Monuments, symbols and protesting cities
Thesis project for the Master Degree of Architectural Design and History
December 2023
December 2023
This Master’s thesis is an in-depth, interdisciplinary investigation into the evolving symbolic value of contemporary monuments during periods of intense social unrest. The research critically analyzes how public perception of built heritage shifts when confronted by mass social protest.
The study focuses on the 2021 social uprisings in Bogotá, Colombia, tracking the symbolic evolution of three distinct case study monuments.
Research Focus and Methodology
The research was a rigorous conjugation of recent urban history, semiotics, and cultural studies. It actively questions the institutional definition of heritage and explores how citizens claim and redefine these structures as sites of memory, resistance, and counter-narrative.
Key Research Objectives:
- Symbolic Analysis: Charting the transformation of a monument's meaning from its institutional intent to its interpretation during the protests.
- Cultural Critique: Questioning the role of constructed heritage in contemporary culture and political discourse.
- Case Studies: Detailed analysis of three monuments in Bogotá, documenting the specific interventions, narratives, and outcomes for each site.
Demonstrated Skills: From Concept to Publication
Beyond the academic writing, this project serves as a comprehensive demonstration of skills across research, writing, and design:
- Academic Writing & Research: Successfully conceiving, executing, and defending a complex thesis, showcasing high-level analytical and scholarly abilities.
- Book Design & Layout: Designing the entire research publication (book format), including comprehensive typography, structure, and editorial layout.
- Illustration & Graphic Design: Creating all original illustrations and graphic elements used throughout the book to visually support the analysis, data, and conceptual frameworks.
This project proves the ability to manage a large-scale, self-directed endeavor, seamlessly blending academic rigor with professional graphic design and illustration capabilities to produce a cohesive and impactful final work.
