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Retouching the void The WTC memorials impossible Compromises. Public space and nonverbal communication.

I just read an excellent article in Harpers Magazine. Mark Kingwell a professor o f philosophy at the University of Toronto talks about the effects of public space and interviews the architect of the World Trade Center Memorial.

The architect waxes profound about what he wanted to achieve with the controversial memorial. It is what he said about its meaning when asked by a security guard at the site that expressed it the best. “Well, I wanted to create a voiced—Two cascading voids.”  How interesting he should say that.  I think that is what 9/11 gave us. How simple a memorial. Something that doesn’t rise up to celebrate but instead recedes with tears of grief into a void.


Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.