#disneyworldcore
Koolhaas says “The true ambition of the Metropolis is to create a world totally fabricated by man, i.e., to live inside fantasy.”
This
can be seen through the development of Coney Island in New York. To
survive as a resort and provide unlimited means of temporary release as the cure
to the frantic urban lifestyle, Coney welcomes the reservoir of people overflowing
its beaches with an overdose of hyper-real, transforming into the opposite of nature.
After an era of technological breakthroughs, the elevator is born making way
for a utopia, manifestation of the dreams lingering in the collective
subconscious - according to which ‘any given site can now be multiplied ad
infinitum to produce the proliferation of floor space called Skyscraper’. Each
of these artificial sites is identified independently from all the others,
treated as a place with its own intention which can contain any desired
activity. The Skyscraper promotes unity in form but fracture in meaning, in
programmatic consistency, becoming a ‘stack of individual privacies.
In the vacuum of Las Vegas, contrasting trends are seen as the architectural
unity of function and symbolism was shown across the vast gulf of the parking
lot. Venturi and Scott-Brown demonstrate the blurry line between iconography
and structure in classical architecture: an element’s articulation could be
one, the other, or both.
Tourists, like those that went to Coney Island, are drawn to places where
life within the destination resembles play. This is evident in Las Vegas where
the hotels are replicas of real places revolving around the theme of fun, they
are purpose built for tourists. One of th
e many examples of this is the
Venetian Hotel and Casino. This hotel is
an imitation of Venice encapsulating a sense of the place.
You can see this example in theme parks, especially Disneyworld. Once you’re in Epcot you enter a simulation of different countries and sense of place through total artificial fabrication. Why go to France when you can experience “Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure” for around the same price?
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ReplyDeletePeople are drawn to alternate realities. Space within space. Adjacent to this topic, mass media has provided access to places that have never been experienced by so many people. Venice for example. I wonder how many people prefer the pictures of scenic Venice over the real thing?
DeleteConey Island, Las Vegas, and Disney World are all places that were created with a specific user in mind and all were to tailored to entertain that user. The design of a casino and a ride such as Remy's Ratatouille Adventure are not that much different. Both are enclosed spaces that remove the user from their context: ei no windows/natural light. The artificial lighting is very direct which forces one's attention to their immediate surroundings. I got to ride Remy's Adventure last year and I was impressed with the amount of detail that was put into the ride to make the riders feel as small as a rat. For example, the walls were bricks that were more like 3'x5' instead of 3"x5". This sense of an alternate reality is an escape. Coney Island was an escape from the Big Apple.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, our society is centered around the "I want it and I want it now" mentality which is why I think a place like Epcot is so popular. I think you make a valid point in terms of "why travel and spend thousands, when I can get a similar experience in Orlando, Florida." This fast-paced society is missing out on the true value of historic sites around the world. On the other hand, fantasy-like theme parks are the way certain people get to "experience the world and new cultures". Those who wouldn't be able to otherwise afford it still get a taste of what it's like to travel the world. It can be seen in a positive or negative light.
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