Cultural Event 1: Griffith Observatory

To preface this event I would just like to say I had never been to the Griffith Observatory prior to this trip. I had heard wonderful things about the marvelous views, but i was curious as to how this could have related to DESMA 9. When I arrived there, I knew immediately. The week one topic, studying the two cultures in our society, was the most relevant. When I got out of my car I noticed the beautiful architecture of the observatory, with a giant dome that dwarfed me.

My initial reaction was that this landmark was more representative of the artistic culture in society. Starting with the marvelous dome, all of the marble architecture, and beautiful pendulum in the front room, this place was a sight for sore eyes. Not to mention the view of the entire city that was breath-taking, even with the Los Angeles smog. There was something there for everyone to marvel at and appreciate. After I took all of the art and architecture in, I noticed the inside of the grand dome was dedicated to the science of the universe.

With tens and tens of exhibits inside, there was everything from the science of the seasons, to the life cycle of the star, to vivid visuals of the universe we live in. My favorite part of the array of exhibits was the telescope pointed directly at the sun. I was surprised and confused that i was staring at a live visual of our sun, and i was not getting blinded. The collection of these exhibits was something I had never seen before, and was very interesting to me.

After taking everything in, from the unbelievable views and architecture, to the descriptive exhibits dedicated to the science of our universe, I realized this place was the ideal combination of the two cultures. Instead of separating the two cultures, as it seems to be done on the UCLA campus, the Griffith observatory does an excellent job of integrating the two in a beautiful representation of both. Something I noticed was that the view encompassed all of Los Angeles and its inhabitants, theoretically containing a wonderful combination of both cultures, which in turn was a symbol for the cultural content of the observatory. Overall, this would be an excellent place to spend your day and learn about our universe, as well as take in the beautiful views.