Last week, my AIS class went to the exhibit "Peripheral Views: States of America" at the Museum of Contemporary Photography at Columbia College. In one particular room, a whole wall was dedicated to images depicting locations around the country with the address 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. I think the point of the exhibit was to demonstrate that although these buildings have the same address as the President's White House, they are very different.
The image at left, was one of the less glamorous locations. The caption, which I posted below it, says that it is from Pennsylvania, which seems to make more sense to have this address located in a state by the same name, in contrast to the President's home in Washington, D.C. It's hard to believe that the same address could be home to one of the most recognizable buildings in America and others that are rundown and average.
Buildings represent America, because after all, who lives, works and uses them? American people. For example, if a building looks professional and well taken care of like the White House, the person who lives there probably is too. I don't think enough people realize how average America doesn't have white picket fences, a rose garden and a security team. Other images from the exhibit with the same address showed a church, a mall and a parking lot at the location. I think that if more citizens saw how different areas looked, they would have a greater appreciation for the true United States.
I found what you said about the majority of Americans not having a security team and a rose garden interesting. In class we were discussing the issue of how not everybody's voice is equal in the US, and a lot of this has to do with the amount of money people have. The fact that the White House is so grand, pristine and well kept makes it seem almost like a castle. Is this a representation of how only the richest people can be a part of our country's government?
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