My Consumerist Pilgrimage at the
Woodland Mall & Sanctuary resounded with hypocrisy and raw emotion! With my
observations played against those of an anonymous fellow pilgrim, the splendor
of our shopping temple was before us.
Every entrance we saw was adorned
with our first architectural question: “Why does a shopping mall, need arches?”
Straight beams support most of the roofing. Our take: To lend Grandeur. From personal experience in Athens and Rome, the
prominence of an arch expands a hall, and places the roof invisible above. The
strength of the Arches reflects the power of wealth, the flow of money necessary
to hold the roof in both physical and spiritual height.
The power of the Capitalist Spirit
was visible in the layout of the floors as well. The three department stores channeled
pilgrims from display to increasingly expensive display, a set of escalators or
large display forced a full circuit to return to the plaza or parking lot. This
walking created more opportunity to observe stainglass-advertising, artwork for
the purpose of seeing, staring, selling. The floor plan itself observed the
fundamental principle of the Faith (spend more, be more): all paths through the
mall led to Starbucks in the center.
Towards the end, there was homage
to this temple paid. For the entertainment of Anonymous Pilgrim, I spent to
have an industrial fan turned on my face. The sense of satisfaction delivered
to myself was little. The explanation for why: “it seemed fun. I remember
seeing kids in another mall running in and out of it and…” Subtle. And genuine.
With the memory of others enjoying something affecting me to spend, I had to
wonder: When have I done this before?
1: How is memory a tool of the
Consumerist faith?
2: What other sanctuaries do we
make routine pilgrimages to?
Nicely written observations, Sam.
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