The Great Westmen:

Architecture

NEW BRAUNFELS, TEXAS

A TOWN THAT PRESERVES ITS CULTURAL MEMORY

  Who are we, individually and as a people? How do our culture and traditions inform how we view ourselves? What is our story? How is it expressed?


  The passing down of the culture and tradition of Westernkind from generation to generation is critical to maintaining Westernkind’s cohesiveness and resilience. Art, architecture, statuary and memorial structures are but one modality that transforms the historical events we share into our shared cultural memory, and reinforces our shared bonds of kinship.


  This is how one town uses its public spaces to preserve its shared cultural memory.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Hello, my name is Joseph Montag. I happen to have the same last name as the protagonist in the novel Fahrenheit 451. In the novel, Montag works as a fireman that destroys the cultural memory of his people by burning books. If the book were written today he would also be tearing down statues. Realizing his folly, he has a change of heart and instead of destroying the cultural memory of his people, he begins to save it.

     As a Westman I endeavor to preserve our cultural memory and educate fellow Westmen as to the accomplishments of Westernkind. I feel it is important to keep our story alive and focused upon the marvelous achievements of us as a people. I never realized that the depth and breadth of our achievements was so wide and deep until I came to White wellbeing and began investigating what was hidden from me in plain sight. I had become deracinated and disconnected from my people. Now I am shaking off my White noir, taking pride in Westernkind and reconnecting with my people at multiple levels, both online and in real life.

     I like researching and studying the stories of individual Westmen because it puts a human face on it and exposes the bond of kinship we all have to those Westmen that came before us. I hope these stories help you better understand and connect with Westernkind, with the Westman inside of you. It is our story, it is in us all, and each of us writes a new chapter everyday.