Spectacular! Spectacular!

A World of Windows

2005-05-04T14:04:00.000-04:00

One thing that this school is really bad at is publicity. How many times have you walked by Kogan and smelled food and then found out that there was a really cool event that was happening that you had never heard about? I know I’ve missed a million fun things because I just didn’t know about them. No one stops to read the bulletin boards in their residence halls and the school hasn’t found a better way to disseminate information so clubs and organizations have taken matters into their own hands.
I have class in Phillips hall everyday and every time I walk up to the building my interest is captured. The large, seven story high stairwell is lined, floor to ceiling with windows and everyone on of these windows in occupied by a flyer, poster or printed page. The effect is staggering. A building with such a unique façade would already garner attention but the flyers and posters increase this ten fold. You are immediately struck and drawn in by this interesting collage of color. Although the messages on the pieces of paper are not readable from a distance, the overall effect pulls you in and entices you to approach and take a closer look. The flyers, which promote everything from a Greek fashion shows to a forum on women’s abuse, receive much more attention in this spectacular display than they ever would on their own.

Runaway Bride

2005-05-04T13:37:00.000-04:00

It was hard this past week to turn on the news without hearing about the runaway bride from Georgia. The bride had mysteriously vanished just days before her lavish wedding. She claimed to have been abducted by a Hispanic man and a white woman, after cutting her hair and purchasing bus tickets under an assumed name. Later, revealed that she had simply gotten cold feet. Oddly enough, her fiance still wants to walk down the aisle with her. The families are willing to fogive her as well. The officials are not as nice though. They are looking into suing the bride for the estimated $40,000 to $60,000 cost of searching for her.
It is this sort of press coverage that shows how spectacles can be made of basically any news item. Her disappearance made national headlines and again made headlines when she turned herself in. In my opinion, I"m not really sure if this type of news is necessary to have the amount of coverage it has. Maybe a comment or two is appropriate, but many stations devoted hours upon hours to cover this case. As odd as it may be, I'm sure this woman was not the first bride to run from her wedding. By having this coverage, it changes a regular news item into a grand spectacle.

MTV warps you

2005-05-04T12:57:00.000-04:00

A year ago, Comedy Central launched a series titled Drawn Together – eight cartoon characters picked to live in a make-believe mansion to have their lives drawn out and constructed by editors, producers and directors… sound familiar? It should, because the series is based on the hit MTV reality show The Real World, and it parodies the lives of seven strangers cast every season to show America “what happens when people stop being polite and start getting REAL.” Although The Real World is presented as a reality show, it is ironically depicted by Drawn Together in an animated but accurate form. The show features eight cartoon characters that fulfill certain stock roles corresponding to certain stock cast members found on every season of The Real World. For example, Princess Clara from the movie Shrek portrays “a princess who grew up in such a protected environment that she is clueless to just how prejudice she is” (Rosenthal par. 8). Princess Clara’s character in seen on other television shows, say for example, Julie the inexperienced, Alabaman from The Real World: New York or coincidentally Julie the naïve, Mormon from The Real World: New Orleans. If this character description does not sound familiar, perhaps th.e “muscle-headed beer-guzzling frat boy” Captain Hero is more recognizable (Rosenthal par. 11); the alpha male character is personified by Ace the charismatic, southern boy from The Real World: Paris, Brad the cocky, daredevil from The Real World: San Diego and Mike the prototypical all-American boy from The Real World: Back to New York. See a pattern?
For the sake of creating a spectacle, the MTV network is actually reinforcing and perpectuating skewed opinions to their audience members. As members continue to watch programming that only showcases certain types of characters, they are more likely to harbor the same opinions found in the show--no matter how stereotypical or skewed they may be. This cultivation of opinions effects people in our age demographic. Perhaps the effects of excess MTV are warping your brain as we speak. Worried? You should be.

Someone to 'Idol'-ize

2005-05-04T10:32:00.000-04:00

On Sunday night, I went to see Kelly Clarkson at DAR Constitution Hall. For a relatively small venue, she took on the show as if she were performing for the Super Bowl Halftime Show. Everything about the concert was a spectacle. Her voice, stage, band, and energy was able to effectively make her fans love her even more and convert non-fans into fans. I went with my roommate, who enjoys some of her songs, but is not a huge fan. When we left, he said it was one of the best concerts he'd been too. Kelly's voice happens to be one of the best out there in the music world today. As hard as it is to accept an American Idol winner as a reputable artist, she is trying to distance herself from the American Idol name and certainly demonstrated this throughout the concert. After seeing her live, it is hard not to respect her as an artist who not only writes songs, but performs them fantastically. No matter what type of music she sings, she is able to connect with the audience. Her band was extremely loud, but somehow the petite blonde was able to sing right over them effortlessly.
The setup of the stage was quite spectacular, too. There was an Indian theme with ornaments hanging from above, lush Indian carpets, and silk pillows of different colors scattered everywhere. The white linen tapestry draped behind the band caught the colors from the lighting in a grand display of lights. Even though the stage was small in comparison to stadium stages, the setup seemed to command some kind of spectacle. Bigger is not always better. As long as the visual elements can attract an audience, there is a potential for spectacle. Even Kelly's simple clothing was able to give her a certain aura that radiated around her. A t-shirt and a flowing hippie skirt, touching just above her bare feet, made her appear as someone who could, again, connect with an audience, yet command them into awe. She didn't need dancers or back-up singers to entertain and because of this, it made the spectacle even more unique.
Even if Kelly is not your type of music (she is usually mislabeled), seeing her on tour is truly and experience. I find that this is true of any musical act. I have been to various concerts where I was unfamiliar with the performers and after seeing them perform, I was an immediate fan. It goes to show that spectacles can truly influence an audience with the proper visual and aesthetic affects.

Spring and Finals

2005-05-04T09:31:00.000-04:00

I love spring, it’s the time when people start to come out of their holes and relax. I knew it was spring when I walked through Kogan Plaza and it was almost filled with students sitting at any place they could. This was the first sign of the spectacle to come, finals. The time of year where teachers pile on work, and students stop sleeping. For some reason the weeks leading up to them seem like a spectacle to me. Everyone is busy with papers, tests, and just plain work in general. Sleep deprivation becomes part of everyone’s life and at the end of it, you never want to see another blue book again. Finals sends all of campus into a sort of disarray as everyone stresses out. This spectacle controls the last two weeks of the semester and nearly shuts down GW. Not even the disappointing IMF/World Bank protests could tame GW like finals do. I’ll be studying my ass off this week and next, one of those people who disappear and study for three days straight.

Propaganda

2005-05-04T09:30:00.000-04:00

I recently saw Farenheit 9/11 and it was a big flaming piece of propaganda. The director, Michael Moore, does raise some good points with his movie, but for the most part the facts are twisted around or taken out of context. I like Michael Moore, I thought Bowling for Columbine was a well done movie, but he is pushing the limit with this film. This is an example of a recorded spectacle that I feel loses its meaning because of the extreme bias of the filmmaker. His ethos is destroyed by his prejudice on the subject. I’m not a Bush supporter, but I would’ve liked to see Michael Moore be at least a little more objective in his critique of the Bush administration, far too many times does he present his opinion as facts. Farenheit 9/11 is an example of what can happen with recorded spectacle, it can be edited and chopped so that the truth can be taken out of context, or lead people to believe something that isn’t true. So please Michael Moore, if you want to be taken seriously, you need to look past your own views and only present facts.

GW Hatchet

2005-05-04T09:29:00.000-04:00

Every Monday and Thursday, I don't know about you, but I can't wait until they put out the latest issue of The GW Hatchet. After it hits the newsstands of Foggy Bottom, everywhere you look in the streets, students, faculty, etc. are reading and chatting about the lastest GW news. Personally, I love reading it. Most of the time, there are really good articles and when there aren't a lot of interesting articles, I find my day actually impacted by it. Well, not really, but I am quite perturbed. There is one particular section that my friend and I check every issue: Crime Log. I don't know if anyone else has noticed how funny it is. Some times you can find excellent stories of how stupid people are in general, but more specifically, how stupid they are when they are drunk. You can always find a great Friday-night-in-Thurston story.
Another great thing about the Hatchet is the ability to read it during class. It's small and compact size allows a student to stealthily read it cover to cover and do the crossword puzzle if they wanted to without a teacher noticing. It becomes great reading material especially during those long, boring classes. For me, it's become my textbook for Poli Sci. And I know I'm not the only one. The Hatchet provides us with so much news of our community, which is a great thing, but it's very interesting to see how a simple college newspaper has turned into such a spectacle. And it's not like something at GW to avoid becoming spectacle. Leave it to GW to put its newspaper on the same rack or sometimes above The New York Times, The Washington Post, and USA Today...

bodmod, why the stigma?

2005-05-04T02:27:00.000-04:00

I have both piercings and tattoos. Four tattoos to be exact and at times nine piercings in all. I love my piercings and even more love my tattoos. For me, they are an outward expression of who I am inwardly. I think they are beautiful and physically enhancing. Does that make me a rebel, a deviant, a criminal? When you see someone walking down the sidewalk with arms covered in ink and face filled with metal do you give them a wide birth or cross the street? Why is this? Tattoos and piercings, in the US, have long been associated with the uneducated, the poor and the criminal. Many dining establishments and other business have rules for their employees against visible tattoos and piercings, especially on males. I am an upper middleclass, educated white male (yes, unfortunately in our society these are advantages in the job market) who may be more qualified for a job than others but might be turned down because of my body modifications. The spectacle of body modification has been misinterpreted for a long time. Tattoos, which began with sailors and inmates, have now migrated into the public and piercings have become almost as commonplace as died hair. So why does the stigma of bodmod remain? Body modification has become a false spectacle, a misread message. People no longer get tattoos and piercings solely to signify their membership in a gang, rebellion against their parents or time spent in prison. This view has persisted although more and more "regular" people are getting pierced and tattooed. How many college girls do you know who have butterflies on their butts and pierced belly buttons. How many frat boys have "strength" in chinese on their shoulder?

Protest for Democracy

2005-05-04T02:06:00.000-04:00

Picket signs, hippie college students, and screaming protesters have been surrounding one college campus for a whole month. This may sound like UC Berkeley in the 1960’s, however this scene is describing the University of Puerto Rico. Classes have been canceled for the past month and the students of this university are protesting against a tuition raise that would be enacted in the coming semester. The students are asking the administration of this publicly funded university to lower tuition as well as upgrade many of the campuses facilities. This may sound like an absurd demand, yet the president of the university recently renovated his office for an estimated $10 million. This is the justification for the strike, however the students are hurting themselves more since classes are said to be extended into June.
The students who have been protesting are trying to gain power within the universities bureaucratic system. Since most Puerto Ricans go to the UPR, the strike has received wide attention and support as well as resistance. Moreover, when students wearing ripped jeans, flip-flops and dreadlocks tied a chain around the gates of the university more people began to take notice. This spectacle actively appealed to those in favor of independence for the island as well as those against capitalism and bureaucracy. The producers of this demonstration are asserting their democratic rights. This assertion is the underlying logic behind this scene, and it shows other union groups that they too have the right to free speech and protest in order to receive the benefits that they want. This strike still continues, although hopefully it will come to a conclusion soon.

Hello iPods

2005-05-04T01:57:00.000-04:00

iPods have certainly become a spectacle on college campuses. If you walk around the GW campus while everyone is going to classes, you are guaranteed to see an overwhelming amount of students walking around with headphones in their ears listening to music from their fancy ipods. iPod zombies seem to have taken over our campus. Don't get me wrong; I think they are great. I wanted one for a long time until I was convinced by my brother that they have some flaws. Consequently, I got a different mp3 player that has feature that the iPods do not have and acts like an external hardrive rather than "mating" with only one computer. Am I trying not to join the iPod spectacle, or just making a different spectacle of myself. Either way I have to admit that the ipod software is definitely more user friendly, and the spectacle they are creating is making them more popular than ever. I find myself defending my purchase choice against iPod owners. My iRiver can do this and your iPod can't. Why am I so bothered by this iPod spectacle when I wanted to be part of it at one point? I do not think iRivers will ever take their place, but why not dare to be a little rebellious? I guess I will just continue to make my small spectacle everyday by walking around with a black mp3 player instead of the standard white. Listening to music while walking just makes it a little easier to leave your room and walk into that classroom.

Making It or Breaking it at a Concert

2005-05-04T01:12:00.000-04:00

When I discover a new band I like, I cannot wait to go see one of their shows. Even if you've been listening to a band for years, once you see them live your opinion can change very quickly. I have not been able to go to as many shows and I would have liked to throughout this first year of college, but when I finally do I realize why I miss it so much. The crowd is packed in so tight you cannot move. You can hardly breathe. That kid's shaggy hair has beads of sweat hanging off the loose ends. No one likes it when those sweat beads start splashing all over your face. You have to be constantly on the lookout for people about to come crashing down onto your head. This may not sound like a good time to many people, but once the music starts it does not even matter. Jumping and singing at a wonderful, spectacular performance can completely reinforce your love and continued support for a band. I was certainly impressed last friday when I got to see Fall Out Boy, Silvertein, and Gym Class Heroes for the first time.
However, a boring performance can make you lose interest in a band pretty quickly. The spectacle does not have to involve a great deal of fancy special effects. A lively band that can engage their audience with their music and stage presence is all that is needed to make a rewarding concert experience. I know I was disappointed when I finally got to see Coheed and Cambria for the first time. The lead singer did not move from his microphone stand once. A band I used to love is rarely listened to by me anymore. The spectacle of a band's concert can certainly make or break a band's career.

martyrs and murderers

2005-05-04T00:07:00.000-04:00

Today I watched an interesting French movie titled La Veuve de Saint-Pierre. It was about a man who, while drunk, semi-accidentally killed a man and was sentenced to death by guillotine. This got me to thinking about public executions and how they are obvious spectacles. The last public execution in the US was in 1936 and they now occur in private. The only public executions that most people are familiar with are those that have been portrayed in the movies or popular culture: William Wallace, Joan of Arc, Jesus. These executions, now, can be attributed to martyrdom, but I want to focus on the majority of public executions where criminals were killed in front of an audience. These killings can be likened very closely to the original spectacles in the Coliseum. Crowds gathered to watch the death of people at the hands of an empire/government. On the surface level, public executions were a way to deter crime, a way to say, “hey, look what will happen to you!” but on a deeper level they emphasize the ultimate power of the empire/government over the lives of their citizens. Public executions are a way to reinforce the authority of the governing body, as were the thumbs up/thumbs down decisions of the emperor at the Roman Games. It can be argued that public executions were, as well, a way for group catharsis, as we discussed earlier in the year, but the main reason, I believe, was the underlining of the government’s ultimate power over your life. “THIS COULD BE YOU” is what a public execution blares and do you really want to be the one standing on the trapdoor of the gallows?

