Bright and Shiny

     One of my earliest memories is walking with my mother along a brightly lit street, staring wide-eyed at my surroundings in awe; There were grand statues, gondola rides and men in funny striped shirts, not to mention picturesque blue skies. Music played softly in the background. I tugged on my mother's hand, eager to point out the merry shops and crowds of smiling people. I recall wondering if I was dreaming -- everything was perfect.
     Indeed, it was too perfect to be true. In fact, I later understood that I had not been mesmerized by Venice, Italy, but rather by the Grand Canal Shoppes of Las Vegas's Venetian Hotel. My five-year-old self had experience the "geographical implausibility" that was Las Vegas (Didion 102). Shortly after my revelation, I was merely confused by the sheer "self-contradictory business" Vegas was in. How could an industry thrive on the imitation of others? After all, there's a facsimile of nearly every notable landmark on the Vegas Strip: the Statue of Liberty, the Great Sphinx of Gaza (though with a layer of chrome paint to add to its appeal), the Roman Colosseum, the Arc de Triomphe, and even the Eiffel Tower. You name it, it's there in one form or another.

I don't think Egypt has light-shooting pyramids....

     Each of these landmarks was originally created as a symbol of freedom or as a celebratory feat of architecture. But, in their miniature forms in Vegas, they have become synonymous with gambling, eateries, and shopping. Essentially, they serve as a place where glutton is abundant, and entertainment is key. There is simply no connection with real life in Vegas.
     Many, myself included, have fallen prey to the luster Vegas boasts. We even convince ourselves that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. But really, if we lose our brain cells to such an artificially bright and shiny place, is the immediate gratification worth the price? -MC