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I think being cynical about Las Vegas while you’re having fun there is a good
thing. If you can’t be cynical about Las Vegas, what can you be cynical
about? Of course we all eventually get there -- and WOW -- it sure is something,
isn’t it?
A freaking Disneyland for adults chasing smarmy virtual fantasy and meaningless
lifelike fun.
Whenever I find myself in Las Vegas I do what most folks do. I peal off a
hundred dollar bill to blow at the tables, a hundred dollar bill to blow at the
bars, a hundred dollar bill to blow on bad entertainment -- -- -- and then I
squander the rest on food and water.
The last time I was in Las Vegas I stalked the corner of Fourth and Fremont for
more than an hour waiting for just the right Las Vegan to wander into my
downtown Lady Luck free fire zone -- hoping to illustrate my ongoing “Streets
of Las Vegas” thought process. That is -- trying to capture in a patient
single image one of the notions about Las Vegas I typically carry around with me
as I gamble and drink and scratch my head about what the world is coming to.
About how enticingly phony and embarrassingly fake this over-hyped dream is and
about how (by mission) it’s rigged by false hope to take my money and run ...
And then suddenly out of nowhere, the street sweep appeared -- -- -- a real
blue collar symbol of the global street that I enjoy featuring in my concepts
wherever I work in this world. Like when I'm shooting under the real
Eiffel Tower in Paris; or while I'm in the real New York City; or while
I'm astride the real canals in the heart of the real Venice.
I think being cynical about Las Vegas is a good thing ...
After issuing the above story in my Streetphoto of the Week exhibit, I had the following
internet exchange about
the photograph with a like-minded friend:
Gary,
That was perfect, that shot!
I can't even bring myself
to go there once...it makes me too depressed.
Talk
about cynical.
Kristin.
Kristin,
Because I live in a constant acute state of cynicism, whenever I hear that I'm
being forced through circumstance to end up on the streets of Las Vegas. I'm a
little less disconcerted than I should be. The last time I heard I'd be going
there (due to a Janet phone convention) I actually laughed out loud and said
something like, "So be it --- now let's make the best of it ..."
You see, there
is one silver lining to getting stuck in the place for a few days drinking and gambling and scratching my head about what it's all coming to. That's because when I'm here in Kansas -- or any other actual place -- I have to internalize my constant acute cynicism for
the good of everyone around me -- -- -- for the good of the people.
However, in Vegas -- for just a few days -- I feel free to be cynical out loud
-- and that can be therapeutic ...
Gary.
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