My favorite television spectacle

2005-05-04T00:06:00.000-04:00

There is one spectacle that I look forward to every week. That spectacle starts thursday night at 8 pm. Sometimes I am practically planning my day around it. If your a fan of this particular television show, you probably already know what I am talking about. This spectacular show is none other than "The OC. Virtually everyone our age has heard of the show (and don't lie, you have definitely watched at least one episode). It's our generation's "90210," and what girl cannot get enough of Seth Cohen?
However, last thursday, my roommates and I sat waiting for our favorite hour of television. Unfortunately, we were all dissappointed to see a fox news special report. So great! We are expecting Seth, Ryan, Marissa, and Summer and guess what we got... our stupid President holding only his fourth prime time news conference throughout his entire administration. At first, we thought perhaps something important had occurred... there has to be a good reason to prevent the OC from airing, but no. No big news, just the same stuff we have been hearing the President talk about for months. My favorite television spectacle was replaced by a spectacle that is nothing new and certainly not captivating. Why could Bush hold his little conference an hour earlier! This is no way to convince any teenagers or young adults to like his policies.

A Jog that Jogged my Memory

2005-05-03T23:30:00.000-04:00

I have going running around DC since the beginning of last semester; however, it was only last week that I finally realized how beautiful this city truly is. As I jogged along my normal route on 17th street I came to the World War Two Memorial--a monument that I saw at least a couple of times a week for the past couple of months. However, as I jogged to the other side of the memorial, I slowly tilted my head to the right and caught a glimpse of one of the most perfect reflections I had ever seen. The sun had just peeked out beyond the clouds and was shinning its rays down on the reflection pool. The reflection shot up from the pool and hit both the World War Two Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial making them both glissen in the sunlight. I was breathtaken. It was at that moment that I realized that, while most cities like New York and Chicago, are beautiful because of their neon lights and busy streets, this city is beautiful because it is effortless. It isn't filled with all the New York hustle and bustle or the fancy lights of Boston or Chiacgo, but is just the opposite. It is calm and serene and even though it lacks those everyday spectacles that characterize most cities, it has everyday spectacular showings of its own. Ones that are orchestrated by the most famous spectacle producer of all: mother nature.

The Imperial University?

2005-05-03T22:53:00.000-04:00

GW is a permanent and powerful neighbor to the residents of Foggy Bottom. We have been in the area over 90 years now according to the flags that line our streets, and we expand our presence here in George Washington each and every year. There is a certain resident in our neighborhood who lives on 22nd and I who refers to GW as the "Imperial Universit". It is hard not to notice his little display of a newspaper or magazine article discussing the University's takeover of Foggy Bottom. Clearly GW's presence in Foggy Bottom is a spectacle, especially to the residents that live here. I can imagine the annoyance of living with thousands of young college students, especially on the weekends. The bigger question is what should be GW's role in the community? Is it ethical for the University to continue to buy property causing more and more residents to move out. I personally beleive that GW should try to accomodate the residents of Foggy Bottom more, but at the same time, we should continue to expand the University and make the school a better place to go and live.

Judicial Sunday

2005-05-03T22:14:00.000-04:00

Did anyone else catch last Sunday’s rally for the Bush administrations Judges? I turn on my TV and see priests, ministers, and politicians addressing a crowd of devout Christians. The message was clear, anyone who disagreed with these appointments was doing so solely because of religion and that to do so was to oppress Christianity. The program was filled with televangelists and it is no surprise that the spectacle contained similar sets, props and lighting as many televangelist shows. Also similar was the rapt expression of faith on the audiences faces. What is it about combining politics, religion and spectacle that captivates the audience like that?
I think it is the way religion (basically the center of someone’s personal life) and politics (the center of a social life) seem to influence every aspect of life. The topic is naturally important to people so they are more inclined to listen. Add spectacle into the equation and it is no wonder people did not listen, but rather inhaled the message at last Sunday’s judicial rally.

Blogging

2005-05-03T21:16:00.000-04:00

I think it may be safe to say that blogging has become a spectacle. Wonkette.com spawned out of a blog that was created by someone who worked on the Hill and slept with many important people and posted it online, now her website gets thousands of hits a day. There are blogs that act as the everyday People Magazine, and countless political blogs. Almost everyone I know has a blog. Does this mean that blogs have become a spectacle? I believe so. Not necessarily because they have become increasingly popular, but because of their implications for the audience. For many people checking blogs has become an occurrence as frequent as checking away messages. Many blogs get out of control when because of anonymity people start controversy by commenting inappropriately on people's lives. Look at Rosie O'Donnell's blog on rosie.com. Every post she makes gets at least one negative comment about her lifestyle. This stirs up controversy and now even the media is involved. I have seen many references to Rosie's blog in newspapers lately. There is also talk on if blogging as a newssource is legitimate. Where is the credibility? All of this controversy and this popularity has created a spectacle behind blogging. One cannot create a blog simply for personal reasons anymore, it is now seen as a way to show off to the world, or even to create pity for oneself. I am interested in why people have created blogs. Do you believe blogging has become a spectacle?

Early product releases: Apple vs. Everyone Else

2005-05-03T17:43:00.000-04:00

In today's fast-paced tech world, every company is trying to beat competitors with new, flashy products. I have found that so many corporations flood the market with upcoming product details and specs long before the products can be purchased. This seems like a very good trick to appear ahead of the competition and boost the company image. It also allows ample time for the product to be hyped up and information to be circulated. I believe that this technique actually can impair the sales of merchandise because those looking to buy keep looking ahead at the next generation and may choose to wait. I would think that this creates a cycle where a potential buyer may significantly delay a purchase. Let's say John wants a digital camera - he wants Company A's camera (available now), but he hears about one coming out from Company B with more features for the same price. He chooses to wait until he can get Company B's. By the time B hits the market, Company A has a new digicam scheduled for release in a month. What is John to do?
Apple Computer seems to break this 'rush to market' attitude. Renowned for being extremely secretive about major product releases, the company always makes a big splash when it does release something. This can actually generate more sales because the product is able to be purchased while demand and interest is high. I would argue that Apple has a great strategy for bringing products to market... maybe it wouldn't work well with other companies, but I think it's part of what makes Apple so special.

Jesus Christo Vivio!

2005-05-03T17:39:00.000-04:00

On Easter Sunday, several of my friends and I had accidentally slept too late to go to the church services we were planning to attend. My friend, Drea, who is a devout Catholic (I am Protestant-ish) was frantically trying to find a church service she could go to, and as late as possible (because she wanted me to go with her and I had a dinner to attend at 4:00pm that day). So, we found a service at 6:00pm, which was perfect, but there was one catch, it was all in Spanish. While I was hesitant about going to a Catholic church, we ended up having the time of our lives at this church service. The way this church celebrated Easter was quite a spectacle! It was like a southern-baptist church gone hispanic-catholic. There was a band of musicians; guitars, percussian, tamberines, etc, and lots of upbeat singing involved. I'm a fan of peppy spanish songs! The sermon was very responsive, "Jesus Christo vivo o muerto?" "Vivo!" etc etc. I find that much of the decor of churches add to the spectacle element of the services. The alters adorned in candles, and the stained glass windows, and the enormous cathedral cielings, much of the experience is visual and grandeur. My experience on Easter Sunday, however, was truly spectacular.

Political Debates As Spectacle, specifically the SA at GW (Yes, it's outdated, but I meant to post this a LONG time ago!)

2005-05-03T17:23:00.000-04:00

“You have two minutes to conclude,” the moderator informed candidate Ryan “Lex” Luther. And with that, Luther stood up and proclaimed, “Don't vote for me! Vote for my good friend and fellow presidential candidate Ben Traverse!” Endorsing opposing candidates was just one of many stunts performed at the George Washington University's Student Association's (SA) Presidential debates. Political debates of any kind are often spectacle: each candidate puts on a façade to present to the public the image they wish to portray. In the Student Association debates at GW, the message to the audience was clear, “Vote for me, I'm the best, smartest, funniest,” or even, “the worst candidate!”
Luther was one of the candidates who were considered to be “Joke Candidates” in the SA races. His counterpart, Henry Roosevelt, appealed to the audience's sense of humor, winning votes through entertainment. He used the two-hour debate setting and turned his 45 seconds for answers into a stand-up routine. As part of the comedy act, Roosevelt, being a relatively good-looking guy, turned to the sensual side of the audience. He made a point of standing out from the rest of the candidates, beginning with what he wore. Roosevelt wore a pink suit jacket, yellow dress shirt, and a pink-striped tie. In addition, he wore a winter hat on his head. Slowly, throughout the debate, he undressed. First, the hat went, but that was hardly noticeable. At one point he publicly threw off his suit jacket, saying, “There's too much formality in the SA, why can't we just relax?” And then, a little more discretely, he begun untying his tie, and after awhile, he started loosening his shirt buttons. At this point he probably won over some female votes, and perhaps even the gay population. When it came time for the two minute concluding speeches, Roosevelt stripped his clothes and danced around the stage in his crew uniform. He was singing and promoting his theme of “GW just needs to relax!” He even jumped off the stage and ran to the video cameras, putting his face against the screen, to give those watching at home a closer look. The vast majority of GW students who consider themselves the “political junkies” of the school, disapproved of Henry Roosevelt's lack of seriousness and disregard for the SA regulations. But he entertained and even impressed many of the audience members, who otherwise would have grown weary of boredom from the other candidates. Unfortunately, these audience members already had their loyalties. But Roosevelt may have reached a few apathetic voters watching on television, who like Roosevelt, were sick of the ridiculousness of the SA. Roosevelt's purpose of running was not to earn the title of school president, but rather, to make fun of the entire process of student government elections. Henry's satiric approach was successful in proving a point, and winning him a few admirers, which is exactly what he intended.

Doin' the Greek Dance

2005-05-03T17:13:00.000-04:00

As the semester ends, it's that time of year when all of the sororities and fraternities on campus have their formal dances. Just last weekend, I attended my own sorority formal. Everyone has been talking about it since the beginning of the semester as if it was the best thing that happens on campus. I even found myself getting excited as the day came closer. I bought a new dress, got my nails done, and found (in my humble opinion) the perfect date. The night was a great success! All my sisters came out in their beautiful dresses, ate delicious gormet food, and danced the night away under a romantically-lit outdoor tent. Silly, right? Why is it that intelligent college students still get excited over such a seemingly frivolous spectacle? In high school, prom was THE thing to look forward to senior year (I didn't have a junior prom). Why do people love getting dressed up and going out for a special occasion? What makes this spectacle so appealing?

Before the dance, a group of friends and I went to Georgetown to have dinner. Walking along M Street, we drew lots of stares in our spectacular formal attire. When a group of girls came up to me and told me how much they loved my dress, I was delighted. I think no matter our age, people love to feel like they're special. Even if it's just for one night, acting like a princess/movie star/socialite is an entertaining and confidence-boosting experience. It may be silly, but everyone deserves a night to feel special. I can't wait to do this again next year!!

The NBA Playoffs

2005-05-03T13:16:00.000-04:00

I can't remember a year where the first round of the NBA playoffs have been so good. Even though the two largest market teams, the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers, didn't make the playoffs the atmosphere and mood of this season's quest for the championship have been above average. The games that have been played so far have shown the domination of the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference and the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference and has created a certain excitement for all of these smaller market teams. Both Phoenix and Miami are not the premier franchises in NBA history, which is definately helping garner more interest in the playoffs this year. The Lakers, who have won three championships in the last five years are a great franchise and it's helping the NBA that they are sitting out the playoffs this year. The fact that all these smaller market teams are rising up and becoming great create interest from those cities and are just adding to the spectacle that's beginning to grow. Although my 76ers are probably going to be knocked out by the Pistons, I'm still excited to watch all of these new awesome teams that have proven themselves and are ready to compete in the playoffs.

There is NO need for sirens

2005-05-03T11:57:00.000-04:00

I live across the street from a fire station. Now, sirens create a spectacle. They catch people's attention so they get out of the way and the fire truck can get to the fire quicker. I'm disgusted when I see people and cars continue on their way without moving when a fire truck has its lights and sirens on. However, being that I live near the station, I constantly hear and see these trucks. Everyone always looks to see what is going on when the big red truck is flashing its lights. What I have a problem with, however, is the need for these firemen to turn on the lights and sirens on their way BACK. Why do they need to stop traffic when there is no fire?? Why are they creating an unnecessary spectacle? 10 days until summer and unnecessary interuptions in my sleep!

Arrested Development

2005-05-03T02:19:00.000-04:00

The other afternoon I was running near the Holocaust Museum, and as I turned toward the mall I saw a man being arrested. The female police officer threw the man onto the sidewalk. She was screaming and cursing at him while she threw the man onto the sidewalk. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing, get your ass down on the ground,” she yelled as she slammed his head against the pavement. I stopped running and stood there watching the action unfold. Why was I mesmerized by this scene? I was obviously not the only one intrigued, and found myself standing with a crowd of tourists. The man did not seem to be resisting arrest, so why was this officer making such a spectacle about handcuffing him? I thought about it and realized that it was because she was female. She was flaunting her dominance over a male. She wanted to show power and fearlessness. Two female tourists wearing matching oversized pink DC sweatshirts, white jeans and cream colored Keds sneakers, cheered the female officer on. I was shocked; however they seemed to be proud of this woman for exerting her strength and power.
The hidden logic of this officer’s action was to show that women are just as powerful as any male officer. It appeared as if the officer strategically placed this arrest so that it could be viewed by as many people as possible. The officer seemed to draw in quite the crowd, and clearly received support from some of the audience. Overall, this was a spectacle that was used to show off power.

The Spectacle of Tourists

2005-05-03T01:11:00.000-04:00

Now is the time of year for the tourists to pack the metros, eat at Sissex, and take over the city. While I was once apart of this (when visting with my family), I must say the abundence of "CIA" and "FBI" shirts scare me to some extent. It is ludacris to see a family of four walking around with shirts that are two sizes too big for them. Last weekend I went to the Air and Space museum with friends to chekc out one of DC's great free museums. On the way, we ran into a middle school tour group. They were the most obnoxious kids--running aound the metro screaming and ranting. While most GW students complain of tourists, it is good to take a minute and reflect upon how all of us were tourists at some point. After all, the spectacle of tour groups makes you apprechiate the fact that you actually reside in the city during the school year. Just next time--someone let them know the metro rule is "stay to the right, pass on the left."

