Catherine Deveny | Chadstone shopping centreInteresting article that only reaffirms my distaste for large shopping complexes in the burbs which on the single occassion of me visiting did certainly destroy various parts of my soul. Albeit it was midnight shopping two days before Christmas which was probably enough to send me into a dark depression, however, the lighting, atmosphere and crowds of emptiness that somehow received some form of instant gratification from being in such a place was disturbing to say the least. I did also attempt to re-visit the setting of this debilitating, repressed memory one Sunday to take my daughter to the movies...however it ended in a fit of tears and tantrums (and not from my poor, suffering child!) The vast space of nothingness that surrounded me whilst trying to weave through the weary crowd and attempt to actually find the cinema 'complex' was painful enough; and after circling several food courts all full of multi-national sharks and a cafeteria waft of further repressed memories of the stale food at boarding school - I discovered the sheer pleasure of such a place equates to paying almost double in ticket prices to see a narrow selection of American B Grade 'block-buster' films (or is the B for Banal?). At this point, I protested loudly, stormed off and spent the following hour attempting to find my car in the several, identical carparks - full of huge, endless carbon foot printed 4wd's to store the shopping and facade of money and attitude- that await you upon the exits (if you survive and get out). Anyway, moving on, the article by Catherine Deveny (above) explores this topic with a tone appreciated by me also. In the meantime, I will endeavour to grab the christmas presents in the local shops by my house and catch a film at my regular local venues of the Palace Cinemas where the films are actually worthwhile and the tickets are $9! And apologies to my daughter for taking her to such a place and my resulting monologue the whole drive back to our house.
later x
