Understanding the “Imago” Las Vegas: Taking our Lead from Homer’s Parable of the Oarsmen

Special Issue

Abstract

A reading of Las Vegas is provided in this paper using an optic of critical theory and the heuristic power of Homer’s tale of Odysseus and his crew’s encounter with the sea creatures called the Sirens. This analysis reveals Las Vegas to be a city remade for visual consumption where the streetscape becomes a fantascape and the arts that are on display are amusement goods—patterned and predigested products for consumption. This paper also argues that the present glitz, glitter and newness of Las Vegas appears all the more meaningful in the light of the archaic. The juxtaposition affords us an opportunity to see ourselves in spite of ourselves, or to be decentered from our historical position of privilege.