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Cary Caruso

Professor Granillo

English 103

10 May 2019

Discussion Board Post

1. Introduction

A beautiful view as the sun slowly sets as you sit on the top of the ferris wheel. Santa Monica is

an amazing attraction to both tourists and locals due to the variety of options one has. While

many people believe that this is just a beautiful place with many things to do, it also is a public

space with significant meaning. Through the use of deconstructive criticism and queer criticism,
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we begin to see that the Santa Monica Pier is not just a place where people can have fun, but also

a place where people with different cultures and ideologies can put their differences aside and

conform to having a great time.

2. Summary

The Santa Monica Pier was opened to the public after sixteen months of construction. It is a

1,600-foot-long pier which many people visit every day for entertainment, socialization, and

because it has become such an enjoyable place to visit. Over six million people go to the Santa

Monica Pier per year which shows how big of an attraction it really is. In 1922, the carousel was

built. In 1996, they opened up another attraction which was the West Coaster, a roller coaster

located on the pier. The Santa Monica Pier has become both a popular and monumental location

in California.

3. Analysis - Deconstructive Criticism

In ​Critical Theory Today,​ Lois Tyson states, “To put the matter in philosophical terms, for

deconstruction, language is our “ground of being,” or the foundation from which our experience

and knowledge of the world is generated” (241). This asserts that we can use deconstructive

criticism upon public spaces to form our own interpretation. Looking at the Santa Monica Pier,

we can see that it is a public space built for people to come and enjoy the ocean breeze while

they see entertainment and have many options for fun. In addition, ​“public spaces can and often

are the social life of a community and a place where individuals connect with other individuals”

which ties into the idea that the Santa Monica pier was built to allow people to feel a connection

with each other (135). There is visible proof of this as over six million people per year visit to

see such a wonderful place. I went there during the summer of last year and there is also people
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of all races going which shows the cultural connection between this further relating to

individuals connecting with each other. The idea that there is no discrimination as to who is

accepted and who is not.

4. Analysis - Queer Theory Criticism

This safe space, the Santa Monica Pier, is not only just a public space, but also a monument

looking through it with a queer theory lens. Looking at the pier with a birds eye view, you can

see the same colors all along the pier as you would on the gay pride flag. For example, the green,

red, and purple pillars. The yellow ferris wheel carts, the blue buildings, and the orange

rollercoaster. As stated in the deconstructive criticism analysis, this is a public space which is

meant to accept people of all differences and create one purpose which is to have fun.

Marginalization was one of the biggest problems for people with same sex preference, so for

these color schemes to be a very noticeable feature on the pier is a message conveying the

acceptance of the LGBT community. Lastly, it can be interpreted that this public space is using

the ideological agendas to push the idea that it is okay for people with mass differences to

socialize and interact with other people to have a fun time with each other. The idea that there is

no judgement between one another.

5. Evaluation

I think the Santa Monica Pier is important due to the fact that it is a popular spot because of the

type of ambience it gives off. This brings other important aspects such as social acceptance and

the idea that everyone can get along despite their differences. The Santa Monica Pier was built to

bring people together to have a good time, which in today’s society can sometimes be split. It has

people coming of all different cultural backgrounds, races, and preferences, but yet, still satisfies
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all these different types of people. Due to this, the Santa Monica Pier will remain as both a

tourist attraction and a popular local area because of the way it is both fun and socially accepting

of all types of people.