Upon studying the visual culture of high-density commercial districts last year, I took photos that aim to point out the chaos caused by the conflicting elements of this composition. By “this composition” I am referring to the area itself (W 11th St, Eugene, Oregon), and the conflict I speak of is indeed one of the aesthetic aims of the various signs, symbols, and lights present there (the aforementioned elements). This conflict is essentially a lack of unity caused by the fact that each of these elements are competing with one another for the viewer’s (in this case the potential consumer’s) attention. The only reliable constant in this street’s composition is it’s linear directionality. From a driver’s perspective, the only focal point one can trust is the converging lines on road in front of them, but even this seems to be under attack by the flashing lights and eye-grabbing lights of surrounding composition. This visual chaos is a result of a lack of central control of the district and competing merchants that aim to outdo each other by grabbing the eye in ever-better ways.
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