Comments on: a question of criteria. http://themerica.org/blog/archives/33 an MFA design thesis by dave gottwald Tue, 07 Oct 2008 07:08:28 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: scottlukas http://themerica.org/blog/archives/33/comment-page-1#comment-25 scottlukas Fri, 29 Feb 2008 06:23:43 +0000 http://themerica.org/blog/archives/33#comment-25 Here is a small-town newspaper's take on theming: http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/article/20060427/NEWS/104270053&SearchID=73275976525665 one trend, which is perhaps an anti-anti-modernism trend (as noted in your idea of theming as backlash against modernism), is anti-theming. The case in point is the re-theming of Caesars Tahoe to Mont Blue, which relies on less explicit theming, perhaps a forms of metonymy in which "blue" represents the lake, skies, and wilderness of Lake Tahoe. Another example is the Wynn in Las Vegas. When it was built, there was explicit mention of the avoidance of theming, suggesting that theming (perhaps ala the Luxor, Excalibur) connoted a lower sense of habitus. The Wynn, though referencing explicit moments of his other casinos (Mirage, Bellaggio), uses a different approach: high class decor, expensive shopping and attractions, and an overall replacement of "cheap" theming with high-class theming. Here is a small-town newspaper’s take on theming:

http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/article/20060427/NEWS/104270053&SearchID=73275976525665

one trend, which is perhaps an anti-anti-modernism trend (as noted in your idea of theming as backlash against modernism), is anti-theming. The case in point is the re-theming of Caesars Tahoe to Mont Blue, which relies on less explicit theming, perhaps a forms of metonymy in which “blue” represents the lake, skies, and wilderness of Lake Tahoe. Another example is the Wynn in Las Vegas. When it was built, there was explicit mention of the avoidance of theming, suggesting that theming (perhaps ala the Luxor, Excalibur) connoted a lower sense of habitus. The Wynn, though referencing explicit moments of his other casinos (Mirage, Bellaggio), uses a different approach: high class decor, expensive shopping and attractions, and an overall replacement of “cheap” theming with high-class theming.

]]> By: scottlukas http://themerica.org/blog/archives/33/comment-page-1#comment-24 scottlukas Fri, 29 Feb 2008 06:13:59 +0000 http://themerica.org/blog/archives/33#comment-24 Dave, I think a key here is to look at the relationship between cultural issues (what anthropologists, sociologists, and cultural theorists address) and design issues (what architects, designers, planners focus on). In some ways, the references of the themes will not meet up. It may be the case that an architect uses a compelling visual scheme or facade to create a visually appealing fantasy, themed space, and that the anthropologist would admonish the work for its lack of "accurate" cultural reference. Of course, accurate is by no means a word that can be defined, but there does seem to be some loose use of it when social scientists get involved in debating the "accuracy" of themed spaces. Scott A. Lukas Dave, I think a key here is to look at the relationship between cultural issues (what anthropologists, sociologists, and cultural theorists address) and design issues (what architects, designers, planners focus on). In some ways, the references of the themes will not meet up. It may be the case that an architect uses a compelling visual scheme or facade to create a visually appealing fantasy, themed space, and that the anthropologist would admonish the work for its lack of “accurate” cultural reference. Of course, accurate is by no means a word that can be defined, but there does seem to be some loose use of it when social scientists get involved in debating the “accuracy” of themed spaces. Scott A. Lukas

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