At first glance, one might assume that Old Main is a space of coziness, relaxation and peacefulness, due to its older Victorian style house with a rap around porch, the benches and fresh air. Its actually inviting, however, this welcoming picture is perceived differently from those that know the haunted tails of Old Main. One of the reasons why Old Main is considered haunted is because the first building was burned down in a fire and it is marked by death. During the reconstruction of Old Main a man was found dead. This man was in charge of the rebuilding of Old Main, but his body was found on the second floor, he had been murdered and his killer was never found. This tragic story emphasizes the disturbances of Old Main. This reflects the transition of Old Main from a space of education to a space of fear. U of A plays off this new outlook of dread to establish its authority; they use the stigma to promote discipline. For instance, students that are caught in possession of alcohol, they attend Old Main for the consequences. These individuals now associate Old Main with negative attributes and the spookiness of the building accentuates these feelings even more. However, for those students that have not been to Old Main for lack of obedience find that it’s a peaceful place.
It's good that you talk about the history of Old main and it's horror stories but i think it'd be good if you put this maybe in your intro in your second draft. it would set the stage for the reader immediately so you could include more analysis in your captions. how does the history of old main change the perceptions of it? is that what makes it so creepy?
ReplyDeletei love the rich history you put into this picture. it adds to the perspective of the area. you introduce and awesome idea of dread and fear.. which do you see in this picture? what do you think this space means now?
ReplyDelete