The Spectacle of Law and Order

2005-05-03T01:01:00.000-04:00

As I sat down to watch the dvd collection season fourteen of my favorite show, Law and Order, I began to ponder the fact that this show is a spectacle. A spectacle is first seen wthin the first five minutes of the show, right before the theme song. Usually a padestrian is walking and notices a dead body or injured person somewhere. This is the spectacle of gore to the audience watching--since it appears so realistic! Next, the theme song comes on, with the signature music--do do do do do do..dodo..no matter where you are, you know the music. After the theme song finishes and the episode begins again, the whole story unfolds. Detectives like Dennis Farina (who I met in a store in NYC) search for clues and interview some of the most interesting people in the city. After the case is solved, then usually a trial occurs. District Attorney Sam Waterston is responsible for bringing justice to usually a complex case. If this is not enough spectacle for you, consider the fact that there are no four Law and Order's: Law and Order, Law and Order: SVU, Law and Order: Criminal Intent, and Law and Order: Trial By Jury. Now spectacle can be seen a dozen times a day--and on reruns on TNT!

Hello Sir! How Can I Help You?

2005-05-03T00:33:00.000-04:00

Working in retail at times can be one of the most horrible experiences of your life. There is nothing more of a spectacle than waiting on a line of people stretched outside of the door and around the corner in Pentagon City. I currently work at the Electronic Boutique within the mall and let me tell you, we are constantly busy, 100% of the time, never a moments rest. We get all sorts of random people in a store, and I have met many people who quite frankly, were insane. Working in retail can be extremely demanding, people expect things quick, efficent, and done well, and they want it all done NOW. If we don't have a particular item a customer is looking for, I've had some customers literally flip out in rage and start screaming. I've been yelled at, cursed at, called names, and withstood a lot of torture from different customers and it has never been pleasant. People feel that just because they are spending money at a store that they can do whatever they want to a sales associate and get away with it, and the sad part is that they normally can. The store can truly be a spectacle, and it is shocking that I see such rudeness and overall lack of humanity in some people on a daily basis.

24: The Greatest Spectacle On Earth

2005-05-02T23:28:00.000-04:00

It has recently come to my attention that today no television show is more of a spectacle than Fox's hit series 24. Every week the show offers more intriguing plotlines, dramatic cliffhangers, and of course the biggest badass on the planet, Jack Bauer. Kiefer Sutherland plays Jack and is perfect for the role. For all of you who are not familiar with the format of the show, Jack works at CTU (counter terrorism unit) in Los Angeles. Each season is 24 hours long and every episode is one hour that is done in real-time, which basically means that everything shown in the show is actually during that time period, which means we never get to see anything else that happens at the same time as what is currently on screen. 24 is the most spectacular show I have ever seen, every season there are incredible and epic story lines full of terrorist plots, political intrigue, and amazing action. There is always a dramatic threat to the nation, and always on a massive scale, nuclear bomb detonations, presidential assasination attempts (THREE TIMES!), virus outbreaks, nuclear power plant meltdowns, plane crashes (twice, one was Air Force One), train crashes, and tons of awesome twists and turns. No one is who they seem on 24 and you never know what will happen next. The show is fairly poltical as well, and it usually is very conservative, which is not really surprising coming from Fox. Although the show does have mass appeal, and perhaps this type of show really does ignite a spark with people in today's post 9/11 world where terrorism is much more on people's minds.

P.S. I do not work for Fox, I am merely stating the correct fact that 24 is the best thing to be on television in the history of television.

Graffiti - Art or a Tainting of City Streets?

2005-05-02T22:43:00.000-04:00

Everyday as I ride on the shuttle back to Mt. Vernon, I stare out of the window and see bridges, roofs, and buildings with colorful displays of spray paint, some of which contain some rather colorful messages. "F*ck the Gov't" is one of my favorites. Then of course there's your classic "so and so loves so and so" surrounded by a giant heart and "so and so was here." Oh, let's not forget the ever-popular "BORF." Does this spectaular display of colorful graffiti represent art or is it just another example of vandalism? You will always find it on busy streets and highways in high traffic, heavily traveled areas to ensure that its message, whatever it may be, reaches throngs of people everyday. I always wondered if these people with their cans of spray paint realized that they were making their city look rundown but perhaps they were just trying to get their voices heard through "art." Some graffiti can be more artistic than others (I don't think "F*ck the Gov't" counts) but drawing on the side of a building instead of a canvas is still art. I think it all depends on how you look at it.

The Thurston Elevator

2005-05-02T22:26:00.000-04:00

If you stayed on the elevator in Thurston from 1:00am-5:00am on a Thursday or Saturday night, you would be in for quite a show. Every weekend, tons of thurstonians get completely plastered and act like complete asses. They scream and laugh and grope and fall all over themselves. However, in the elevator is where the real show is. Not only would you see just about everyone who pre-gamed and went out, but you also see some unsavory acts. The next morning of these drunken nights the elevators often have urine or vomit, remaining from the previous night. The reason for these spectacles- for the intoxicated's own entertainment. They do not do it for the masses' amusement, but because they find absolutely everything thrilling, even gross and inappropriate things. What I will from now on label as the "drunk spectacle" is really enthralling and fascinating. With all inhibitions gone, the Thurston drunks are like people released from their superego. For the opportunity to see people's id acting out, I suggest taking a ride in the Thurston elevator this weekend for the ultimate "drunk spectacle"!

The Art of a Temper Tantrum

2005-05-02T21:46:00.000-04:00

Once you think about it, temper tantrums are genius. Those little kids know exactly what they are doing when lying on the floor, screaming their heads off. Parents just do not know what to do with themselves. It breaks their hearts to see their little babies cry and, therefore, will often give in. However, if overused, the tantrum looses its effect. This is where many children go wrong. The tantrum's spectacle's audience- the parents- get used to it and the spectacle loses its whole shock and effect. This is when children should get creative- broaden the audience! Go public, kids! Do it in the supermarket when you want a candy bar or at dinner in a nice restaurant when you want dessert! Though there are parents that will stay strong, you will find that many will buckle under the dirty looks strangers give them. They do not want other people thinking that they are bad parents and cannot keep control of their children. So here is my suggesting to kids everywhere- use the tantrum in public when you really want something. Be careful of overusage and of strong-willed parents!

Gladiator's Spectacle

2005-05-02T21:19:00.000-04:00

When I heard we were going to talk about the film Gladiator in class, I got very excited. I love that movie; it is genius, exciting, and beautifully crafted. However, in class we talk about the spectacle it makes and whether it is more meant to be a money-making blockbuster or a work of art. It seems to be an obvious answer to me- it is the latter. However, many find that it is only appealing (or repulsive for that matter), because of its excessive fighting and blood. These movie viewers only look for the immediate and obvious thrills of the film, and do not see the necessity of the violence in supporting the flimsy central concept- scorn for the unnecessary, but terribly popular violent Coliseum games in the Roman Empire. However, Professor Claycomb presented a good point- can one ridicule spectacle through spectacle or is the audience too distracted by the spectacle made used to ridicule spectacle to see the deeper meaning? Sadly, I believe that it is not possible with the average movie goer. One must make an effort to see these profound meanings and sadly nowadays people do not watch movies to think, but instead to just flake out. Therefore, I beg the youth of America to not lie dazed on a couch next time they watch a film like Gladiator and, instead, take the time to appreciate all the film intellectually has to offer.

The power of a word

2005-05-02T21:04:00.000-04:00

Sometimes it is truly amazing how much spectacle can be caused by just a few words. Last Tuesday, longtime University of Oklahoma baseball coach Larry Cochella was describing his new freshman outfielder to ESPN's news team. Cochelle praised the freshman (an African American) for staying in school saying, "There’s no n----- in him." ESPN immediately notified the Athletic Director and President of UO. Today, Cochelle resigned amidst a storm of criticism and media spectacle. Though the freshman in question released a statement saying that Cochelle should not have resigned, he still was released from his position.
In today's world, there is clearly no place for such racially insensitive terminology coming from a major university. The media spectacle that ensued served in bringing the incident to light and ensuring that proper action was taken to diffuse the situation. Without such a spectacle, the incident could easily have escalated as the University was gradually pitted against its minority students. However, because the incident was brought to public attention so quickly, the administration and Cochelle took appropriate action to insure that the spectacle remained only in the news.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

2005-05-02T20:50:00.000-04:00

As an avid theater-goer I attended a matinee of the show Dirty Rotten Scoundrels over spring break. I noticed that their marketing program fits perfectly with their show and the show's motto: "get taken." They had a special on QVC entirely dedicated to promoting the show. Last week they gave away free cds signed by the cast. There is a promotion to give away 50,000 of their cds to fans over the course of this month. I am amazed with the lengths this show will go to make money. The cd giveaway attracted thousands of people who lined up around the block. This spectacle is quite amazing. Why not give away free cds to passersby? This is a perfect way to get songs in people's heads and get them to come see the show. The show on QVC consisted of such spectacular people as Joan Rivers. This reached an audience of people who I'm sure would not normally be exposed to broadway. While the producers of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels are creating a spectacle around the show, it seems to be working. The show is generating a lot of buzz and attendance is high. This marketing blitz has actually created a positive effect using the normally negative spectacle.

ITS FINALS TIME

2005-05-02T19:00:00.000-04:00

So it’s everyone's favorite time of year again and throughout GW people everywhere are studying, relaxing in preparation to for studying, and fulfilling the time honored tradition of the nervous breakdown. This spectacle of college can take many forms. There is the shell shocked student who has had too many energy drinks to truly know where they are but they are pretty sure that the Assyrian army invaded the UN to bring Romeo and Juliet together. They can be easily recognized by the shaking, pale face, sunken eyes and the ability to jump 10 feet in the air at the slightest noise. My favorite form of mental collapse is actually the flip out. In this instance the student will cease to be a coherent individual and probably need a translator. Books will be thrown, tears will be shed and incoherent rants will be screamed loud enough to bring the Secret Service. This truly spectacular event serves to let all who see know that this person has too much work to do. Of course these poor souls will probably not garner much sympathy as they are surrounded by people no more than a few readings away from the edge themselves.
The key to spotting a potential nervous collapse is simple. Listen for someone explaining how much work they have. Once you hear this, wait and see if they say the same thing to the next person. If you get three in a row, stay put. You've found your mark. Sit back, relax and wait for the fireworks.

Eric Ashcroft

Sunshine and Rain, Rain and Sunshine...the Spectacle Created by DC's Indecisive Weather

2005-05-02T17:39:00.000-04:00

How many of us have walked out of our dorms at 8 in the morning all bundled up, only to find ourselves sweating as we are walking back to our dorms after two classes? It is normal for the temperature to be cooler in the morning and get warmer as the day goes on. But what is it with 65 degrees and sunny one minute, to 45 degrees, overcast, and raining another, and back again to sunny a half hour later. The effect of this ever changing weather is reflected in a spectacular range of style's by the student body. There are some people who are caught in a skirt and t-shirt, while others are more well-equiped with a hoodie and jeans. The GW solution to the confused weather seems to be the oh-so-amazing, Ugg and mini combination. Since when is wearing sheepskin boots and denim mini skirt that goes 1/4 of the way down your thigh considered fashionable? Since, I came to GW apparently. But when you really stop to think about it maybe it make sense. I mean, they have warm feet when the rain comes, but when the sun comes out they're ready with a skirt. Intelligent...perhaps. What do you think of this fashion statement? Practical or gaudy?

Take Me Out To the Ballgame

2005-05-02T15:38:00.000-04:00

It seems that sporting events in America have become one of the biggest spectacles around. I recently went to a Nationals game, and I had forgotten how every step of the event is quite the scene. First there are the hundreds of venders that are outside as well as inside the stadium, it is impossible to avoid the yelling of "hats for $10" over hear, and "soda and pretzels" over there. Then there are the people waiting on line who don't seem to realize that everyone else on line is also waiting, and they insist upon yelling at the cashiers who are moving as fast as they can, and complaining about anything and everything possible. Once you've finally made it to your seat there is the usually amusing spectacle of the fans. Some come adorned head to toe in there teams apparel while others don't wear much but paint themselves in their teams colors. The game proceeds with chants, yells, and boos after many of the calls, and ends with a huge cheer when one (and hopefully your) team wins. So why have sports become such a huge spectacle? Perhaps Americans not only love the game but love having a specific team to root for and love becoming part of the spectacle? Whatever the reason it's easy to see when attending a baseball game, that it is America's Pastime.

Raid

2005-05-02T00:11:00.000-04:00

Please note: This post is backdated to Mid-March, when I couldn't get it to post for some reason.

Every night, a UPD officer passes by my door during his or her rounds of Mitchell. On the days I am sprawled in the hall with my friends, our legs bridging the narrow width of the hallway, we all smile and wave at officer passing by. Why wouldn’t we? The UPD officers are people, just like us. They keep us safe, making sure no really strange creepy people are hanging around, etc, etc. Usually a CF or two will come by during the night as well, doing rounds.

Yet tonight, the entire dynamic changed. UPD Officers searched my neighbor’s room, along with CFs from other floors in the building. We all watched nervously, knowing what was there to be found and yet hoping futilely that it wouldn’t be. But what struck me about this strange spectacle was not the activity itself. It was the attitudes of the officers and CFs. The officers were openly condecedning and rude, laughing at my neighbor as she struggled not to cry while sitting in the hallway outside her door. These were the people I trust to walk the halls, not in an attempt to sniff out any telling odors, but to keep the ‘real world’ from infringing too much on my quiet, peaceful dormitory existence, such as it is. The reactions of CFs were even worse because they were like friends. In the months between moving in and this night, I had forgotten that the CFs were CFs… instead, they were interesting people who wandered the halls and gave out hippobucks if I left my door open while studying. But tonight they were all CF, concealing their scorn only enough to keep their positions businesslike.

What does this kind of spectacle do? It certainly didn’t make me trust the UPD Officers, make me think they would respect me as another living, breathing human being. It made me think twice about befriending a CF who might turn on a dime to turn me in... a CF who, as a friend, could help me through any real issues I might encounter in a way that someone I simply said ‘hello’ to as I passed in the hall never could. While I don’t support what my neighbor was doing, I have to say that I expected more professionalism from the UPD officers, and at least the courtesy of understanding the situation to be supremely frightening to my neighbor from the CFs… our fellow students, after all.

