Journal 2

The image above is from a travel booklet for Fort Lauderdale Beach, provided on behalf of the Broward.org visitors office.

This image appeals to me because the beach is somewhere that I have always been as long as I can remember. From as far back as I can remember, I recall weekends at the beach and snorkeling in the nearshore waters and reefs. The beach has become part of me; thus, I feel a natural connection to the picture.

Having said that, it is a bit awkward to see pictures like this on the internet and in travel brochure since I am native to the surroundings. If I had not had this "connection" with the beach, the effect of the picture would have been much more different. Perhaps I would feel more "attracted" to the picture for its beauty, rather than the memories it brings to me. Perhaps if I didn't live in Florida, I would not be familiar with the picture and it would not be interesting to me at all.

What if you could see the remainder of the beach? The trash on the sand is obviously omitted from the picture, but what if it was shown? What about people who are wearing clothes are too small? Would the people look past that?

The formatting of this picture follows that of a stereotypical travel ad - appealing to those who desire a traditional beach vacation. The image makes Fort Lauderdale look a lot better than it really is. The sailboats in the background are usually never as numerous on the oceanside as depicted in the picture. Furthermore, the beach looks A LOT cleaner than it is in person.