Lax and Globalization

LAX and Globalization

In October of 1928, the forerunner of the Los Angeles International Airport was born. Recently celebrating its 76th Anniversary of connecting Southern California to the world, the Los Angeles International Airport is the fifth busiest airport in the world. Not only does this airport bring in Americans from across the nation, it brings in people from all over the world. Everyday people from many other countries are flying into LAX anticipating their visit to some of the most famous parts of Los Angeles as well as California. This phenomenon represents the process of globalizing LA and enhances the simulation of the hyperreality that exists in the state of California.

One way that LAX has enhanced the process of globalization in Los Angles was the 1984 Olympics which were held in Los Angeles, California. In July of 1984, LAX welcomed participants and spectators to the XXIII Olympic Games. The 1984 Olympic games also saw the return of China for the first time since 1932. “After the severe economic problems caused by the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, the 1984 Olympic games saw, for the first time ever, corporate sponsors for the Games (Rosenberg).” As a result, the1984 Olympic games was the first to gain a profit of $225 million since 1932. This was a great boost for the economic standings in Los Angeles. Not only did the economy benefit by such profit, but also there were about 140 different countries and 6,000 athletes represented in the 1984 Olympic games, all of which witnessed the globalization of Los Angeles.

People from other nations, ethnicities and cultures will fly into LAX in order for their chance to experience the magic of Disneyland, located in Anaheim, CA. This form of globalization is beneficial because it helps our economy grow and prosper helping us to make the wonders of Disneyland more enjoyable. People fly into LAX everyday from places such as South America, Europe even Australia to enhance their feeling of being in “a magical place where all” their “dreams come true.” This “feeling” that they experience is merely an imitation of the real making everything only a simulation. In “Travels in Hyperreality,” Eco points out that people are so accustomed to the simulation around us that society itself is no longer a real image. When people go to Disneyland, statues and images that are bigger and better than everyday life with an abundance of lights and visual simulations surround them. When first walking into Disneyland Park, everything seems so perfect enhancing the sense of hyperreality. Baudrillard tells us that, Disneyland is everything we want it to be and more, making it seem real, therefore making everything outside Disneyland seem simulated and hyperreal. Disneyland is created to be a fantasy world everyone wants to be in. A place where happiness never ends and dreams come true yet only to discover it is only a distortion of the real. Another way in which LAX helps contribute the globalization of Los Angeles is the The Grauman's Chinese Theatre. This theatre is the most famous theatre in the world. Since it’s opening in May 1927, millions of movie viewers and visitors have flown in to LAX on their journey to Hollywood, to visit the theatre. They come to be entertained and enchanted by this legendary Chinese theatre. This theater can be looked at as a simulation because of its jade-green, bronzed roof that rises 90 feet into the air. It’s height and architecture is what makes it so magnificent. The abundance of spectacular lights, colors and Chinese art surrounding this theatre help simulate the hyperreality of this wonderful Hollywood landmark.

Hollywood, although another distortion of reality, is also a form of globalizaion in Los Angeles through LAX. Tourists come from around the world to visit this fabulous place and enjoy what it has to offer. Hollywood alters a basic reality to these tourists by having the surroundings of lights and glamour. When a tourist thinks of Hollywood, they think of “the land of dreams,” glamorous movie stars, fame, fortune,