The White House Correspondent's Dinner

2005-05-02T00:05:00.000-04:00

There is one spectacle that unites two of the must spectacular professions of the media and of politics; the White House Correspondent's Dinner. This event serves to bridge the gap between the President and the media. However, the event has become quite a circus. The ringleader this year? Laura Bush. The First Lady cut off her husband's speech to make a few comments of her own. According to the New York Times, the First Lady notable called herself a "Desperate Housewife" and openly made fun of her husband for going to bed too early. "George, if you really want to end tyranny in the world, you're going to have to stay up later" was one of her funny quips. What makes this DInner a spectacle is the amount of news it generates. Apparently the media loves itself. Who knew? Major headlines on nytimes.com and cnn.com mention the First Lady's attempt at stand-up. Most fail to mention the writer of the jokes. Personally, I'm going to stir up some controversy here and say that I find it funny that the Bush Administration was able to use the media at an event honoring the media for their White House coverage for pure political gain. Granted the President doesn't have to worry about reelection but the dominance of this story today shows that he still has the ability to get the attention of the public. Now maybe his polling numbers on social security will change. Or not.

Tourists

2005-05-01T19:04:00.000-04:00

I have been working at the Natural History museum and have started dreading my walk accross the mall there and then my trip down to the cafeteria for lunch. Why? Tourists. Yes, they are supposed to be there and that is the point of the museum to attract tourists. But for some reason a large gathering of thousands of normal people lost and confused, stopping randomly to take pictures of random things drives me up the wall, I literally start to twitch. I feel like a hipocrite (sp?) because I have been a tourist myself in several places. However, Atlanta is not a huge tourist city and I do not live anywhere near a tourist attraction so being surrounded is a new feeling for me. I feel bad, I do, these are just normal people taking a trip to their Nation's capitol, but they drive me up the wall! It is definatly spectacular to see such a mass gathering of tourists, all in awe and confused all at once. Another thing I have noticed about tourists is they all have Washington, D.C. sweatshirts on, as if wearing these will help them blend in with the 'natives' of D.C.. So, walking accross the mall from the metro to the Natural history museum it is not uncommon to see a group of about 20 13year olds with baby pink visors or sweatshirts saying D.C. on them giggling their way accross the mall. I also do not understand the need to videotape every step you take on a vacation and everything you see in a museum. Half the stuff I have seen in museums bore me or were interesting enough to see once and keep a nice mental picture in my head. Do people go home and sit on their couch and show their friends, who have probably already or someday will go and see the same thing, every detail of their vacation? I sound terrible, and I truly do understand the appeal and excitement of visiting a city of D.C., I just do not understand the habits of tourists and how everyone magically transforms into one when they visit a new place. I think half the spectacle of a place like D.C. is the spectacle created by the tourists that flock to the city and stop and marvel and videotape at every chance they get.

Rape is Funny???

2005-05-01T17:00:00.000-04:00

I am the biggest fan of Law and Order Special Victims Unit. The show is about the police squad that deals exclusively with rapes and children. More of the shows, however, deal with rape. SVU comes on EVERYDAY of the week on USA, and the new episodes come on on Tuesdays on NBC. I have seen almost every show, and I blame SVU for my procrastination. But I have found that most people prefer SVU over any other Law and Order show. Why? Is it because we're a society obsessed with sex? Rape is often argued to be the most heinous crime. So why do we have a tv show focused around it? And why are so many people infatuated by it?

I laugh during almost every show. The writers of the show have purposely added a lot of sarcasm into the dilect and the characters. My mom hates that I love this show and gets even more upset when I laugh because it's just a serious issue. But the show wants you to laugh. My mom is afraid I'm going to become numb to this type of violence; I guarentee you I won't. But, is the show right in adding humor? They want to educate the public of the brutality and seriousness of the problem of rape in society. They're trying to make the show lighter and less intense through humor. Is this ok? Or are people going to become numb to this sort of violence?

Catfight on the Metro

2005-05-01T16:06:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I was coming homefrom shopping and waiting for the train in Metro Center. Two women got off the escalator, and one of them had a suitcase. She must have accidently hit the other lady with it without realizing. The woman turned around and gave the lady with the suitcase a disgusted look. The woman with the suitcase then said excuse me and asked what the problem was. The other lady started screaming that she was hit by the luggage and it was very rude. The lady with the suitcase then applogized and said she didn't know what had happened because she wouldn't be able to feel what her suitcase hit, and that it was ridiculous and immature to give her a dirty look. Everyone waiting for the train focused their attention on these two ladies. The dirty look was what caused this situation to become a spectacle. If the first woman did not give the other day a look, the woman would never have known her suitcase hit someone and the train station would not have been disturbed. I think the most interesting part of this spectacle is the comments I over heard from bystanders. Everyone began whispering, mostly about who's fault it really was. I think it's the lady that gave the other lady a dirty look. Train stations are crowded and it's hard traveling with luggage. How was she supposed to do know her bag hit someone? But I heard other people saying that if you are going to be travling with a suitcase, it is your responsibility to make sure you don't hit anyone else. So who's fault is it? Does it even matter? A spectacle was still made. In the broader scheme, can most spectacles have debated causers?

The Nation's Body Image

2005-05-01T16:04:00.000-04:00

America is so obsessed with body image that I cannot turn on the television or go online without seeing an ad for some new piece of equipment that will supposedly give me abs of steel or some new miracle pill that will make me lose 20 pounds in 2 days. People complain about the stick thin actresses and supermodels but also the growing rate of obesity. To fix the country's so-called "weight problem," companies and manufacturers feel the need to assault the public with weight loss programs (the South Beach Diet, Atkins, The Zone), pills (Hydroxycut), and tapes (anything with John Basedow). What I have noticed is that food companies aren't just putting "reduced fat" products on their shelves but "low carb" products for those carb counters out there, what seems to be the new wave of popularity. I mean even Ben and Jerry's has come out with a carb conscious ice cream. The nation with the worst eating habits has become the nation with the biggest push to fix it and we have the grocery aisles full of low fat, low carb crap to prove it. We've gone into a frenzy in an attempt to balance the weight issue. There's a difference between being healthy and then going a little overboard.

Stock Market- A Spectacle in Progress

2005-05-01T13:24:00.000-04:00

I will admit I am addicted to the stock market. At first it was just an interest, now it is an obsession. The first thing I do every time I walk into my room is run to my to specially designated monitor that contains my real time quotes. This monitor displays over 50 stocks of my preference. Every time someone buys or sells shares I am notified immediately as well as price changes. The screen is constantly flickering with red and green rectangles, signaling to me that a stock and gone down or up. This last financial quarter has been extremely eventful and upsetting to investors. News about annual earnings, quarterly earnings, new technology, and crude oil prices dictate the day’s activities. This summer I have an internship at Morgan Stanley in New York where I can experience the hustle and bustle of Wall Street. Here I will see the true spectacle of Wall Street. Wall Street itself is quite an experience with all the noise, activity, and traffic. The frequently changing information always causes stir ups from investors and the environment is very loud and impressive. Even though I am not on Wall Street currently, I can still feel the rush that goes through the people who spend their days on Wall Street.

There Are No Girls Like GW Girls

2005-04-27T13:57:00.000-04:00

When I first came to GW, I noticed something. Every girl looks the exact same, dresses the same and acts the same, it’s amazing. I mean, I come from a town where the girls are very similar to the girls at GW. I can even admit I care about the same things these girls do and I dress the same and shop at the same places. I remember in the beginning of the year calling my parents and being like “Mom honestly, these girls wear chanel, mini skirts, and do their hair for their friggen 8ams.” I was shocked, here I am walking to class first semester, in sweats, not showered (I know it’s gross), and a t-shirt. You wouldn’t believe the stares I got from some fellow students when they saw me walking down the street, absolute disgust.
I promised myself I would not turn into one of those girls who look like they are going to prom for their morning classes. Unfortunately, as the year went on, I began finding myself waking up an extra hour and a half earlier just to do my hair or look nice. I felt a lot better about myself walking to class. I’m not saying I gave in and looking at these other girls made me do it, but getting dressed for classes isn’t so bad. I actually felt better the whole day.

Starbucks Is Ridiculous

2005-04-27T13:56:00.000-04:00

The other day I stopped into Starbucks for a drink before class. Of course the line was huge, like it is in every Starbucks you go into. I don’t even drink coffee, I’m one of those people who gets anything but a latté or a cappuccino. My dad on the other hand, gets 3 Starbucks coffees a day which all have to be the most bitter and strongest kind of coffee. He almost has like designated times and when we go somewhere where there isn’t a Starbucks, he almost goes into withdrawal. It’s sad. I noticed over the years, the orders the employees take are becoming more complicated, long, and stupid. I have to laugh at the ladies who order a “double, skim, chai, no sugar, latte with a pinch of cinnamon on top..”. They obviously ordered some stupid crap drink that they probably don’t even know what it is just to order it, sound sophisticated, and make it complicated. I have to admit, my own sister does the same thing, but at least she knows what she wants. If you want a coffee honestly, then just get a coffee is my opinion.

Everyone Loves Family Guy

2005-04-27T13:55:00.000-04:00

I bet every teenager has seen and probably enjoyed the show Family Guy. I had never really watched it before coming to school. I kind of thought before that it was one of those shows that I wouldn’t think was funny or it was just stupid and all my guy friends liked it. Well, I was wrong. It may be one of the most clever and hilarious shows I’ve ever seen. Because my boyfriend is an avid watcher, I’ve probably seen almost every episode so far. I realized that the show makes fun of everything from TV shows, politics, and movies, to what society views as normal. Some people may not get the hidden jokes that come up throughout an episode, but you can definitely catch the obvious ones. This show really makes you think about what goes on around and you may take some things a little lighter after watching an episode or a few. I can’t wait for the new season to start in May.

The College Process

2005-04-26T13:12:00.000-04:00

The GW campus is being invaded by potential freshman! I know that every time I swipe in at Thurston I am greeted by masses of these prospective students. I cannot walk a corner without escaping them. There have been loads of students for the past month exploring our campus. The whole college process is quite a spectacle. From the mounds of applications to the large amounts of college visits. The process is also very complicated if you think about it. You need to take the SAT or ACT. This requires months of preparation and can require lot of money for tutor expenses. You then have to send those scores to colleges along with your essay and applications. Also you need to make sure your school forwards your transcript and teacher recommendations. After completing this mundane process, the ever-stressful waiting period occurs. You have to wait 2 or 3 full months to hear the decisions. Finally, after being accepted to the schools you need to go and visit them. I was inspired to write this after my recently hearing about my brother’s process. In the past 3 weeks my brother and father have traveled the U.S. to visit colleges. They have made their way to the West Coast to visit Stanford then all the way to the Northeast portion of America to visit Harvard as well as 6 other universities. The whole process leaves your desk piled sky high and leaves campuses packed to their limits

Passover at Hillel

2005-04-25T17:24:00.000-04:00

Passover is my favorite holiday. I love reading the Haggadah with my family, eating delicious nosh, and laughing at my youngest cousin who has to say the four questions every year. Unfortunately, being in college prevented me from participating in my family's sedar. Instead, I went to Hillel to satisfy my Passover yearning.
While I did not particularly like the religious aspect of the sedar, I still enjoyed my night at Hillel. One of the reasons I love Passover so much, is that the holiday is about coming together as Jews and remembering the troubles and triumphs of the Jews that came before us. Being at Hillel, surrounded by at least 100 Jewish college students gave me great comfort, because I felt like a member of the community. There were rows of tables lined up in the Hillel basement, filled with excited practicers if the Jewish faith. It felt so good to participate in this spectacle. The mass gathering of Jews, reading the same prayers at the same time filled me with warmth and joy. While it wasn't as good as being at my family's sedar, it was still a meaningful and memorable event!

Pink & Blue Flags

2005-04-25T11:30:00.000-04:00

At 7:58 AM this morning, as I was rushing to my evilly early morning class, I couldn't help but notice the small group of people putting little pink and blue flags up in University Yard. As I got farther in, I saw a table set up in the center of the Yard, with a banner reading "GW Students for Life". At first I didn't get it, until I saw the pamphlets sitting nearby... anti-abortion information. But I was in a hurry, so I barely slowed to look.

Walking back after class, the group had finished the flags. It seemed like tall pink and blue flowers had grown throughout, leaving only the brick paths to walk on. I couldn't help but have a feeling of disgust, but not disgust at what the display intended to attack. Abortion is one of a few issues I feel very, very strong on, and while I can understand and respect the beliefs of pro-life supporters, I do not agree with them. The display reminded me of that, it didn't sway my opinion in any way. As a spectacle, it did not convince me.

But it made me think about abortion nevertheless...

The Next XBox

2005-04-25T03:33:00.000-04:00

When the original Xbox was released a few years ago it was hyped beyond belief. Touted as being the most advanced videogame console ever created, Xbox was all about being the biggest and best, from it's specs, to it's graphics and sound processing capabilities, as well as it's physical craving to be "on top" (it was actually designed with a slightly rounded and beveled top so that other consoles/dvd players/equipment/etc doesn't lay stably on it).
Now the second iteration of the Xbox console is set to be released by Microsoft, which seemingly hit a home run with it's first dive into a market with which it had no experience prior to Xbox 1. Rather than preview this new console at an electronics or computing trade show, as it did the first time, Microsoft is aiming to reach it's target market by showing a sneak preview on MTV this May 12th. The half hour event will feature a popular band - The Killers, as well as a host, Elijah Wood, all on a network synonymous with the hip and young. Already, very vague tv ads are out promoting the MTV release show itself - not even the release of the console – just the show that debuts it! This should be an interesting couple of weeks (months?) as Microsoft tries to work it's way into the pilot seat of every home-entertainment system in the country.

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/news/2005/0411-mtv.htm

The Great Facebook Outage of April 2005

2005-04-25T00:42:00.000-04:00

In the beginning of the semester, there were several posts about the wonder that is thefacebook.com. Out of nowhere emerged a website which connected college students around the US and Canada through personal profiles, groups, and course rosters.

I'll be the first to admit that many-a-day, instead of making blog posts, I am on thefacebook scrolling through my friends list looking to see who updated their profile. Some call it legal stalking, and in a lot of ways, it is.

Tonight (04/24/05-04/25/05) thefacebook faced such heavy traffic, that it was impossible to log in. In a span of 15 minutes, I heard complaints from six of my friends. "Andrea," one of them said. "Can I use your computer to look someone up on facebook?"..."Damn, I can't see his profile right now because facebook is being loopy"

Perhaps some of you did not even know there was a facebook outage, but for those GW students who wanted to participate in some "legal stalking", this certainly was a spectacle.

