‘A cloud burst erupts’: visual rhetoric and Los Angeles’ Grand Intervention

Abstract

This paper critically examines proposals for a new park in downtown Los Angeles in light of emerging theories of visual rhetoric. It asks what narratives emerged from a public and unauthorized design competition and the implication of these stories for the future of public space in Los Angeles. As a group, the submissions introduced three visions for the future of the park: it is a place for solitude, a place for digital engagement and a place that celebrates a voyeuristic type of display.

Acknowledgements

The author wishes to thank the anonymous reviewer whose comments and suggestions contributed to the improvement of this paper. Every effort has been made to trace copyright holders and to obtain their permission for the use of copyright material. The author apologizes for any errors or omissions and would be grateful to be notified of any corrections that should be incorporated in future versions of this article.

Notes

1. The Norman Lear Center’s Grand Intervention submission gallery is available at http://learcenter.org/project/grand/