This picture is a strange one for me. There is an element to this picture that is clearly romantic (young kids in the Big Apple at night, taking in the sights and sounds in an embrace). However, there is something utterly strange about it, for me at least. I guess I have always had a hard time understanding the romanticism of Times Square at night. When you really boil things down, it is nothing more than a 360 degree immersion into the world of advertisements telling us we need this, can’t live without that, won’t look pretty without this, can’t be hip without that. In truth it is a bit dizzying and rather sad. Don’t get me wrong, the place is impressive in its scale, but at least for me my awe of it starts and stops at this very physical level. Beyond that it somehow feels a bit sad to me. What we really can’t live without, need, and can’t be hip without is each other. Love, forgiveness, community—these are the things we need and can’t live without. Yet, I sit here writing all this on my powerbook while listening to an iPod. Maybe I’m a little too cynical and a bit hypocritical.
4 comments in “Modern Sunset”
July 28th, 2006 at 4:01
whut?
July 28th, 2006 at 8:29
Hi Dad. Don’t you mean what: w-h-A-t?? =)
July 28th, 2006 at 10:25
This is a strong photo… and I appreciate your thoughtful commentary, as always. (I’ll let Dad Huth and Heather battle out the linguistics btw themselves!)
Another contradiction of urban existence is in your title, and I noticed this myself after enjoying “movies in the park” in downtown Chicago this week… the movie was projected on a big screen starting about 9pm. When it finished, of course, there were no ‘house lights’ to turn up. but no need, either. Downtown was alright bright w/ the glare of all sorts of lights. Only one or two brave stars were still bright enough to be visible in the night sky.
Your Times Square image also captures all the intensity of its neon and electrical lighting… dazzling, but certainly not planning to ‘set’ anytime soon!
July 28th, 2006 at 11:54
Hey – that is my #%^&@$%$ husband with that young girl. Just kidding, GOTCHA huh? What I noticed first is that among all that you said Andrew, there is still a pile of garbage in the center of the photo.
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