"Super Size Me"

2005-04-24T22:12:00.000-04:00

I recently watched the movie “Super Size Me” in one of my classes, and I was shocked at what it had to say. I personally do not eat fast food anyway, so it bothered me less than it bothered most people, but I could not believe what fast food can do to a person in just a few weeks. For those of you who have not seen the movie, and man in his 20’s who is in perfect health, as certified by a fleet of doctors, goes on a quest to eat McDonald’s three meals a day for 30 days. The affects that this food has on him is mind-boggling and it certainly makes a strong impact on the viewers, particularly those who eat fast food on a regular basis.

Another important issue that the movie brought to light was the poor eating habits of young children in schools across the country. The movie goes to certain elementary schools and documents the food that various public schools offer their students. It really highlights an interesting and debatable topic. Who is responsible for the health and nutrition of the students? Does the school have an obligation to monitor what kids in 1st and 2nd grade eat and if they are eating their lunches at all? I know from experience that when kids bring their bagged lunches to school, there is a lot of food that goes uneaten or is given to other students in exchange for other unhealthy food.

I believe it is the responsibility of the parents to instill good eating habits in their children, but there is only so much they can do. I know my mother would pack me lunches every day all through elementary school, but whether I ate it or not was out of her control. I am not sure that the school has any responsibility to their students, particularly in public school, to monitor if the kids are eating their lunches. I do, however, think that school districts have a responsibility to provide well-balanced options to students with all of the food groups, so they at least have the opportunity to nutritiously. “Super Size Me” points out a public elementary school that serves fresh fruits and vegetables every day to its students, in addition to having cooks bake the other products which are much healthier. This school noted that it is no more expensive to do this, but most other schools do not do this because of political reasons, and that should not be. Apparently, the companies that are providing these unhealthy meals to schools have managed to ensure that their food will continue to be served in schools, and this simply should not be the case.

GREEK spectacle

2005-04-24T09:23:00.000-04:00

Sigma.. Kappa.. Alpha.. Gamma.. Beta.. I don’t know. But I do for the most part know who’s in them. The Greek life on the campus at our school may not be very prevalent, but it still exists. Sororities and fraternities have made it obvious who is involved, and which one they are a part of. Beginning the school year when the spectacle began with rushing, I chose not to participate, as I decided it just wasn’t my style. I was however, able to clearly see the pledges for each sorority throughout the entire process, even as a foreigner to Greek life. One day they wore their pins, one day they would all dress up together, they all sat together under Ivory Tower, etc. They even all had t-shirts with a well thought out slogan and theme to declare their sorority cooler than the rest. After pledging was over, doors in Thurston were covered with Greek letters, pictures, streamers and other decorations announcing that a brand new “sister” lived there. I am amazed now as I notice how many different items there are that set each sorority apart from the rest. There are sorority flip flops, tote bags, necklaces, t-shirts, sweatpants, and the list is endless. Sweatshirts are created for each one with different colors and huge Greek letters signifying the sorority or fraternity across the front. Even the off-campus fraternities have a presence on campus. People involved are known by the sorority/fraternity they belong to and the reputation it may have. However, these groups are able to use the attention they receive to benefit themselves and others. Parties will be promoted through association with a fraternity, and many fundraisers are successful as it involves at least one Greek group. They advertise certain activities their sorority/fraternity will be participating in, encourage others to join and then use the money earned to help go to a good cause. These sororities/fraternities declare themselves family, with “big brother/sisters,” and other titles. I still have yet to see an aol profile of someone involved in a sorority that didn’t at one point have something along the lines of “I heart my big.” Everything that a sorority/fraternity does is spectacle although we only witness a minimal amount. What we are exposed to at this school is only a taste of what there is out there, as the spectacle Greek life dominates at some schools across the country.

The Vern is a spectacle, I swear!

2005-04-23T15:28:00.000-04:00

One thing I've noticed living on the vern is how big a deal kids living on Foggy Bottom make of having to go to the Vern. I'll hear comments about how people avoid it like the plague, or how it is such a hassle. Yes, good job, it is not within walking distance from your dorm, but it is only a 10-15 minute shuttle ride. I think it is nice, peaceful and beautiful up here and am hurt when people act like we live in the fiery pits of hell and to get to this horrid location you must take your horse and wagon and trek halfway accross the globe. I think that Foggy Bottom kids make the Vern more of a Spectacle than it really is. If the Vern is continually portrayed as such a negative place then the thought and act of actually visiting such a location becomes a bigger deal than it ever should be. Just shut up, get on the shuttle and enjoy the ride!

He's Just Not That Into You

2005-04-22T16:52:00.000-04:00

I'm sure by now we've all heard of the new book titled "He's Just Not That Into You". Written by writers for Sex and the City, a craze for the book seems to have swept women across the country. But why such a spectacle for one of hundreds of books that were recently written. The book has been the topic of a show on Oprah and has appeared on various best seller lists.Women across the country not only buy the book and watch the television shows on it, but talk about it and recommend it to their friends. Perhaps women view it as a way to translate what men really think or perhaps a source for answers on why their relationships haven't worked. Regardless of the reasons the book has been made a spectacle by women all over. Now as you pass someone saying "maybe he's just not that into you", you can guess what book is on their night stand.

A Confused Conclave

2005-04-22T00:13:00.000-04:00

Does anybody else find it odd that a sacred tradition of the secret Conclave would result in a newly named pope that would almost immediately come out to say that he didn't want the position in the first place? The Conclave in itself is quite the spectacle. Anything involving secrecy seems to peak the interest of most people. The fact that this secrecy is surrounded by religion and tradition only amplifies the draw. The audience it attracts goes beyond devought Catholics looking to see who their new spiritual leader; the spectacle of the event attracts a much broader audience. Television coverage for the event did its job by providing information to its viewers and with running commentary satisfied the viewers watching for the entertainment value. Though the spectacle in itself was effective, I find it highly ironic that the cardinal they selected would be the one who seemingly wanted it the least. As a show, the Conclave was very impressive, but the actual proceedings of the Conclave itself seem to be far less effective.

What a B*tch!

2005-04-21T00:57:00.000-04:00

Prof. Claycomb mentioned talking about people creating a spectacle in a public place, an idea that is core to our class, so i will relay a great story of spectacle in the GWU tradition: like the Gelman Starbucks line, the Au Bon Pain one is also great at 8am. While waiting to serve myself oatmeal one morning, the pot nearly empty, i watched two typical GWU b*itches work their magic in front of me. Everyone knows the type I am talking about: loud, obnoxious, and nasuating. They are the girl talking loudly on their phone in a public place about something you have no interest in hearing. They are the brat who pitches a fit at Gap when their size is sold out. And here they where, En Corps...yelling at the extremely busy workers that they wanted their "brown sugar....I have to have it or I dont want this shit...It isnt any good if it doesnt have brown sugar...i am going to throw it away if they dont have any...i can't believe they ran out of brown sugar..." For the first time this year i had the guts...i dont know if it was the nearly empty pot of oatmeal and the growl in my stomach, their whinny voices, or the look on the workers face of disgust. I felt like smacking the girl and saying "you are complaining about freaking brown sugar to someone from a country where they dont have any food!" But instead i used my more precise and less blatant weapon: I gave the girl the meanest "shut the hell up or..." look i had in me...and it worked. and i got my oatmeal.

Spring Fever

2005-04-21T00:38:00.000-04:00

There have been quite a few posts regarding the wonderfully pleasant change in weather and how its brought everyone outdoors, filling up Kogan Plaza all day long. Accompanying this rush into the outdoors seems to be a surge of spring fever. Everywhere I look, there are couples holding hands. It seems that everyone has found someone to bask in the rays of the sun and in the warmth of love. Not to sound too harsh and judgmental, but even the homeless people outside of Au Bon Pain have found someone--we all know that couple making out in front of us while asking for the leftovers of our sandwich.

Where have all these couples been all winter long? You can still hold hands while wearing gloves. Maybe it's not as romantic, but it's still possible. Like the newly planted tulips, has this surge of couples just recently sprouted? or have they all just been in hibernation? I don't understand how all these couples have met so quickly, fallen in love in such a flash, and seem to be throwing it in everyone else's face. Living in Miami all my life, I've never experienced spring (we only have two seasons: hot and hotter). The in-your-face spectacle of spring fever is quite the commanding one to my "virgin eyes."

America=Crime Show Obsessed

2005-04-20T23:56:00.000-04:00

Imagine this: A woman walking to her car after a long day at work. As she approaches the door, she notices that there is a purse wedged under the rear tire. She bends down, only to find a women lying face down in a pool of blood. Within seconds the SVU squad of the NYC police department is at the scene.
This description could easily be the plot for an episode of the hit TV show Law and Order SVU. America has become crime-show obsessed. Everyone from teenagers to the elderly find themselves hooked to the TV screen when shows such as Without a Trace, Law and Order and CSI come on. These programs give an inside look into the world of crime investigation. The viewers of the phenomenon (myself included), get so involved in the shows that one easily forgets that most crimes cannot be solved in 60 minutes. This has affected trials across the country. The producers of these shows have been able to convince viewers that all trails are that cut-and-dry. They do this by using persuasive attorney’s and aggressive cops. Americans fascination with these shows, as allowed jurors to believe that their trails will be similar to a 3 minute court appearance on Law and Order. This spectacle has persuaded viewers that crimes and their investigations are simple and fun to solve. This could be a way of recruiting more law enforcement and district attorneys who will be able to “take a bite outta crime”.

Spectacle of Security

2005-04-20T22:43:00.000-04:00

It's amazing the spectacle you can see as you pass through airport
security during the suggested 2 hours before your flight. First there is
the long, and in some airports extremely slow line to enter security
where some people insist on arguing that the three bags they’re carrying
really only count as two. Then each person must present their boarding
pass and photo ID before they can get in another line for a screener.
Each person must then remove electronics, laptops, shoes, and jackets
and place them on the screener belt. After a few, or if you’re lucky
one, trip through the metal detector most people scramble to gather
their belongings, while others are chosen for more extensive searches.
These people have their bags searched and are gone over with a wand.
Many times security employees remove things as small nail clippers or
nail files. All this produces quite the spectacle due to the thousands
of people who must pass through in order to get to their flight.
Questions continue to arise about the necessity of the spectacle. Is
this much of a spectacle really necessary? Is it really as efficient as
it appears? And is the spectacle in some ways done simply to ease
peoples’ concerns about flying? Regardless of the various debates
airport security continues to create a spectacle each time one passes
through.

Mickey D super sized

2005-04-20T17:31:00.000-04:00

McDonalds has just super sized the plans for the design of their new restaurants. The new sites are lavish and large. When seeing a picture I felt as if I was looking at the Ritz Carlton, not a McDonalds fast food chain. It sounds like they are trying to compete with Wal-Mart with over 24,000 square feet of eating space. The large open area is less conducive to intimacy. The new restaurants will be able to accommodate 300 customers in a two-story facility. Even the drive-through lanes will be more efficient since there will be two. McDonalds is obviously trying to cater to their current clientele, ones that like things to be bigger and more extravagant. If you approach a McDonalds you will be bombarded by SUVs and minivans. The whole restaurant is covered in a transparent glass shell. The interior of the new design suggests anything but simplicity. The finishing touches are made of brush silver. The tables are made of blacklit onyx tops. You can take the escalators to the second floor, where you will be greeted by a full coffee and gelato bar. You will also have the option on this floor of watching one of the many TV’s and connecting to the Internet. The problem with this new design is simple; it is not McDonalds. It sounds more like Ruth Chris Steak House. McDonalds is trying to build an image that it does not have nor should it. It is a place meant for childhood innocence and memories. It is a cheap and convenient option for parents to take kids and friends, not a modern art structure.

Pop Culture: Oops, she did it again!

2005-04-20T16:34:00.000-04:00

Most people would say that Britney Spears should have been out of the limelight for quite awhile now. Yet she seems to be constantly popping up in the news. Whether she is marrying her childhood friend in Las Vegas or getting into fights with her current husband's baby's mother, Britney always has the cameras following her.

Emerging in the late 1990s, the spotlight was on her for her young, sultry, school-girl look. She's been a constant topic of controversy regarding her sexy looks and how they affect America's youth, especially young girls. Britney has always embraced her sexuality through her wardrobe and her music. Nowadays, however, it is not her music or "bangin' body" that is being talked about, but her trashy lifestyle. All over the tabloids and on television, we're bombarded by news about the newest Britney escapade. The other day on MTV, TRL devoted a small segment to how Britney's life is changing as she is now pregnant.

I just don't care anymore. When she first emerged, it was interesting to see what sort of controversy Britney would strike up among the public. Now, the controversy is just old. I don't care that she's gotten fat and can no longer dance as well. I don't care that she's getting married yet again or that she is going to be a mother. Frankly, it's a bit of joke to watch all of this unfold. I don't understand why America is still so concerned about Mrs. Spears Fetterline. She made her mark years ago and now she's just pathetic.

Habemus Papam

2005-04-19T16:21:00.000-04:00

..."We have a Pope," in Latin. Once again the TV screens around the world are lit-up with the second half of the story of a Papal transition (the first half, of course, being the death of Pope John Paul II). As the previous "blogger" noted, the ascention of Cardinal Joseph Ranzinger to the throne of St. Peter was an act defined by tradition and deep, personal, and spiritual feelings for those nearby. Those watching from behind TV screens, of course, could never get the same powerful emotions as those actually present in the Vatican. So, we as (spectacle-analyzing) Americans, are better equipped to discuss the media spectacle involved, rather than the actually spectacle of the event itself in the Vatican.

Thus, the TV in the other room in my suite has been on for hours with CNN and Fox News covering all of the images and analyses of the new Pope Benedict XVI. News regarding the Papal election is covering easily 95% of the rotation of news stories on all the cable news networks. Indeed, the past 2-and-a-half weeks have been a feeding frenzy for the American media. After several days of continuously covering Pope John Paul II's death, there was a slight "lull" for a week, and now the constant coverage resumes. Yet where the mourning of the deceased Pope really could only focus on his life and absense, the election of the new Pope opens a new dimension of dialogue that will present itself to the speculators in the media. Most obviouslyt, this speculation is to be all about the future of Papal policy both on the Church itself and on socio-moral issues.

Anyway, I suppose there isn't really much analysis I can do on this media spectacle as of yet. It does quite obviously fulfill the role of a spectacle (separate from the event itself) as it is designed to reach millions of people with overwhelming images. And, generally, it does succeed; although probably mostly due to the people seeking news, not actually being drawn in by the media circus. Well, anyway, I 'm running late to fulfill my part as a contributor to the media spectacle...being one of the Americans heading to Church tonight.

