[user104658]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

In relation to the progression of a nation or civilisation in general we are constantly reevaluating who or what has an influence in our personal era. The idols of the past can be remembered we don't necessarily have to pay homage to their effigy.

Art imo is different, it's admired for it's composition rather than the subject matter.

I dunno, there are "effigies" and statues of historical figures from thousands of years ago - people who did absolutely horrific things to people in their time - that are today considered absolutely priceless artworks for museums and collectors. It's hard to appreciate that with today's "monsters" because we, or recent generations, have personally witnessed and been affected by the things these people have done. But we can get a little caught up in our own timeframe... in centuries to come, that emotional connection won't be the same.

There are countless emperors / kings / warlords throughout history who are guilty of barbaric crimes against innocent people, and genocide, but if an archaeologist today digs up a statue of a violent Roman emperor... they don't shout "YUCK! Vile man!" and smash it to pieces. They make every effort to preserve it by any means possible.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

I dunno, there are "effigies" and statues of historical figures from thousands of years ago - people who did absolutely horrific things to people in their time - that are today considered absolutely priceless artworks for museums and collectors. It's hard to appreciate that with today's "monsters" because we, or recent generations, have personally witnessed and been affected by the things these people have done. But we can get a little caught up in our own timeframe... in centuries to come, that emotional connection won't be the same.

There are countless emperors / kings / warlords throughout history who are guilty of barbaric crimes against innocent people, and genocide, but if an archaeologist today digs up a statue of a violent Roman emperor... they don't shout "YUCK! Vile man!" and smash it to pieces. They make every effort to preserve it by any means possible.

That is due to their historical significance, they'd put it in a museum not in the centre of a town as a person of significant social or political importance would they?