L.A. as Common Stage Setting
Mike Davis’ “Why L.A. Is Synonym of Disaster” (Opinion, Aug. 16) is such a total load of poppycock, I am amazed he got a book deal out of it and that The Times published an excerpt. Did it occur to Davis that L.A. is the scene for most disaster scenarios because:
This is where the movie industry is located and outside scenes are available and highly recognizable. What is the more dramatic scene: Seeing the Hollywood sign slide down the hillside or a TV tower tumble over Louisville?
Due to the size, population, geography and lack of mass transit in L.A., ultimate scenarios for disaster are more dramatic if played out against a setting of L.A.
As my Midwest friend Bill says: “I grew up watching L.A. on TV. L.A. is the only place I’ve ever traveled to and found it’s exactly the way it’s supposed to be.” L.A. is where we are every evening. L.A. is the setting for modern mythology. It’s the common stage. In other words, L.A. is more a synonym for modern city (dare one say, home), than disaster.
The darkest secret of all: L.A. is the place everybody wants to be but is embarrassed to say so. Take away L.A., and you’ve taken away the future.
For Davis to draw a correlation between racial fear and annihilation mythology is simply too bizarre. Davis has way too much time on his hands.
MIKE MITCHELL
Orange
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