America's Arrogance?

In describing the collapse of the roof of Manufacturers and Liberal Arts Building, Larson writes "In a great blur of snow and silvery glass the building's roof—that marvel of late nineteenth-century hubris, enclosing the greatest volume of unobstructed space in history—collapsed to the floor below" [p. 196–97]. Was the entire Fair, in its extravagant size and cost, an exhibition of arrogance? Do such creative acts automatically engender a darker, destructive parallel?

America is known for its flashiness and extravagance. We want to be the biggest, fastest, and baddest nation around. One event in history that displays this greater than many others: The Worlds Fair. Set up in Chicago in the short amount of 3 years, this magnificent city showed the tenacity and audacity that America had. It contained glorious buildings like the Manufacturers and Liberal Arts Building, and contained amazing contraptions that had never been seen anywhere in the world before. The Ferris Wheel was America’s way of “Out Eiffelling Eiffell” and shows that the fair was built to maintain the nations pride, rather than solely taunt others arrogantly. However, the fairs denial to implement a cost limit or resource limit shows the real motive behind the fair. This was America’s chance to show the world that it was the greatest nation, and by far. It was not meant to match other countries, it was meant to outdo them.

When something this creative is created then of course it engenders darker parallel. In this case Mr Holmes could be considered that parallel. In the broader scope that seems to be a relevant statement to many things. The United States, with all its intellectual, creative, and athletic potential and ability is matched by its criminal activity. That seemed to be a big theme in the book, where the greatness of the fair is the spotlight, but in the background there was always that criminal presence and history with Holmes. The display put on by America’s extravagant world fair was not solely arrogance, but was also the pride that this nation is known for. Throughout the course of the book, Burnham emphasizes that he wants to do it not only for Chicago, but for the United States as well. The idea of “out Eiffelling Eiffel” sounds like pure arrogance but I believe is a more prideful motive. As a nation that came from nothing, it is amazing that we came to such a prominent role in the late 19^th century. To celebrate such an accomplishment the World Fair was necessary. It was not just a way to celebrate, but a way to prove that America deserved to be one of the leading nations in the world. America still remains the arrogant nation to others and prideful nation to itself, but I believe this is justifiable. Other nations had their world fairs and although they were not as grand as the one held in Chicago, Im guessing they were just as expensive and time consuming. The world we live in is one based on material possessions and physical beauty. In order to fit in, one must appeal to both those criteria. The Worlds fair was simply America’s way of fitting in, whether it was pure arrogance or patriotic pride is determined by one’s point of view.