Sunday, July 02, 2006

Americana...A Round Robin Promotion

"The common place of America are to me the richest subjects in art. Boys batting flies on vacant lots; little girls playing jacks on the front steps; old me poddling home at twilight...all these things arouse feeling in me."

-Norman Rockwell

When I think of Americana, I always tend to think about the moments of America that have become obsolete. I am not sure why. We have a lot on things that are still just as fashionable and American, as they have always been. Apple pie, Saturday picnics in the park, 4th of July fireworks, fried chicken, Texas style BBQ, baseball games, but somehow I always gravitate toward the Americana of yesterday. In fact, when I was writing Ellipsis on AOL, I began a series I called, "Forgotten Americana," which was my nostalgic tribute and the "Good old Days." I wrote about less of Drive-in movies, the Automat, and the big, yummy, greasy burgers that I used to get, at the now defunct, Red Barn. Anyone remember the "Barn Buster?" Since the age of health food, there has been a definite push for fast food restautrants to prepare their offerings with healthier ingredients. Sigh. Tell the truth...didn't the burgers we used to get as children, back in the 60's and 70's have a wonderful, greasy taste?

I miss that taste. Sigh. But I do see the need for American's to have a more healthy alternative when buying food out. I get that. Heck, most of the time I buy a salad when I am on the run. I love my salads, especially late in the day, as a pick-me-up. Sometimes, I replace my dinner all together with a large Jamba Juice. It gives me a ton of energy, and is full of all the vitamins I miss on those days when I forget to eat. It does a body good. But deep in my heart, sometimes I have to look back in time to when I was a little girl and a hamburger from Foster's Freeze, was such a treat. Ahh...the hamburger...now there is a big bite of Americana if ever there was one. Except did you know the hamburger wasn't actually invented in America at all? Nope, it evolved over time, you can read all about it here.

So, scratching my head, trying to think of what I might do for my next entry in the Round Robin Photo Challenge, since the topic will be Americana. Should I go ahead and photograph some of the great American fads? Hoola-hoops, yo-yo's, Beanie Babies (YUCK). Maybe I will cook an authentic California Cuisine menu, and present it. Or I could photograph a t typical day at the beach, or I could photograph a popular landmark! Nah, could you stand seeing even one more of my photos of the Golden Gate Bridge? LOL. I think I will do some research, maybe Google the word, "Americana" and see what it says. Of course if it says something like, Apple Pie, Fried Chicken, Hoola-Hoops, Rock-and-Roll music, Norman Rockwell and Baseball...I might just scream! LOL.

This is going to be a fun round with the Round Robin Challenges, thank you Cosette, for coming up with this idea for our challenge. We had a great turn out for out last outing, of which the topic was, "Flower Power." We added four new Robins to our photo club! That is an awesome number, and there is always room for more! If you have never played before, why not come along for the challenge of, "Americana." Cosette says that the interpretation can reflect anything truly American, such as customs, folklore, geography, or even history. The date of the challenge will be, Wednesday, July 12th. You can post your entry any time between the midnights of that day, and for up to one week after the challenge date, but you have your best chance of having your entry be seen if you try to post on that date. :) Just drop by the official Round Robin blog to learn all the details. If you haven't played before, please read the ***WELCOME ENTRY & RULES OF PLAY*** entry before you leave us your RSVP.

Cosette... Pandora's Bazaar

Round Robin Challenge: Americana

***Welcome Entry & Rules Of Play***

-OndineMonet
"Order In Motion" at an American Diner
Johnny Rocket's
Milpitis, Califorina
Spring, 2005
Evening



2 comments:

Karen Funk Blocher said...

I love the diner shot! But you made me hungry. Where can I get a burger at 1:23 AM?

Cindy said...

i don't know if i can think up a photo for Americana - that's a tuffy!! but i wanted to tell you i LOVE LOVE that picture you have posted here !!!!! xoxox phin