. And a strong cultural identity can
contribute to people's overall wellbeing. Identifying with a particular culture gives people
feelings of belonging and security. It also provides people with access to social networks which
provide support and shared values and aspirations. These can help break down barriers and build
a sense of trust between people - a phenomenon sometimes referred to as social capital -
although excessively strong cultural identity can also contribute to barriers between groups. An
established cultural identity has also been linked with positive outcomes in areas such as health
and education. The Monument’s Men played a vital role why America remained to be rich in
culture as well as in their economy, because of their strong national culture or identity, and
strength in artistic endeavors, became a source of economic strength and higher material
standards of living.
In conclusion, every nation has different culture that defines their history and identity and
that would also do everything to protect and preserve their culture and identity with their own
little ways, just like what the Monuments Men did. The Monuments Men is a vital film whose
basis is a real life story. It truly helps the audience to understand the events of the World War II.
It features men called the monument men who made an initiative to recover the stolen artwork
from Hitler returning them to respective owners. This is a realistic story and it enables the
audience to comprehend the way people from various countries opted to protect their cultural
artifacts voluntarily during World War II in order to preserve the contemporary society’s
heritage.

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Galia, Anne Marie P.

“THE MONUMENTS MEN”

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