The New Pope

2005-04-19T14:38:00.000-04:00

It is interesting to compare the celebrations surrounding the selection (selection? election?) of the new Pope to the events of Inauguration Day, only 3 short months ago. The inauguration was geared towards the TV crowd, of that there can be no mistake. But the new pontiff's blessing was somehow different. The camera angles weren't as clean or perfect... many times, the shot was of the back of the man's head. A few people surrounded him on the balcony, but by and large those who were instrumental in his election, the other cardinals, were spread out along various other balconies around the Square. The event must have been a powerful one... there were shots of various people with tears in their eyes... but that power did not carry through the camera lens as it did in the inauguration. The Pope's ceremony was not aimed to be a big, grand performance, it was supposed to be something more personal, more individual... a religious figure accepting his role and blessing those gathered to celebrate his rise. While it might not have carried across the pond, I can't help but wonder... how much more powerful than our showy election must it have been, wrapped as it was in tradition and history instead of pomp and (some might argue) excess.

The Spectacle Of Videogames

2005-04-19T13:57:00.000-04:00

Videogames are a fairly recent phenonmenon in American culture and have really exploded in recent years in terms of popularity. Making and selling videogames has become a billion dollar industry, one on rival with film and the music industry. Nothing could be more spectacular than a videogame, the best sellers make millions of dollars, are loaded with sex and violence, and have created enormous fan followings. When usually the entire purpose of a videogame is to kill people as fast and efficently as possible, it is not surprising that we have seen such an outcry from the government. Many have tried to censor videogames in the past yet there has been no real sucesses except from the implimentation of a ratings system. The fact is, videogames will keep getting bigger and bigger, more violent, more excessive, and more fun. It is for this reason that it is clear that videogames are here to stay, and are becoming an increasingly more important part in American culture.

Religion

2005-04-19T12:55:00.000-04:00

We have a new pope. I actually wrote my last post about the death of Pope John Paul II and how the grieving around the world and his funeral were such spectacles. The funny part, is that I am not religious in the slightest. In fact, I don't even know what religion I am if I wanted to demonstrate my faith. But then I was thinking, perhaps this is exactly why I find these events to be so spectacular. I view these historical proceedings with an outsider's perspective, one that lacks understanding and appreciation for what is actually taking place. While watching the events live on television when the new pope was going to be announced, I was absolutely blown away by the enormity of the situation and the amount of people that it so deeply effected. I found myself intrigued and anxious while awaiting the announcement, even though it doesn't personally impact me. The announcement was so built up, full of spectacles including the white smoke, the robes, and mass amounts of people who literally ran upon hearing the news. After the Pope emerged from behind the curtains, the emotional crowd began celebrating, crying, and hugging one another.
Religion is something that provides a common bond for people around the world, as demonstrated by the wide range of people that have come together during this emotional and historical time. To those who are involved, every occasion is marked by tradition and rituals of celebration or grief. These may be extravagent events such as this, or simply demonstrating their loyalty and devotion by wearing crosses or the Star of David. To those of us unfamiliar with showing our beliefs, religion in some ways is a spectacle. Other posts have commented on Easter Mass, or holidays, and many more. If truly examined, any aspect of religion is a spectacle to those who aren't involved and maybe even to those who are. The purpose? A simple and humble one; to represent and display the pride and importance of their faith.

Gelman Starbucks

2005-04-19T10:29:00.000-04:00

Whenever I come up with a new idea for a blog post, it usually as if three people already beat me to the topic. Unsure of what to contribute, I asked my roommates, none of which are enrolled in this course, for some advice. "Have you ever been to Gelman Starbucks right before an 8am class?" she asked me. "Now that's a spectacle!"

At first, I wrote off her suggestion, finding it, for better lack of a work, silly. But then I went to the Gelman Starbucks right before my one early morning class (8am chem lab!), and saw how right she was. The line was enormous, and spiraled around the length of the store. Even so, it moved quickly, and before long, I was placing my order. The baristas were working quickly, simulataneously writing orders on the paper cups and pouring shots of espresso into them. Around me, I heard my fellow students shout their orders..."i want a tall, soy caramel macchiato, no whipped cream, and with one squirt less of the caramel!"..."I'd like an iced, grande quad shot cafe americano with sugar-free hazlenut syrup!" I found it baffling that the baristas were able to work so efficiently, not messing up even one of these complicated orders.

The one thing that I thought might not make this a spectacle was the lack of a specific purpose. But then it hit me. The spectacle at Starbucks is the clearest one of all: to caffinate GW students so they can be focused and alert during their early morning classes!

The Riots We See, But Don't Experience

2005-04-18T17:55:00.000-04:00

Today in class we watched a video entitled “Twilight” that featured live footage from the riots on April 29, 1992 in Los Angeles, CA. The riot that occurred in LA persisted for three days and is thought to be one of the worst riots our country has ever experienced. However, for those of us who watched the footage in class, the riots persisted for forty-five minutes on a small television screen. The spectacle that occurred in 1992 was such an extreme occurrence that it has initiated the creation of numerous movies, documentaries, and debates. However, viewing the many buildings that erupted into flames, the police brutality, and the hostile relations among different ethnic groups on television did no justice to the events that took place.

We may never understand the extent to spectacles by viewing them on TV. Television has an unintentional tendency to reduce the magnitude of spectacles by stripping them of their emotion. Instead of engaging our senses and feeling the spectacle, we are only able to see the spectacle. Just as many of us were left shocked and distraught after viewing the news coverage of the attacks on September 11th, those that cried with panic as the buildings fell and shuttered in pain as they watched people die are the ones that truly experienced the spectacle of terrorism. I believe that recorded spectacles can not capture the importance of an event and, more importantly, the emotions within the event. By watching spectacles on TV, viewers are called to make superficial judgments; most which would be different if they had been present at the time of its occurrence. Although I find it beneficial that we are watching live footage of the spectacle, I think our reactions and responses to the riots in April of 1992 would be more accurate and more magnified if we had experienced the riots.

Going Soft: Why is CNN Covering Britney's Pregnancy?

2005-04-18T10:56:00.000-04:00

It would seem to me quite unfitting that CNN, a station most viewers look to as the authority of serious domestic and world news, would do a story on Britney Spears(or whatever her last name is now). It was more than a little blurb on the side of the screen, or a scroll at the bottom; there was an actual segment devoted to her new venture. The juxstaposition of Britney's pregnancy and flaming tensions between Iraqi insurgents and US troops seems a little strange, does it not? In thinking of CNN's audience, I think of people from 30-65 years of age and the occasional well-educated college student, not necessarily Britney's pull of 13-25 year olds. Is it appropriate or necessary for CNN to cover this 'breaking news,' or does it serve as a bit of an insult to the integrity of their usual material? Regardless what is says about CNN, it seems entertainment news has made it to the top of the ranks in terms of what gets covered in media today.

NYC 2012

2005-04-17T14:57:00.000-04:00

Maybe people consider New York City to be the Capitol of the World. With a population of nearly 10 million, there is almost always something new and dynamic taking place. This year alone, New Yorkers have witnessed a numner of spactacular events, including an exhibition of orange gates in Central Park, several boisterous parades, and moreover, the hustle and bustle of everyday life in the Big Apple.

Considering the overall energy and vitality of the city, it comes as no surprise that there exists a movement for New York to host 2012 Olympic Games. In what seemed to be overnight, an official "NYC 2012" logo was desgned. It can be found on the sides of subway cars, on the ad placards of yellow taxis, on the facades of tourist destinations like the new Trump Tower at Columbus Circle, and even on the memorabilia sold at souvenir shops. This movement, which for a long time, seemed disorganized and bound to fail, has suddenly become very strong and forceful. No matter where you go in the city (especially on the Island of Manhattan), it is very obvious that New York is vying for a bid to host an upcoming summer olympics.

Sin City: Taking Sin to a New Level

2005-04-17T11:22:00.000-04:00

Last night, I went with a friend to see the film Sin City, after hearing positive reviews on it. According to friends of mine and newspaper reviews, it was supposed to be entertaining. In fact, it was, but in an entirely different way. Upon arriving in the theatre, I was surprised at the turnout since it was 12:15 at night. After purchasing tickets, we sat in the dark room that seemed filled to capacity. As I waited through the endless previews, I had no idea that this movie would single-handedly change my understanding of a "gory" film forever. The film started with Josh Hartnett and a pretty woman, and the scene eventually ended with her death. Of course this did not surprise me; I thought this was normal for an R rated film. Yet, it seemed each scene was becoming more and more violent as the movie progressed. Everything was done to harm characters, including shooting, mutilating body parts, and causing blood to splatter everywhere! For example, in one scene, Bruce Willis walked around with the head of an enemy and placed it on the desk of another character. In another scene, it was told that the prostitutes of Sin City run the town and pose as law enforcement. They kill when they need to, and they “do their job when it is necessary.” In my opinion, all of this was done to create negative spectacle. It was supposed to surprise and enlighten the audience with an inflated portrayal of a "Sin City." All aspects were definitely covered. When one thinks of Sin City, Las Vegas comes to mind. While I know Las Vegas is different from many places, in no way is it like this! (After all, I have written two papers for this class regarding Las Vegas and I can confirm this!) Upon leaving the theatre, I told my friend that if Nancy Regan had seen this movie in the 1980s with the warning labels, a new one would be created simply for this one. All I know is, after the film, I went to my dorm and watched Family Matters to remind myself the world we live in is not like that one.

It's a, It's a, It's Another Damn Party Flyer Under My Door!

2005-04-15T13:05:00.000-04:00

How many times have you been sitting in your room, typing on your computer, and heard the familiar ruffle of paper slipping through the crack at the base of your door? Many, I'm sure. Well, my question is why are there so many party flyers? Are they really effective for their audience?
The flyers, often embellished with flashy designs and bright colors and graphics, are targeted at the outgoing college student. They are an attempt to let people know about their parties and hopefully get them to come. Their motives are to get a lot of young people together to make money off of them and create a hip atmosphere. Often, the flyers are targeted at young guys. One recent flyer I came across mildy disgusted me as a self-respecting women. The graphic was of a college professer pulling the thong off the bare bottom of a female college student. At first, this seems inappropriate and you might think girls would be deterred from going, but from my observation of the girls in the lobby of Thurston on a Friday night, the flyers work.
So, as obnoxious/ inappropriate as the flyers may be, it looks like they're here to stay. After all, they do seem to work for their audience and function as a true spectacle, catching the audience's eye and persuading them to follow their desire.

Britney's Reality...

2005-04-15T01:13:00.000-04:00

Oh dear God, Britney Spears is breeding. Not only will that story grace the covers of magazines for the next few weeks, but we the public will get the pleasure of viewing her impending motherhood on her new reality series debuting on UPN next Fall. Following the footsteps of Nick and Jessica, Britney and her husband Kevin Federline are firing back at the tabloids who claimed that their marriage was on the rocks by showing the world how lovey dovey they can be. Aren't personal lives supposed to be, oh i don't know, personal? I know that, when famous, you lose most of that but you certainly don't have to invite the cameras into your living room. Britney said she wanted to express her anger at the tabloids through art. I'm sorry, but when the hell did reality television become "art"? It's amazing what people find entertaining these days. Then of course, you have to draw that line between entertainment and art. I don't think Britney's new reality series, or any reality show for that matter, falls under the artistic category.

We are the J-Street Spectacles

2005-04-14T18:37:00.000-04:00

After a busy morning of classes, the clock struck 1:30pm: exactly thirty minutes before I had to go to work and the perfect time to grab some lunch. So where would any starving GW student go to satisfy their hunger but the first floor of Marvin Center also known as J-Street. Although J-Street features restaurants that sell a variety of different delectable and gourmet cuisines, for some reason the random Chinese place that is guaranteed to never have a line, the Mexican place that is a couple burritos short of REAL Mexican food, and the pizza with the waxy-looking cheese from the Italian place did not appeal to me on this particular day and usually doesn’t on any day, for that matter. The places in J-Street are so sketchy that people don’t refer to them by their names or even as restaurants, but as (mentioned above) “the ‘insert food type here’ place.” In order to avoid the sketchy food vendors in J-Street, which I do upon recommendation from my peers, I headed over to Subway so I could ‘eat fresh.’

While ordering my salad, I was delighted to find that they had run out of tomatoes. Imagine that, a sandwich fast-food chain that has run out of tomatoes by 1:30pm. That’s okay though, I can understand why such restaurants would not have a large supply of tomatoes, especially because ALL they make are sandwiches and salads. Next up is the salad dressing. Apparently, Subway also does not stock up on Italian dressing. Perfect! My salad had hit rock bottom at this point. I settled for oil and vinegar on the side, and was even more ecstatic when the lady started putting it on my salad. By this point, I was beyond frustrated. As we all know, it’s relatively easy to make a hungry person angry. As the line behind me formed, I reminded the lady that I wanted the dressing on the side. I was then informed that there were no lids to the cups for the dressing. Whatever, just give me the salad and let me get on with my life. I paid for the food, which had suddenly lost its appeal, in between sighs of frustration. Yes, I had made a spectacle of myself. It is the spectacle you see everyday when people look at their watches while desperately waiting for their Jamba Juice or try to get the attention of the lady at Starbucks who got their drink order wrong. We make spectacles of ourselves all the time in J-Street, but is it really our fault? I don’t think so. I’m a strong advocate of getting exactly what I’m paying for and getting it in the most efficient way possible. If this doesn’t happen, I am willing to make a spectacle of myself fueled by my frustrations.

Let's All Be Healthy

2005-04-13T21:25:00.000-04:00

For those of you who have not walked down the aisle of your local grocery store lately, the words fat-free, sugar-free, and low-carb seem to plague almost every food label. The craze to be healthy or mainly just to eat healthy foods has created a spectacle not only in these supermarkets, but in fast food chains and restaurants, as well. Everywhere you go to buy food, you’re bound to see a healthier alternative to the food items that you want. For example, now people can enjoy low-carb pasta for dinner and satisfy their sweet tooth with non fat cookies, brownies, and ice cream. However, the spectacle of healthy eating not only exists in local grocery stores, but has also extended into the realm of outside dining. Restaurant menus now feature healthy and Atkins friendly meals, while fast food chains have started incorporating salads and fruit into their menus, as well.

So is the spectacle of healthy foods appealing in our country? Definitely! While there are a number of people who complain about the shift of foods from regular to non-fat or who are sick of the healthy eating craze, in the end, they, like all others, desire to look good and will look for the variety of healthy food options when shopping for food. The spectacle is unavoidable. I know that no matter how much I do not want to think about the nutritional contents of my food, I would grab for the pretzels labeled ‘no fat’ and ‘low carb’ over the regular ones. Thus, covering food packages with these phrases is an effective advertising tool because it persuades people to think about the health craze, if not their own health. Who knows how the spectacle of these foods exactly started or when the spectacle will end…but as long as Subway’s Jared is still healthy, we might as well let the spectacle persist.

