Flagstaff, AZ ~ Spring Break 2009
When humans get together, they tend to organize themselves into some type of power structure. Families have organized boundaries designed to protect the marriage and the children within the unit. All major life events (coming of age, marriage, birth, death, etc.) are supervised within a well defined pattern the larger community has established for everyone else. There are rules of conduct within the society whereby one learns his place, what to expect by way of protection or governance from his superiors, and what (if any) latitude is afforded the individual who desires to acquire status within the group.
In a literate society, there is a tendency to exploit the authority of the few over the many by means of the posted regulatory sign.
Standard issue of these types of signs customarily include reference to the particular law or statute under which placement of the sign is merited. This often serves to give due emphasis to the law, and serve as a threat to the potential violator. In this case, the random placement of differently colored letters may answer as an alternative form of intimidation. Personally, I appreciate the lone exclamation mark, and the curious omission of any other punctuation.
Its voice, however, is not respected.
Meteor Crater, AZ
Emboldened by our illegal snowball fight in Flagstaff, we encountered yet another distressing temptation to tickle fate:
Yours truly was not the only wanton trespasser:
This "window" view of the San Francisco Peaks from the crater visitor's center is worthy of a sign of some sort.
If it had a sign, the Scandinavian and Korean tourists might not have ignored it as they did when we were observing.
The crater itself is totally awesome, and each observation deck and telescope appropriately appointed with numerous signs to alert us to what we were looking at, size and distance relationships (which are difficult to judge due to the enormity of the pit), and of course the names and condensed bios of significant benefactors to the establishment of the meteor crater visitor's center and protected status of the site.
Parts Unknown:
Small segments of society often assume more authority than is reasonable in an effort to regulate others, human or not.
We may assume signage might also be a means of rejecting the establishment all together:
Our Neighborhood:
Posting signs presumably for safety's sake is often an oxymoron.
Street name signs may in fact reflect a societal break-down at the core. This city planner should have taken a personal day before establishing this one. I feel to say, "No Way!"
"Way."
Anywhere, World:
Other signs are loaded with meaning and pathos without the need to spell a single word.
Their welcome appearance serves to handily regulate and organize society with an efficiency that humbles even the most powerful among us.
In a literate society, there is a tendency to exploit the authority of the few over the many by means of the posted regulatory sign.
Standard issue of these types of signs customarily include reference to the particular law or statute under which placement of the sign is merited. This often serves to give due emphasis to the law, and serve as a threat to the potential violator. In this case, the random placement of differently colored letters may answer as an alternative form of intimidation. Personally, I appreciate the lone exclamation mark, and the curious omission of any other punctuation.
Its voice, however, is not respected.Meteor Crater, AZ
Emboldened by our illegal snowball fight in Flagstaff, we encountered yet another distressing temptation to tickle fate:
Yours truly was not the only wanton trespasser:
This "window" view of the San Francisco Peaks from the crater visitor's center is worthy of a sign of some sort.
If it had a sign, the Scandinavian and Korean tourists might not have ignored it as they did when we were observing.
The crater itself is totally awesome, and each observation deck and telescope appropriately appointed with numerous signs to alert us to what we were looking at, size and distance relationships (which are difficult to judge due to the enormity of the pit), and of course the names and condensed bios of significant benefactors to the establishment of the meteor crater visitor's center and protected status of the site.Parts Unknown:
Small segments of society often assume more authority than is reasonable in an effort to regulate others, human or not.
We may assume signage might also be a means of rejecting the establishment all together:
Our Neighborhood:Posting signs presumably for safety's sake is often an oxymoron.
Street name signs may in fact reflect a societal break-down at the core. This city planner should have taken a personal day before establishing this one. I feel to say, "No Way!"
"Way."
Anywhere, World:Other signs are loaded with meaning and pathos without the need to spell a single word.
Their welcome appearance serves to handily regulate and organize society with an efficiency that humbles even the most powerful among us.
