In the night, Star Wars fans gather in the park to practice their light-saber moves, perhaps practicing for Halloween? I doubt it. These folks are year-rounders.
I want to say something about how every aspect of our lives has been taken over by pop-culture franchises. About how life has become a simulation of something we saw on a screen.
It would be easier to be cranky about this if I wasn't also part of that culture, raised in part by George Lucas. Watching these guys made me wish I had a light saber, too.
7 comments:
Nerd!
I wish I had a wookiee.
It has always been pop culture. Whether that pop culture was Grimm's, or Groundlings at the Globe, or Dicken's in the papers. No point being glum about it!
reminds me of the Triumph the Dog skit waiting in line at the Star Wars premiere.
Hi Jeremiah,
I wonder about that re: Washington Square Park losing its mojo. It really depends when you go there... certainly it's mellowed. In music terms, it's more adult contemporary than rock or punk. That Star Wars thing IS a regular thing but I myself have never seen it being done.
Sometimes I hear people say "Union Square is the new Washington Square" and that may indeed be true! While a huge chunk of WSP around the Fountain and Plaza was being redesigned, people moved on. I'm sure that makes the 'powers that be' happy. They were able to pacify the park but I have hope that, as the newness and "pretty"ness fades, it'll regain some of its spirit. I hope so.
Cathryn.
WSP Blog
At first I was afraid that this was going to be about another corporate co-opting of public parks - the first shot looks eerily like a floating, abstract Chase logo.
Before I read the text I assumed the first picture was of the blue neon Chase Bank logo in Astor Place. Talk about brands invading the psyche!
cathryn, you know WSP much better than i do! it just seems every time i've walked through, the vibe around the fountain has been seriously dampened. do you think the loss of the "sunken" structure is responsible? i hope you're right and the mojo will return.
and--weirdly, yes, that DOES look like a Chase logo.
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