Harrassment on Kogan

2005-04-13T21:23:00.000-04:00

The spectacle on Kogan during the weeks of the SA elections was quite the extravagant one. Candidates and their supporters stood outside in the cold weather handing out flyers, free pens, and candy in order to persuade random by passers to vote for them in the upcoming elections. Several GW students filled the plaza and stood near poster, banners, and cars that were decorated according to the candidate they supported. Spectators heard music blaring from cars with songs about the candidates and their ideas for the future of GW, while they were handed food with candidates’ names on them. While free food can persuade me to do just about anything, the fact that it was accompanied by, what I consider, harassment made the food AND the spectacle of the SA election much less appealing.

Candidates worked hard to make themselves appealing to students rushing to class, however the spectacle they created was a hassle and extremely annoying. Walking through Kogan became aggravating because candidates were constantly either asking “Have you voted?” or shoving flyers in your hands. It did not help that the spectacle in Kogan was an all day event that tended to move to the outside of the Marvin Center by night. And the spectacle of the elections did not even end in the streets. Candidates sent out multiple facebook messages begging their facebook friends to vote for them and also knocked on the doors of residence halls in order to pester students, enjoying the silence of their rooms, with their slogans. I even received a phone call one night from a CI friend, who I had lost contact with, asking me to vote for him.

The candidates obviously knew the importance of spectacle in persuading the public, however they did not take into consideration the excess of spectacle. Students tended to attempt to be overly spectacular and thus, took the ideas of spectacle too far. The function of spectacle to be persuasive was counteracted because candidates were irritating their spectators. Considering that they desperately ‘attacked’ random students with flyers, which soon ended up in the nearest trash can, the spectacle that they created was unappealing and ineffective.

Harrassment on Kogan

2005-04-13T21:22:00.000-04:00

Security Alert

2005-04-12T22:03:00.000-04:00

Okay, I understand that after September 11, security measures were increased but sometimes it just seems a little ridiculous. The fact that you have to go through two hours of checkpoints before you finally get to your gate at the airport and yet people can walk onto a train with no security check at all just boggles the mind. God forbid you take on a plastic knife that you got at the food court or any other remotely sharp object because, sure, you can certainly take over a plane with nail clippers (see Robin Williams: Live on Broadway for some laughs on the subject). Every time I go to Union Station to take the train home, I wonder why no one's bags are checked or why there isn't even a metal detector. Are trains that much more expendable than planes? What about the people on them? Security has got this country so uptight. Exhibit A: a sniper on every single roof lining the Inaugual Parade or the SWAT team that tackled the sketchy gentleman in black standing outside the Capital yesterday (he only had a CD player and some batteries in those oh-so-threatening suitcases). But as they, better to be safe than sorry. But does that still mean two hours of security checks next time you fly?

Popular/Mass Culture Blog

2005-04-12T01:33:00.000-04:00

“Popular / Mass Culture” Blog
A little late, I know...

The SuperBowl: an American pastime and one of the largest sporting events broadcast on television. But there’s more to it than that – the program doesn’t just revolve around the two teams playing a game anymore. The most expensive commercials, the biggest names in musical and dance performance, and the household traditions all add to the hype and madness that surround the day. There are very few Americans who don’t partake in the day’s festivities… at least in one way or another. It is interesting how events like this have become so built-up to the point where the focus is no longer on the original event, but the fluff surrounding it. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing - personally, I care more about SuperBowl commercials then the sport itself. Is this sort of vertical growth in a particular industry related to advertising/marketing? The American way of making things bigger and better? It feels like 50 years ago events such as the SuperBowl were more about their original theme – again not necessarily a bad thing, I’m just interested as to how this expansion is sparked.

Monuments

2005-04-10T18:27:00.000-04:00

I was trying to figure out which monument to write on but I could not choose. I sat and tryed to figure out why and then it dawned on me. Each monument is nice on it's own, but in D.C. all the monuments are grouped together in one giant memorial, and often patriotic, bunch. Each memorial is huge and has statues of great figures such as Lincoln and Jefferson in larger than life form. The majority of the memorials seem to be of white marbel or stone with engravings of important words. They are all different yet fairly similar in style and size. It is their overwhelming presence in one area that make them so spectacular. There are statues in the middle of round-abouts which barely get any recognition at all. But in a city to have HUGE memorials and a large flat green space in the middle of it all creates a sense of awe. It simply looks cleaner, bigger and more grand here in D.C. with buildings like the white house and the capitol. I think the fact that there is one large area with about a million different memories and meanings all jammed together is what makes the monuments as a whole the spectacle of D.C.

KOGAN EXPLOSION!

2005-04-08T13:35:00.000-04:00

It would seem that there is nothing all that spectacular about Kogan Plaza. Throw in some 80 degree weather, sunny skies, and a mass of students and it transforms into quite the visual extravaganza. What is it about the heat that brings people to Kogan? Kogan's audience seems to be all the students at this university that may want to be outside on a sunny day, but find it hard in a city to find a good spot to lay out. Kogan provides a sufficient space for reading, socializing, and people watching. The multitudes of people also draws attention to the lack of outdoor space on campus. We basically have Kogan and University Yard, which is often half occupied by the children of DC day care centers. It's pretty sad for me to see children finding such enjoyment from 100 yards of grass. Having grown up in a suburban town with lots of outdoor space it is hard to imagine having such limited space. Kogan brings up an interesting paradox between the pay-offs and draw-backs of city life. Is all of the opportunity really worth the space crunch and people density? Would you rather have a campus where there was more than one spot to lounge and you wouldn't have to look for the one remaining open space on the concrete steps?

Spring and the District

2005-04-05T10:44:00.000-04:00

Now that the weather in Washington, DC is finally reaching steady temperatures (very comfortable ones at that), I am beginning to see more and more of my fellow students taking advantage of the city's many cultural sites and events.

Now, instead of venturing over to the monuments to sketch the Lincoln Memorial for art class or come up for material for uw20 blog posts, people are beginning to go just for the fun of it. The combination of the warm, sunny weather and lush, pink cherry blossom trees makes it a very pleasurable experience.

Whether or not people are going to attend a specific event, or just take in the sites in a slow leisurely walk does not matter in considering this spectacle. What matters is the plethora of people and the beautiful sites (both natural and historical) surrounding them.

The death of the Pope

2005-04-04T18:05:00.000-04:00

The recent death of Pope John Paul II is one that is mourned around the world. As leader of the Roman Catholic Church for the last 26 years, he will leave many lasting impacts. Pictures from the CNN website show regions of the world, as they demonstrate their grief in their own way. Photos from Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Africa and Australia all capture the same emotional grieving process that the individual is going through. As I view these pictures, my attention is brought to the different rituals and ceremonies that these people conduct. The histories, people, ideas and beliefs throughout these 6 continents are numerous in their differences, yet one common element is found among them all. Every culture grieves, and every culture seems to incorporate spectacle as part of the process. Thousands of candles were lit around the globe, whether in an African church or a shrine created in Asia, they are each symbolic of that person’s memory and grief. In North America, the base of a statue of Pope John Paul serves as a place for mourners to go and place bouquets of flowers, notes, or anything else they wish to contribute. Pictures or images of the late Pope also serve to aid in this process, as seen with the gathering of people in the Cathedral in Lima. They are able to find comfort in being able to just touch a painted image of John Paul II.
Perhaps one of the most obvious forms of this process can be seen in the funeral. This universal spectacle is common to most groups of people and an important part of their culture. Pope John Paul’s funeral can be expected to nothing less than a very elaborate ceremony in itself. It’s scheduled for Friday, and “is expected to draw the greatest tide of pilgrims and heads of state to the Vatican in its history.”(CNN.com) Over 200 world leaders are expected to attend and Prince Charles has even postponed his wedding in order to be there. Roman Authorities have braced for as many as 2 million mourners. Public viewing of the Pope’s body will take place over the next few days, and already, it is estimated that over 100,000 people are already lined up to see the Pope, clad in red and white robes.
It is no surprise that this should be the case, especially when the person is as recognized and prominent as this. These legendary people draw as much attention in death as they do in their lives. Millions gathered around TV’s around the world to watch the funerals of famous royals and past presidents. Funerals serve to celebrate the lives of those who have been lost. And famous or not, the ceremonies included in the mourning process, have spectacular elements common to different cultures around the world.

Conniving Conservatives use Terry Schiavo for their own advantage

2005-04-01T11:27:00.001-05:00

By just turning on the television these past few weeks, you can't help but be bombarded by news on the Terry Schiavo case. The woman from Florida has been in a vegetative state for 15 years now. Personally, I think that her quality of life is so terrible and basically not even existent that I don't see the point to her hanging on any longer. I think that that is only counterproductive for her family, being that they can never really start to move on from this disaster because they are still grasping onto their daughter.

Being that there was action in court as to who has the right to decide if Terry should live or not (her Christian fundamentalist of sorts parents or her husband), the county courts have the right to make this decision. I do not see, however, the need for the national government to get involved. I think it's ridiculous and cruel for there to have been a rush vote in Congress about this case. I do not believe that this was an act of compassion, but rather was just a political tactic played out by President Bush and his brother, the Govenor of Florida. I do not see the point in having Congress and the rest of America butt into the painstaking business of this family. The situation is difficult enough; I do not think it's necessary to get the national government involved. Once the county courts decided to remove the feeding tube, the case should have been over. I think that this is just yet another sneaky, conniving tactic that our conservative administration is scheming up in order to assert their, in my opinion, radical views on the issue of pro-life.

After a certain number of appeals, lawyers and the government step in, saying that the case should be over; that sadly, it has just become a waste of time, money, and effort. About 30 years ago, a similar case was going on. The parents of Karen Ann Quinlan, a brain-damaged woman, unplugged her respirator, introducing the phrase "right to die." The fact that this debate has now suddenly become a national issue, thrown into the direction of "right to live" only proves that our current administration is doing everything in its power to create an America that they want, not what the people want. I truly am disgusted by the underhanded tactics of this administration. George Bush has an agenda and calling an immediate vote in Congress is just one way for him to enforce his beliefs in all of America.

Conniving Conservatives use Terry Schiavo for their own advantage

2005-04-01T11:27:00.000-05:00

The South Beach Scene

2005-03-31T18:37:00.000-05:00

Over Spring Break, I was down in Miami, so I naturally found myself hanging around South Beach for a good part of the trip, and for good reason. I can't think of many better places to hang out for a week and take in the sights. I believe South Beach is arguably the greatest city to people watch in anywhere in the country, at least from the cities I have seen. Ocean Drive, the main street in South Beach, is about as hot of an area there is. It is filled with great restaurants, entertainers, celebrities and beaches. All of these elements add up to the ideal spot for having a good time. As I strolled the street along the beach with my friends, I was astonished to see so many exotic cars in one place. It looked like a foreign car dealership at times.

Restaurants, bars and clubs line the street, including some of the funkiest and trendy places to be in the city. The majority of restaurants were upscale, and virtually everyone dresses to impress. There are a lot of bright colors and head-turning outfits lining every street corner. After scouring the strip for a restaurant, we agreed on a Cuban restaurant called Lario's, which is owned by Gloria Estefan. Everything was going well until two gentlemen got into a dispute a couple of tables over. The confrontation escalated, and both men proceeded to stand up and knives were drawn. Neither participant spoke English, so I was unaware of what the argument was over, but a manager intervened and the police were on the scene real fast to break it up. The amazing part of the incident was how calm the majority of people were, as they continued to quietly eat their meals and mind their own business. I presume that most of the people dining in Ms. Estefan's restaurant that evening were tourists, so it is not as if they were locals that experienced this on a regular basis.

After getting out of there in a hurry, we continued strolling the streets, and ran into some unusual animals and pets, not to mention so eccentric owners of these pets. An older man, probably in his 70's, approached us with a big brown bag and attempted to sell us Cuban cigars. We declined, and continued to walk around. We stopped in a couple of other jumping places and eventually came to the realization that almost every place we go to was going to be the same type of scene, so we called it a night.

Unnecessary Mulitple Ad Posters

2005-03-30T20:43:00.000-05:00

If one ventures out in D.C. beyond the borders of campus (specifically eastbound), it will probably not be long before a makeshift wall of advertisements may be found. As you move further into the "less fortunate" realms of D.C., these walls of posters may be found more frequently. Typically, they are useless areas of blank walls either forming the borders of construction sites or adorning the sides of rundown buildings. Upon them lay several posters. Sometimes these posters promote movies, concerts, or political protest. Usually these posters specialize in the advertisement of new rap CD's. Nearby, one may find smaller versions of these posters taped on a row of street lights.

Now, having discussed what these ad campaigns actually are, I believe that they should be considered as spectacle. If for nothing more, they qualify as spectacle because they are an unnecessary excess. I am left to wonder, "who mounts these posters?". And, perhaps more interesting, "What possible gain could they receive if the advertised album sells more copies?". Is it record stores promoting sales? Is it citizens involved in gangs which may be affiliated with the rappers? Or is it merely crazed fans in the slums with nothing much else to do? Then, my final question would be, "Assuming the people who make these posters receive some benefit, what possible extra benefit do they receive by displaying 10 of the same posters on a tiny piece of wall?". Does the act of this multiplication ad to the spectacle to capture public attention? To me, I think the repetition is rather annoying; one poster will do the job for me.

An ad campaign based on taking a simple image and multiplying it across a wall for the public to see. A spectacle? I leave that for the reader to decide.

Easter Mass: Putting On a Show

2005-03-30T20:26:00.000-05:00

On any given Sunday, Roman Catholic churches across America are populated anywhere from modestly to fairly full. An amazing spectacle occurs; however, when the holy season of Lent draws to a climactic conclusion in the form of Easter Sunday. A nationwide phenomenon penetrates the halls of every holy sanctuary as they are filled beyond seating capacity. Countless Catholics seem to magically find faith on Easter where they have lost it on nearly every other day.

Now it would be a beautiful thing to think that the holy season of Lent has inspired a deep and true recommittment of people to their faith. It would be wonderful to imagine that a resurrected spirit of Christ has given followers the soul-level motivation to return to their Church. However, this optimism is quickly proven as naive, as church attendence declines sharply after Easter. Indeed, perhaps a few people truly renew a goal of church-going after Lent, but most fail.

