Web Video

DTV

This is a large issue right now because of the need/desire for broadcast television to switch to digital broadcasts. Just another piece of technology that has been used for a long time becoming obsolete. I learned about this in a class and it instantly clicked that it was part of my theme. Watch it here.

Ghost Towns

The idea for this post actually came to me while watching the disney film cars. While this movie was intended for children/family audiences it actually explores the same theme as I have. The part of the film that I connect with is the Idea of route 66 ghost towns. There are many little ghost towns along route 66 and other routes that have been created by the construction of Interstate highways. More information about these towns can be found here. These towns have all been left abandoned. This is interesting because at one time they where prominent settlements where travelers constantly visited. At one time they were busy little places where people lived and visited in thier travels. A line from the movie that connects very well comes when they are looking at the interstate and say something like: this town was left in the dust for a mere 10 minutes of driving. This idea that an entire town could be left abandoned for something as insignificant as saving 10 minutes on a trip is mind blowing. Especially when you consider the areas these highways are in generally take an extremely long time to drive through even on an interstate. Some people call this idea progress. It fits in with how we live our lives. Many people are quick to abandon something old for something new just to make life a little bit easier. Everyday we discard things not because they do not do a job. but because something else does it a little bit better. Efficiency being the cause of these abandonments. What is more efficient getting something new and wasting something old when it is still usable or keeping something old until it is unusable? It seems people are quick to abandon things when something new is presented.

Inspiration

(Frame Grab) The Great Wall of China

This picture is a frame grab of some footage I took north of Beijing, China at the (batang?) section of the great wall. Seeing and thinking of the great wall’s history has been the inspiration for this blog. It is a great example of something that has been abandoned, but now serves a new purpose. At one point in time this wall was the main defense for the city of Beijing. Millions of people gave thier lives just building this defense system never mind defending it. Now it is one of china’s largest tourist attractions. I like this idea of the great wall being abandoned because at the time it was advanced technology for protecting china and now has a four lane highway running right by it. At some point the wall was abandoned as a means of defense and over time evolved into a great tourist attraction. It seems to work well with the idea of old technology being abandoned.

-From the web (http://www.archinect.com/images/uploads/lf.china.day2.011.jpg)

Abandoned Blogs

I was searching the web for other blogs discussing my theme and found this. The comments it has recieved are interesting. The idea of leaving a blog behind is also interesting, there are tons of blogs that people just one day made the decision (or forgot) to never write in again. Instead of taking them off the web they were left there in space.

Left and Recycled

Ocean Beach Pier in San Diego photo by Brandon Dube

Many objects and places were once designed for a specific purpose, but over time the original purpose can became obsolete or unnecessary. When the original user no longer needs something they leave it abandoned or cast it away. Abandoning something leaves it free for others to use and so it’s purpose evolves into something else.

Piers over the water were once and still are used for industries like fishing and cargo shipping. Many piers around the world have been abandoned by their original users and are now open for others to use as they like.