Times Square
The most obvious example of commercial use of public space is Times Square. As you stand on the pedestrian mall there is a wash of billboards and advertisements and Times Square has become the iconic symbol of commercialism in America When our group visited new York Pepsi has 3 huge billboards with Modern Family’s Sofia Vergara sipping a diet Pepsi through a straw. The ad is convincing as I went ahead and bought a can of diet Pepsi later that day. Times Square is a place where commercialism dominates the skyline and the ground. It is also one of the most visited destinations for tourists in New York. “It is estimated 500,000 people per day pass through Times Square every day. In addition every day 10,000,000 viewers see live shots of Times Square through nationally televised programs like Good Morning America,” this means that exposure to ads in the Times Square area is great and that is why advertisements there cost companies a fortune to put out so they will want maximum return from an investment made in a Times Square ad. The area is always packed with tourists taking pictures and people who work there just passing through the sheer volume of daily foot flow is one of the reasons why this place is such a desirable place to advertise. And it really is not enough to see Times Square just in the daytime. The area at night is a completely different place when all the signs are lit up against the night’s sky it really is a place of great beauty. So many people making multiple trips shows why it is so busy all the time and why it is a must for all tourists to visit when they travel to New York. One other factor to consider is the fact that it is free to visit, with New York generally being jacked up on price in every area it is nice for tourists to get a break on their wallets when they visit one of the must see places on a tourists guide to New York. |
Sources
Cover photos
Barnard, Leon. "Leonland - Leon Barnard." Leonland Travels. Web. 17 May 2012. <http://www.leonland.com/travels/ny4/>.
"Bryant Park Grill Restaurant Photo - Hubert Steed Photos at Pbase.com." PBase. Web. 17 May 2012. <http://www.pbase.com/hjsteed/image/97468224/original>.
Marshall, Sean. "The Pedestrianization of Times Square « Spacing Toronto." The Pedestrianization of Times Square « Spacing Toronto. Web. 17 May 2012. <http://spacingtoronto.ca/2009/08/11/the-pedestrianization-of-times-square/>.
Cover photos
Barnard, Leon. "Leonland - Leon Barnard." Leonland Travels. Web. 17 May 2012. <http://www.leonland.com/travels/ny4/>.
"Bryant Park Grill Restaurant Photo - Hubert Steed Photos at Pbase.com." PBase. Web. 17 May 2012. <http://www.pbase.com/hjsteed/image/97468224/original>.
Marshall, Sean. "The Pedestrianization of Times Square « Spacing Toronto." The Pedestrianization of Times Square « Spacing Toronto. Web. 17 May 2012. <http://spacingtoronto.ca/2009/08/11/the-pedestrianization-of-times-square/>.