Monday, June 23, 2008

Look Skywalker

This weekend, I was driving west on Jefferson and whet under the Abraham Lincoln Presidentail Library and Museum skywalk. I noticed the big advertisement they have for their “Packaging Presidents” display. I know, it’s been there for a while, but for some reason I hadn’t paid any attention to it before. Anyway, and this may sound really petty even for a blog post, I was kind of bothered that the ALPLM was using that space for what amounts to advertising.

Sure, it’s just the ALPLM getting the word out about a display, no big deal. But then I got to thinking about the new Springfield Clinic skywalk on Sixth Street. What if the Clinic starts advertising on that? I guess they would have the right to do so as much as the ALPLM, but I kind of consider that air space on loan from the city. Not the government per se, but the community. Isn’t putting advertising up there sort of abusing that privilege?


In both the case of the ALPLM and the Springfield Clinic, that’s prime ad space spanning two of the busiest streets in town. A billboard company would kill for something like that. I have no idea if there are any legalities involved here. I’m guessing both establishments are free to do what they want as long as it doesn’t create a safety hazard. Still, anyone else think they should leave that space advertising-free or am I being too communist here?

2 comments:

John said...

Dave-

I'm here to communist it up with you. I agree that that space should be off limits. In my opinion, there's something important about aesthetics. I may be a dreamer, but I think certain things need to be remain pure and beautiful for the sake of those viewing them.

I mean, don't we have to set a boundary somehwere, or do we just want to let advertisers use any space they want to get their hands on?

JeromeProphet said...

I see that space nearly every day. I don't believe it should be advertising free. This is the U.S. not Soviet Russia fellas. I can think of no better use for that space than to bring in more people to the ALPLM.

JP