Set in stone

Statue-related metaphors contribute to sexist, racist and colonial influence in historical writing.

As countries reckon with racism, colonialism and genocide, a recurring target of reappraisal are statues . Across North America and Europe, statues have been dismantled, toppled and vandalised —and this is a valid critique. Commemoration often blindly celebrates historic figures through statues and plaques without considering their controversies.