Personal Spectacle

In the power points, the artists were trying to create a profound message. They were creating a public performance through spectacle in order to produce a meaningful message that caused contemplation. I don’t think that my “public performance” was profound or meaningful, but I think it caused contemplation. Contemplation more on my part than those around me probably.

In Tucson, there is a bar scene that at times, seems like it serves more of a function of being seen than it does enjoying yourself. What you wear matters, who sees you at a certain bar on a certain night matters, how many other people you know that are also there to be seen matters. For about the first year of my drinking career, I too go wrapped up in the seeing and being seen scene. That all ended after a few drunk driving accidents where friends of mine died, my perspective changed, and most of the people who have been being seen at the same bars as these people who are now dead seemed to take little notice of their absence.


To create my spectacle I did something that I doubt most would take little mind of. Most of these bars have a strict dress code. Not a dress code that is enforced by the bouncers or the owners of the bar, but one that was created and enforced by the people who are regularly in attendance. I doubt it needs to be said, but sweat pants is not among that approved items. So, for a few of the keys days to attend each bar and dress up in my finest garb, I attended in a pair of sweats, a tank top, and sandals.


I have been going to these bars for years, I have lived in Tucson nearly all my life, so it it hard for me to go to a bar and not see someone that I am acquainted with. What I found interesting about this personal spectacle is that it should not have been a spectacle at all. What I am wearing does not change who I am, I acted as I would had I been wearing the traditional dress and heels, but I was not treated the same. There were whispers, and I was less warmly accepted into the scene as I had been in weeks past. I doubt that any of these people went home and questioned themselves and the materialistic values that they have instilled in themselves and each other when it comes to the bar, but I found it interesting that when it came to things that mattered, i.e. the loss of a human life that had been present in theirs for the past two to three years there was little talk, but if someone is to make the meager fashion no-no of wearing un-approved clothes to the bar, mouths don’t stop moving.