Cover of the Village Voice - Vol. LVI No. 42 dated October 19-25, 2011
On one of those groggy Monday morning commutes, I noticed the Village Voice cover popping out at me through the sticker ladened Plexiglas of its container. I usually don't notice these things as my motive is to get to my office on time. But this cover was adorned with the Taj Mahal. Bewilderment made me stop and grab a copy. Why was the Taj Mahal on a New York City publication?
The Taj Mahal is ingrained in our memories as a symbol of India. Exploited by all Indian travel brochures and adopted by numerous Indian restaurants for its namsake. Why anyone would name a restaurant after the world's most famous mausoleum is beyond me. Maybe the food must be to die for? If you have interest in how the rest of the world perceives India, the Taj Mahal, curry and snake charmers are probably what pops into the minds of the not so astute.
Anyway the Village Voice named New York City as the "Center of the World" due to the international community that makes it one of the most unique places on earth. London must be pissed off but they did put the Tower Bridge in the image.
The cover could have been a little different. A little less touristy and a little more "real" as they say in Brooklyn. Perhaps there is a subway stop on the G Train that I have never seen? Possibly the MTA's Art's for Transit program commissioned an international destination poster? Something that would make us want to be anywhere but a filthy and crowded subway car. Why not the Eiffel Tower, Taj Mahal, Great Wall of China, Tower Bridge and St. Basil's Cathedral? Just block out that subway car scent and person picking their nose.
Cheers to the Center of the World!
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