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Penn Station Reasearch Paper.docx

 

Samuel van der Swaagh

08/29/12

Benefits of going to Penn Station

 

            The benefits of going to Penn Station are access to great efficient transportation, and getting a glimpse of NYC culture. The station, although not terribly fancy or grand looking, possess an air that electrifies all travellers. The sole aim of the underground station is merely pragmatic: to safely, and most efficiently navigate thousands of commuters from all over the city, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Washington DC to and from their destination. The moment one steps down into the main entrance of Penn Station, the person sees the first floor strewed with commercial restaurants or fast food places, gift shops, and other pitstops that would easily satisfy a traveler's common crave. As one arrives at the lobby, which is also surrounded by Starbucks, McDonalds, and Nathan's, the traveler is forced to stand while waiting for his/her train. In addition to having to deal with noise and hustling of the station, an individual must accurately follow, at times, confusing exit signs. In the midst of this mess, people too often dismiss Penn Station as ugly, dirty, and irksome.

            However, as overwhelming as Penn Station might be, one cannot say that the station is utterly devoid of beauty. Along certain walls, pillars and sealing lie artwork that either tell a story or point back to Old Penn Station. Above two parallel terminals there rises archways that have the appearance of early twentieth century architecture. Also, along certain hallways murals line the tiled walls. And hanging on the pillars of the lobby area are photographs of Penn Station during the early to mid twentieth century. These monumental pieces of artwork have the spirit of industrialism (e.g. fragmented train tracks, and dark gray and brown shades), as well as that of pop culture (e.g. painted stairs and posters). The juxtaposition of Penn Station's artwork might be initially jarring, however, a person eventually begins to relate the conflicting categories with city life. In short, it is as if Penn Station's murals, paintings, photographs, and wacky artwork are designed to prepare outsiders for the life upstairs.

DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.