So we are left to wonder the following: Why does church attendance soar on Easter and collapse on other Sundays? I would make the potentially offensive argument that it is all a personal spectacle that adds up to a grand public show. Those who make the annual "pilgrimage" to their local Mass on Easter are making a false statement to their friends and neighbors that they are good, pious, and religious people. It is an act that puts on a mask of their truth...that they seldom behave in religious manners (both by actual Church attendance and adherence to morals outside of Church).

It is a sad sight to see, countless people using religion as a form of spectacle by which they may enhance their image to their neighbors and themselves. It is quite depressing. Yet, to expose an honest conscience to the readers, I admit that I too have been guilty of this mockery in years past. My reasons of failure were more due to laziness than enhancing my image, which may be the case for many people. If laziness does account for most of the Easter Mass phenomenon, then the spectacle has lost its deliberateness, but I would still argue that it makes for a visual spectacle nonetheless.

Mixed Emotions

2005-03-27T18:22:00.000-05:00

The life of Terri Schiavo has created a large stir up of emotions. Schiavo’s feeding tube was removed over a week ago. There are ultimately two sides to this situation. First, sympathizers of the Schindlers are enraged with the fact that the federal government intervention proved useless. They believe that taking Terri’s life is unacceptable and that she could have a turn around. Her husband’s supporters believe that enough is enough. They are sad about the whole situation, but they believe that Terri would not want to be artificially living. People in favor of keeping Terri alive have shown numerous displays of protest in Florida. Some supporters taped their mouths shut and wrote the words Life to signify that Terri’s life was being innocently robbed. Others conducted a vigil with crosses and signs that were written in red containing the word “murder.” People against the feeding tube created signs saying, “Honor Terri’s wishes and I support the freedom of medical choice.”

face to face

2005-03-22T18:20:00.000-05:00

Victim and perpetrator: a unique relationship composed of unbalanced power, pity, and fear. In light of the recent shootings in Atlanta, the relationship that is created between a possible victim and a criminal is critical to what happens in the end: who dies, who lives, who leaves. The contact between two human beings is critical in any relation, but what affects most crimes is this element of understanding the humanity of others. The DC Sniper planned and executed his attacks from distance, far away from the victim, making them simply a target, no more no less. For such a crime of spectacle as this, the targets had to evoke unbridled emotion in the audience. Surely the shooting of a child or elderly man was perfect trigger. And how better to execute the crime than to simply dehumanize them to the point of a bull’s eye of a target…

Time Square

2005-03-08T22:44:00.000-05:00

Time Square in New York City is one of the most recognizable intersections in the world. People travel from around the globe to stand in the center of this American staple and gawk, stare, and marvel at its overwhelming presence. Having the title: "Crossroads of the world" doesn't come easily, though. In order to maintain this reputation, Time Square is constantly being updated with what it is actually based on: advertisements. These core elements fuel the commerce not only for their own product, but for all of the stores in the area. Just being part of such a happening requires huge amounts of money from the advertiser, merchant, restauranteur, so that only the biggest names in the business get to put their product's name or storefront in this historical spot. Where else would you see the newest Cadillac attached sideways to the side of a skyscraper? A Coca-Cola sign taller than most DC office buildings? Besides the ever-changing and growing (physically and in terms of the overall wow-factor) ads, there are so many staples of the tourist attraction that remain day-to-day, giving Time Square character and depth (if that's possible). The Naked Cowboy is simply a man who stands in the middle of the bustling area and plays a guitar in underwear, yet he is internationally known and as famous as many of the physical establishments there. It is likely that just about as many people would name him as one of the attractions as they would the Virgin Megastore he stand across from. Other traditions associated with Time Square include seeing Broadway shows and witnessing the ball drop on new year's eve. With each element of Time Square a spectacular and brow-raising experience in itself, it's not difficult to imagine why the attraction as a whole is so popular and well known.

A Spectacle That Should Not Be

2005-03-08T18:19:00.000-05:00

Back a long time ago it was revealed all over the News about the Enron scandal. The next thing out there was regarding Martha Stewart--she allegedly received information about her stocks and she moved them right before they were about to plummet. After this, the spectacle that should not be began. The media ate this up. Each day in the news, something was mentioned about her. On television shows such as Mad TV, she was shown in a jail cell baking brownies for prisoners that were frightened of her. The reason the media enjoyed this story so much was it seems like everyone is jealous of Martha Stewart. A self made millionaire, she made her money by showing people how to cook delicious dishes on her TV show. The problem was many people did not like the stuck up attitude she gave on her programs, and that was only proven once during a comment: A woman called up on her show once claiming she used to make the best chocolate cake (that was what Martha was cooking that day). The woman then said she never received the recipe for the "best chocolate cake known to man" because her mother passed away. Next she asked Martha Stewart for the recipe for this scrumptious dish. Well, instead of showing sympathy for the woman after her loss and sharing the recipe, Martha began to tell the at home audience "this is why I always say to ask people for their recipes." This outraged people (like my mother) because she was viewed as inconsiderate. Meanwhile, the trial for Martha began, and she was found guilty. Not surprisingly, she was in the news more. It was even claimed her "Everyday" line at K-mart was making more money financially (I will not make the joke why this is--think of marketing). Next, she is released from jail to "suffer" in her Bedford, NY estate located in one of the most prestigious areas in the country. The amount of publicity she receives now is even greater! The question is--why is this happening? Maybe it is because people do not understand how a sweet at home person like Martha be so bad? After all, try the chocolate cake--it is excellent! (As I eat it now).

Facebook - Virtual Spectacle

2005-03-07T22:56:00.000-05:00

Back in September, when I first arrived at school, I had never heard of a website called thefacebook.com. The terms “poking someone” or “friending” (a verb) were not a regular part of my vocabulary. At first I resisted joining the thousands of people signing up to be a member of Facebook each day, as I was skeptical of the site and concept itself. The site was created by a student at Harvard, in order to allow college students to create personal profiles and identify people in other resident houses, as well as their "social net" of friends. Why did I need to publicly declare who my friends were? I did however, end up giving in to facebook, and have become an active participant in the website. Today, the site has spread to hundreds of schools across the country, and is used by thousands of students each day. It allows them to search for information on classmates, find people with a common interest, stay in touch with friends from high school, or locate long lost friends, to list a few purposes. Members are able to “invite” others to be their friends, must confirm these invitations, and are able to create and join different common interest groups. It has become a craze among college students that began just by signing up and now is a time consuming addiction. It’s turned into an online popularity contest, and a spectacle in itself. People race to add more friends to their list, inviting every person they never spoke to in high school to be their friend in an attempt to boost their virtual popularity. Even Facebook has its own celebrities, as the basketball star Pops has almost 400 “friends” at GW alone, and SA president Omar Woodard over 850 at GW. People are able to draw attention to themselves through certain groups they belong to that have subjects dealing with sex, drinking and partying etc. Each member is able to create a personal profile, one that can be read by everyone in their school, as well as their friends at other colleges. The profile outlines basic facts about the person, and can contribute to a reputation they are trying to create. Others are able to form opinions about them simply by reading a profile even before they have met them. The Facebook, now an every day part of the American college scene, is growing every day, appealing to the pathos of the audience as more people want to be a part of the sensation. It’s become a part of teen culture, demonstrates status and popularity, establishes a reputation for each person, and has become an instant success in creating online spectacle.

Campaigning Spectacle

2005-03-06T13:01:00.000-05:00

Last Thursday I took my usual route to math class, passing right by the Marvin Center. However, the Marvin Center was different this time. It was a lot louder and a lot more decorated. I am talking about the campaigning for Student Association President. As people cast their votes upstairs in the building, supporters stood outside trying to rally supporters. There were numerous luxury cars lined up behind one another. Mercedes and Jaguars were parked alongside the Marvin Center. The cars were intricately decorated with writing and posters, while the music blasted. Large crowds were gathered in campaign apparel, handing out flyers while trying to verbally promote candidates. I felt as if I was a celebrity walking down a Red Carpet because of all the attention I received. Obviously not because my fame, but because of eligibility to vote. The Marvin Center also had an exterior makeover. The walls were covered with campaign material that was created for many different candidates. It was actually an intriguing sight to see so many different posters with so many different colors and names. The election itself was not a spectacle, but the campaigning process that occurred truly was over the top because of all the images that the spectator could take in.

My Favorite Memorial

2005-03-03T01:06:00.000-05:00

Every few days, when the weather allows, I for a jog around the Mall. I figure that for $50,000 a year, it will be something good to tell my kids about. My favorite thing are the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, always covered in Japanese tourists, homeless people, and vendors. So, when I received this assignment, I knew that I needed to go for a run and really take in the view of my everyday Washington surroundings.

Approaching the Lincoln Memorial from behind, one realizes that it overlooks not only the National Mall, but the Capital as well. Lincoln sits behind the marble curtain of a grand facade. Ironic, however, is that he seems to be sitting in a primitive, rocking chair like structure. He looks out with a mischievous, almost Mona Lisa-esque smile. Suddenly, barely after you have descended the steps of the Lincoln’s homespun throne, do you realize you are walking amid the Vietnam memorial.

Simple, almost elegant in its simplicity, the carvings of the millions of names reflects their uniqueness as the sunlight shimmers off the granite of each letter. How quickly I have gone from the grandness of the neoclassical throne of an uneducated hill-billie to the names of thousands of men who died far away from home for reasons many of them never had time to understand.

Lincoln, the man who started a war and a memorial for a war contested to this day. The Civil War was for issues of equality, unity, and the ending of a “peculiar institution” that was beginning to severally affect our reputation oversees. The Vietnam War was, in many people’s opinion, an empty effort in controlling something that would contain itself.

What must Lincoln be thinking as he looks over the Vietnam Memorial and sees the names of all those men? Does he wonder if the glory that was his Union soldiers’ neglects those whose names are engraved or the men who stand vigil? Does he look out farther down the reflecting pool at the Capital and wonder whether they are considering with the same intensity that he considered fighting back in Charleston when they send out thousands of men today (and women) like those who names lay before him?

The Conservative Red Carpet

2005-03-02T13:27:00.000-05:00

The Oscars this past Sunday night were quite the stunner. I couldn't believe that not one celebrity took a chance on their outfit! While I know that the Oscars is the more conservative of award shows, I was disappointed that not one celebrity dared to think outside the box in terms of their attire.

For all award shows, I always look forward to the pre-show and then finding out who won the big award at the end. While I have not seen "Million Dollar Baby" yet, I hear that it is fabulous so I was happy for that surprise. But watching the pre-show with Star Jones was just boring at times. I was excited to see some of my favorite celebrities, but every gown was so similar. There were some slight dare-devils, such as Hillary Swank with her plunging backless dress, but still, the style was classic. While a strapless gown is beautiful, comfortable, and flattering, I know that I look forward to seeing Hollywood celebs taking some fashion chances. Everyday women wear the classic black strapless gown; we want to see something more unique come out of Hollywood!

I think the style of this year's Oscars is a direct result of our current political administration. I feel like we have gone back in time to the 1950s. As a country, we are leaning toward conservatism in everything from politics, to science research, and now to red carpet fashion. I hope our country can rise above this conservative slump and start sporting some extraordinary clothing!

Looking at the world from a different view

2005-03-01T13:10:00.000-05:00

Washington D.C. is full of grand, magestic monuments but one monument that really catches your attention is the Washington Memorial. When visiting the memorial I could not help but marvel at the impressive height and stature of the building. I heard tourists around me commenting on how tall it was and how it seemed to touch the sky. I then realized that height has always been a characteristic that makes something a spectacle. Basketball players walking down the street will always get strange looks because they are almost twice the height of a normal human being. Around the world, building planners want to make bigger, taller buildings to reach higher and higher into the stratosphere. Essentially, bigger is better? However, why does it cause such a commotion. Why is it that people will travel far and wide simply to climb atop the Empire State Building or the Sears Tower? It is because these spectacular buildings give us earth dwellers a chance to look through the world from a higher plateau. These buildings allow people to see things from a whole new perspective. A spectacle is defined an out of the ordinary visual element that is designed for a purpose. The Washington Memorial was designed to remind the world of the great advancements made by the father of the United States and to offer a different perspective on the way D.C. and the world looks.

The Triple Crown

2005-03-01T00:02:00.000-05:00

Every spring, a series of three horse races are held, which all-together, are dubbed "The Triple Crown". It has been 26 years since a competitor has been able to win the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes. Many have come close, but to the dismay of the audience, the cards never seem to fall right.

In 2004, Smarty Jones, a 3-year-old horse from Philidelphia, won the hearts of the American public when he won the Kentucky Derby on May 1st and the Preakness 2 weeks later on May 15th. However, to the dismay of many, he was beaten by a longshot entry, Birdstone, at the Belmont Stakes.

When Smarty Jones lost the Belmont, all the coverage the event received was about that fact that he lost. Almost no attention was given to Birdstone (whose name was unknown to many), the victor. If anything, Birdstone was scene as "that darn horse that beat our champion"!

Every year during the triple crown, Americans, who are not known for their interest in horse racing, suddenly find themselves paying attention to the track. It is almost always a spectacle, because people are interested in the heroic victor. When there is no victor, the spectacle becomes the fact that there is not one, when there should be.

The Royals: A Just Spectacle?

2005-02-26T00:48:00.000-05:00

The British Royal family has appeared in the news lately because of the recent marriage announcement of the Prince of Wales, Charles, to his long time love, Camilla Parker-Bowles. The media is already starting to hype up a wedding that will happen in about two months. The media often has a field day with any royal family member. It seems that the Royal family of Britain is often in the news, ranging from the problems of the young royals to tragic deaths. However, what role does the royal family have exactly? Do they even matter?
To many British citizens, the royal ramily represents a long history. Whether or not the royals serve a real purpose today is not that issue. Although many recognize that Queen Elizabeth II's role is only ceremonial, they could not imagine their country without her. After all, someone has to have their face on the money.
The royals seem to have absolutely no purpose in governmental affairs. All the issues are dealt with by the Parliament and the Prime Minister, the true leader of the government. Of course Queen Elizabeth has her powers, but they are limited. Due to this, it seems that the Queen and her family only have to smile for the press every now and then. But, they love to make a spectacle of themselves. Extravagent parades, fashionable wardrobes, and great estates consume the lives of the royals. Gossip runs rampant through the news every day. And people, all over the world, love to hear about them. It's because they are similar to celebrities and people love to treat them like that, too. They give them the "royal treatment." If they didn't get the attention they get today, would they still be around? Probably not. But the spectacle that they seem to arouse gives them this power, however much that may be. It's enough to keep them around though.