Projects by GPH

Assignment 2: Modification
Jedi Board Of Trade.

The Chicago Board of Trade building located at La Sal and Jackson is a site which I have walked past every a day of my Columbia Education, twice. The building features a combination of what would have been old and new at the time it was built. Perhaps the oldest and most cryptic of these features are two old men, with hoods, astride the clock, smack dab in the middle of the building. High above the person walking down on the street, suggesting --perhaps-- they are watching over, even guiding the much smaller men on the street. The style killed by the vivid depiction of Batman's Gotham, only the buildings built in a specific area and of a specific style boast the combination of baroque and modern which this building has. The statues too, have a near-Gotham styling, giving them what now seems a dreary oppressive feeling.

To my eyes these old men, appear to be a Druid and an Native American. The Druid specifically is a symbol which I most strongly identify with Stonehenge and fantasy games. I do understand intellectually that the Druids, and the fantasy archetype are distinct, however they are equally irrelevant to me, in my modern life. I am however aware of the feeling that rich men control the economy. If the builder's intentions have failed to convey themselves, which clearly they have -- else we have some highly cynical builders-- then I suggest that a simple modification take place. One simple gesture to forever re-color the oppressive statues. I suggest simply that we give these ancient figures lightsabers, propelling them into the modern era, where Jedi are more present in the mind of the people than any historical figure, at least any that didn't recently have a big-budget movie.

Jedi or Sith?

It seems that I have revealed myself: it is unlikely the builders were so very cynical, it is instead *my* interpretation which leads to such negativity. It is only natural for me and I have come to embrace it, so much so that I have learned the trick is to turn it to an advantage: which is exactly how is stumbled upon the best part of this piece. Coloring both Druids as Jedi would shine a forever positive light on the statues, which as they adorn the Chicago Board of Trade, is not be my intention.

Cynical or not, the symbolic significance of the piece jumps dramatically when the Jedi are replaced by Sith*. As I said, the piece, if elevated to meme-dom, has the potential to forever color the building, and, in 2013, it seems to me to make more sense to paint the building and what it stands for as evil. The metaphor is particularly strong when you consider Darth Vader's death suicidal return to the good, implying that even in the most evil of villains, good can flourish, given the right environment.

Conflict

This inner goodness, then, is the most significant aspect of the Jedi and Sith story. If that is indeed the case, than the most important symbolic demonstration of this idea would contain the conflict between good and evil, which if demonstrated internally, would be nearly impossible to do as an modification of the piece. The very nature of the piece suggest that it be additive, and as such, it seems to me, the best arrangement of the piece embraces this duality: one Sith versus one Jedi. It would be excellent to have their light sabers on and crossing, however the simple addition of lightsaber hilts and appropriate coloring might suffice.

Intention

Previously I had stated that my intention was not to color the building in a positive light, Indeed I still believe that, however, it is important that I express that it is not that my intention to color the building in a negative light. Instead I intend comical connection via an easy to understand iconographic manipulation, which put simpler is: I intend to create a meme. I intend it to make people smile.

Photo by http://delobbo.deviantart.com/

*: Sith are bad Jedi, you knew that, Star Wars, right?