Catherine Whalen
Associate Professor, Bard Graduate Center

USA 1976 and 2026: The Stakes of Commemoration

In 1976, the American Revolution Bicentennial marked the 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain, the onset of the Revolutionary War, and the ensuing formation of the United States of America. Official commemorations took place on national, regional, and local stages; so too did counter-events across the political spectrum. Advocates of civil rights, Black Power, women’s and gay liberation, the American Indian and Chicano movements, and the New Left drew upon the rhetoric and symbolism of the revolutionary era to contest, redefine, and lay claim to its history. Conservative groups marshaled similar strategies to advance their political and social goals. Material culture was an essential, powerful component throughout, manifested in parades, protests, theater, film, and television; fashion and costuming; painting, sculpture, photography, and graphic arts; craft and design; books and magazines; and advertising and consumer culture.

Nearly half a century later, plans for 2026 are well underway. Organizers of America 250, authorized by the US Semiquincentennial Commission, promise “the biggest, most inclusive commemoration in our nation’s history.” Participating federal entities range from the National Endowment for Humanities and the Smithsonian Institution to the State Department and branches of the US military. Press releases announce new partnerships with states, territories, and tribal leaderships. Calls for programs highlight the categories of cultural heritage, historic landmarks, exhibitions, collections, artmaking, and foodways, among others. They also solicit “grassroots” initiatives. Discourses about official designs for logos, coins, and awards consider their potential ideological signification in a contentious political context as the symbolic resonance of the material culture mobilized during US Capitol attack on January 6, 2021, and the “1776 moment,” persists. In this talk, Professor Whalen will discuss the stakes and forms of commemorating 1776 in the United States of America in 1976 and 2026.

Monday, November 22, 12:15 pm