The Material Geography of Festival Lights
I'm fascinated by the rise in popularity of decorative string lights across the United States in the 21st Century, particularly in spaces of urban redevelopment. Prominently pictured below are these ornamental accompaniments to the festive patio space of Balter Beerworks in the urban center of Knoxville, Tennessee. I argue that these string lights are not passive additions to the space’s décor but are rather active, material placemaking agents through the work they do to create atmospheres of festival, spaces of extra-normal fun, and a getaways from the ordinary and routine. We should critically consider the work that these festival lights do. Hipster establishments can proliferate gentrification by using décor like festival lights in areas of urban redevelopment to perform an aura of uniqueness and authenticity. So, while festival lights as material placemaking agents do work to beautify and create spaces of festivity, they also can unevenly perpetuate gentrification.
Find the argument in print:
J. A. Cooper. 2021. Cover Art Essay: “Festival Lights in the Scruffy City.” Southeastern Geographer 61(3): 197-199. https://doi.org/10.1353/sgo.2021.0014.
Or find the full-text preview online.
Find the argument in print:
J. A. Cooper. 2021. Cover Art Essay: “Festival Lights in the Scruffy City.” Southeastern Geographer 61(3): 197-199. https://doi.org/10.1353/sgo.2021.0014.
Or find the full-text preview online.