In the place of the public: observations of a traveler by Martha Rosler

Roseler’s discussion of the boring airport (boring in the sense that it is strictly a science an not an art) seems to bring up questions about the present state of affairs in our world. Roslers description of these airports being some sort of an expression of engineering and absent of architecture almost seems somewhat appropriate. However most people will disagree with me, I like to see a very scientific, stable, safe environment before I fly. I am quite anxious of flying, as most people who have traveled with me know. It’s not that I think that humans are to stupid to create something that can fly, its that I think humans aren’t smart enough to create something perfect. I am anxious of dying in a plane crash and it calms me when I see a strong structure that evokes nothing but stability. I know that almost noone will agree with me but in my own world, airports would so be scientific and engineered it would be a beautiful architecture to me. I would design an airport and exaggerate all the ideals that I associate with strength and power and security. I know that that probably sounds no fun, but in today culture of people thinking its appropriate to hijack planes and kill everyone, what’s wrong with an exaggerated sense of security, even if it has nothing to do with the actual plane ride itself.