In their application to host Super Bowl XL (in 2006), the City Fathers of Detroit updated the Potemkin Village approach to showing what a nice, neat city they are, and Photoshopped the pictures in their brochure.
They also provided a panoramic picture window that simulated the view of the Detroit skyline and two downtown stadiums snuggled against a seemingly vibrant neighborhood. The view formed the backdrop of the booth.
In real life, though, at least 10 of the photo’s buildings are abandoned hulks. Some are burned-out, roofless and scarred with soot.
Artists touched up the photo by splashing light onto darkened windows and streets and adding roofs where there were none. The final product made Detroit’s lonely blocks look as Super Bowl-worthy as busy Houston.
“We want to do the same thing, put our best foot forward and turn on all the lights we can,” said Michelle Fusco, a spokeswoman for the Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau, which helped staff the Detroit booth.
Granted, the photo is supposed to be of what Detroit will look like in 2006 — at which time all those nasty abandoned, burnt-out, and roofless buildings will be lived-in, gussied-up, and roofed (and, presumably, full of cheery lights). But that’s not made clear in the promotinoal info.
Comparing the present to the assumed reality is amusing.
(via BoingBoing)
“…lived-in, gussied-up, and roofed… “
Ha ha. Torn down to add more parking. Detroit, the Motor City, is still woefully deficient in places to park all those *locally* produced autos… heh.
Cynical? Me?
Nah.
Just born and raised in Detroit. Attitude comes with the territory.