10
votes
In Paris, the rebuilding of Notre Dame is being shaped by history, myth, and Emmanuel Macron
Link information
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- Title
- The battle for Notre Dame: As the cathedral rises from the ashes, a tug of war over its transformation
- Word count
- 2075 words
Side note: here is an alternative link for people who are locked out of the Washington Post.
I think this debate over historic preservation is interesting because you almost run into a "Ship of Theseus" paradox--if major elements of the appearance of historic locations like the Notre Dame, such as the gothic spire and unpainted stone iconography, have changed and been added on to over the years, is it truly ideal to remain attached to our more recent perceptions, as opposed to being more open to changes which reflect modern times? There have been proposals such as rebuilding the roof as a greenhouse which are certainly "out there," but should we be really so quick to dismiss these kinds of major changes out-of-hand? I'm not French and can't comment on the cultural heritage of France or the attitudes held towards Notre Dame by French people, but due to the high-profile nature of the fire and subsequent reconstruction, I still think it's an interesting subject to talk about, if for no other reason than that there are many other historic structures throughout the world in need of restoration.