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AN ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE IRON CURTAIN
present in all aspects of life, even stretching out into space, but in most cases
never tangible as a physical war of the kind previous experienced, the wall
was seen as a material manifestation of the political situation. The physicality
of the wall was seen as an act of aggression and making, not only the
division of Europe very real, but also the Cold War as a whole. Right in
front of the eyes of the inhabitants of West Berlin as well as a large amount
of press, the Berlin Wall went from barbed wire to high, concrete walls, the
images of which were broadcast across the world. The Berlin Wall was a
frequent backdrop to political speeches throughout its existence such as
Ronald Reagan’s speech at the Brandenburg Gate in June 1987 in which he
declared “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall” (cited in Bruner 1989:324)
(Figure 1). Even though John F. Kennedy’s speech held in June 1963 was
held at the Berlin’s City Hall and not at the wall itself, it was very much
present in his words. He also visited the wall and the pictures of the U.S.
president standing on a platform looking into the East were reported in the
press throughout the Western World.
Figure 1: Ronald Reagan speaking in front of the Brandenburg Gate and the Berlin Wall on 12th
June 1987. Photo: White House Photographic Office.
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