What is considered romantic and/or beautiful is one of the most highly subjective things I can think of. Of course there are varying degrees and types of beauty that many people would agree with for the most part, but for this post, I’m going to focus on the “anti-romantic” or less cliché depiction.
Don’t get me wrong, I can appreciate all of the awe and serenity that raw nature provides, but there is something special about big cities that make me FEEL something more. It's intoxicating. The feeling I get is a burst of excitement over the endless activities to engage in within the city. The image I’m analyzing is of the Manhattan skyline. In this image, ‘the romantic’ is constructed through the angle in which the photo was taken; it portrays an endless sea of lights and buildings. It’s dusk, the sun is setting over the water in the background, and a purple, pinkish haze lingers in the air. I can just imagine the hustle and bustle occurring at ground level with all of the pedestrians and traffic. This is the time of day when the city comes alive and that’s the exact feeling that I get just from looking at the image. I feel energetic, almost giddy, and feelings are what I believe to be the major source of ‘the romantic’: feelings or emotions over reason or fact. A very small portion of the romantic is based on visual sensory alone.
The message that the skyline portrays, in my eyes, is freedom, opportunity, hope, and change. It‘s incredible to think of all the potential that big cities like this one possess in regards to career aspects, friendships/relationships, music and the arts, dining, shopping, etc. It’s no secret that some of the most successful and talented individuals are discovered in big cities, which is another element that promotes the whole theme of opportunity.
In conclusion, the romantic is strongly influenced by an individual’s personal comfort zone, where he or she feels content, at home, and at peace. The person gravitates toward the romantic that he or she is best able to connect with. In my case, I feel the most like myself when I am surrounded by diverse people, culture, and creative insight.
*Image best viewed in full here: http://daddu.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Manhattan-Skyline.jpg
I think you're completely right with the comfort zone. I love Manhattan. It's so great, but I don't think I could ever live there. I grew up with a huge yard, with plenty of space to myself in the country. And as much as big cities fascinate me, I don't think I could ever leave my first love of fresh mowed grass and bonfire smells, and white cloudy skies.
ReplyDeleteI am go glad you consider the concrete jungle and the lights it is surrounded by is romantic. I enjoy nature as well but when I think of a perfect romantic moment, I cannot help but picture it in the midst of times square with traffic, lights and noise. I feel as though people write off the romanticism of city lifestyle too quickly when cities are the key locations of vibrant lives and diversity.
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