Caitlin Rooney

Caitlin

Trip #1: Milwaukee, WI

Location of Interest: Oriental Theater, Milwaukee, WI

Topic of Interest: Preservation: "the Old Original"

I am personally interested in researching the vibrant and rich history of Milwaukee’s Oriental Theater. As a contemporary artist, having the ability to access an art vessel that is as unique and quite literally, “trapped in time,” as this theater, is incredible. The ten dollars­turned­eight due to my “student advantage” allows me to fully step out of my “2014 reality” and into the grandiose light of the roaring 20’s, (and to be exact 1927). It is in this moment, that I am no longer simply paying to see a film that has caught my eye, but rather, an experience that lingers with me long after the night is gone.

This very literal magic had captivated me upon my initial move to Milwaukee, WI. I had visited other theaters similar to the Oriental, however, what remains so individual to this Milwaukee gem, is the fact that though businesses, people, and well, culture, has greatly shifted around the Oriental - it has not, or so it seems.

My questions lie within preservation, and likewise, protection. 

What drives a community of vastly different people to maintain this model for so long? 

It is in my best intention to find out.



-----------------------------------------------------------

Trip #2: Wisconsin Dells and surrounding area

Location of Interest: The Lost Temple

Topic of Interest: Tourism: How Bizarro Sells

I’ve made the executive and VERY adult decision of choosing The Lost Temple interactive tour  as my choice for our next, (Wisconsin-local), trip. This may seem odd, as I am a mostly-fully functioning 22 year old adult, however, contrary to what is anyone’s initial take on The Lost Temple - it is an incredibly loaded place.

First off, let’s cut to the chase.

This is fu**ing FAKE temple in the center of Wisconsin Dells; SMACK DAB in (the) MIDDLE (of) AMERICA.

Woah.

While that cultural irony is ruminating, let’s move on to the next point of interest: it is almost single handedly shutting down its predecessors, (Alien Roadtrip, Alien Planet, Ghost Outpost), while it can barely maintain its OWN business.

More irony.

Which ---------->

is what leads me to my initial interest.

With a slew of water parks, adventure rides, motels, hotels and the god forsaken evil that is RIPLEY’S BELIEVE IT OR NOT overriding these remote attractions, how does small scale - kitsch exist amongst a town supported by a lot of it ?

ALSO:

For an idea of what "we," the Midwest Field Reporters MIGHT be getting ourselves into, I looked up some very INFORMATIVE - INSIGHTFUL - VIBRANT reviews. Take head.


Exhibit A)

* Will look out for the robbery + keep all stars to myself...


Exhibit B)