Wodley 1 Jason Wodley Professor Filbeck English 114B 24 March, 2014 Striving For Griffith Observatory's Ideals Everything

is perfect. The people, the environment, the intelligence all make up a vast and diversely inhumane society then we know today. Wouldn't such an environment be desirable? How could we achieve this without some sort of model? The Griffith observatory is a great representation that exhibits such standards. Located on the southern slope of Mount Hollywood, stands a free observatory open to the public. The lessons taught here are science, astronomy, and most importantly, change. Change is key to grasping the idea of a utopia. Without an alteration to our current society, we will not be able to obtain a utopia. Although the Griffith observatory has qualities which resemble a utopian space, the observatory still has many ideals to implement in areas of infrastructure and understanding of science. Once these ideals are reached, the Griffith observatory will be more like a utopian space. The Griffith Observatory is a free area that promotes scientific research. It is a white building, located 1,134 feet above sea level (Officalsite:griffithobservatory), that has three domes placed on the roof. The middle and largest dome of the three houses the planetarium. This is where many visitors are taught about certain scientific topics. One topic is about twenty twelve and how the Mayans dated their calendars. They revolved time around motions of earth and the sun. Time is said to not exist in the universe, though humans have created the term, time, to describe the motion of past, present, and future. Our society has claimed that the Mayan's calendar ended on December 21, 2012, representing the end of the Earth and time. Though the

Wodley 2 end of the calendar was really just one full cycle in Mayan's terms. Because of this incorrect inference, the world did not end and time continued forward. Since Griffith teaches the public of scientific research, it betters those who witness the teachings and inspires them to pursue better understanding of different claims. By expanding on these claims and understanding if they hold true to what they exhibit, society will step closer to a well educated and ideal society. About eight years ago, Griffith did not have this planetarium. It was not until January 6, 2002 that the implementation was incorporated, representing reconstruction. Reconstruction is ideal for a utopian society. The City of Los Angeles, Department of Recreation and Parks and Friends Of The Observatory spent an "ambitious $93 million [on] renovation and expansion projects" of the Observatory (Krupp, E C). The project has expanded the space by adding forty thousand square feet, the incorporation of a presentation theater, and over sixty new exhibits. Improving the quality and experience for visitors is the motive of this change. Other spaces could benefit through observing this space and its interest in "improving the quality of the experience for the visitors so it's more satisfying and complete" (Krupp, E C). Not worrying about how money can be obtained through society, rather focusing on the betterment of the people is a great value. Allowing for these values to arise has given observers a desirable motive to learn about scientific research and take part in what the Griffith Observatory has to offer. A utopia cannot survive without equality. Discrimination being the root of wars and conflict would not allow for peace. The Observatory is open to the public free of charge, for both parking and admission. This eliminates the social class factor. Prior to Observatories such as the Griffith Observatory, laboratories and areas that held science and astronomy research was only made available to scientists and the wealthy. Griffith J. Griffith's intent was to make "a place of rest and relaxation for the masses, a resort for the rank and file, for the plain people," that will

Wodley 3 make "Los Angeles a happy, cleaner, and finer city" (Officalsite:Griffithobservatory). By including the "plain people" Griffith J. Griffith has taken in consideration the less fortunate people in hopes of making them and Los Angeles, as a whole, a better city. His Observatory has now attracted not just the Los Angeles city, but millions of other tourists all over the world. By Observing the space today, you will notice a diversity of people. There are a range of kids as young as two and three to adults as old as sixty and seventy. They each take turns using the telescopes available. Some are found scaling the outside decks which provide a magnified view of the Los Angeles city, while others are on the roof that magnify stars and planets. These telescopes are very fascinating, though do not compare to the larger more precise telescopes. Inside the Observatory are many different stations and exhibits that show different telescopes and their magnifications. Coelostat and solar telescopes allow the observer to view "local stars, including sunspots and solar flares." (Officalsite:Griffithobservatory). The Zeiss telescope located on the roof-top dome of the building is the most interesting and attracting. It is opened up during the clear nights and is used to view celestial events and comets. It was the first material bought by the Observatory that cost $14,900. Since much of the Griffith is free and all the exhibits that cost over hundreds of thousands to be created are available to the public, this space is ideal for equality and equal opportunity values. The Griffith Observatory exhibits ideals in equality, scientific teaching, and inspiration, though lacks in fundaments essential for a utopia. Scientific research has only touched the surface of what is to be discovered. In a utopia, full understanding of science and rules should already be known. To know everything and to follow the most beneficial ideals is what I feel drives a perfect society. It is impossible to have a perfect society without the "perfect people". "Place is understood as a concrete site where the physical environment, the self, and

Wodley 4 sociopolitical processes over lap" (Haywood 7). This can be better understood from George Herbert Mead's theory of society and self. Mead states that society and self are interdependent on each other; one cannot function without the other. By having the individuals who make up the society carry out ideals and values such as equality, teaching, and inspiration, the society will closer to becoming perfect. Attachment to place also places a huge role in the society. Altman and low, environmental psychologists, explain attachment to place as "an affective bond between people and places, enveloping different human and non human actors and social relationships" (8). These interactions influence people to express and act on what they have learned or observed. The Griffith Observatory is a great example of how giving equality and value to people can influence and inspire them to carry out the same to others. By running a society that has both space and individual carrying out the same ideals, the world will move closer to a utopia. Perfection can be reached through the people and the space they flourish in. They must have ideals and values that exhibit full understanding of life and science, equality, and interdependent bonds on one another. The Griffith Observatory is one example of a space that exhibits many of these ideals. It is free and open the public, which inspires research and cognitive development in astronomy and social sciences. It gives examples of what a space should contain and what changes may need to be made to reach this perfection. If other spaces use the Griffith Observatory as a reference for what should be carried out in a space, the society would most benefit. Taking away the selfishness of greed and incorporating desire to help each other attain greatness will influence great goals to be reached. By following this strive and referencing from beneficial spaces such as the Griffith Observatory, society will be a step closer to a utopia.

Wodley 5 Works Cited Haywood, Benjamin K. "A Sense of Place in Public Participation in Scientific Research." Science Education 98.1 (2014): 64-83. Print. Krupp, Edwin C. "Griffith Observatory Reopens November 3, 2006 - ''By Reservation Only'' After Four-Year Renovation and Expansion Project." New York 3 Oct. 2006: n. pag. Print. "Official Site: Griffith Observatory Los Angeles, CA." Official Site: Griffith Observatory Los Angeles, CA. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2014.