Make Mine Memes

As discussed at length on this blog, the meme-- a repurposed image, usually with text implanted by one or more contributors-- remains an important vehicle for political expression in the United States. New questions about the origin and intentions of memes, as well as the virtual platforms upon which they have been distributed, make the meme an even more interesting site of cultural communication-- and perhaps revolution. All memes here are presented for educational purposes, and have been culled from various sources via Facebook and Twitter. This author does not endorse or condone any of these specific messages, but rather present them here for posterity, and further consideration and discussion in the future.

Last Glimpses of the Granite Run Mall

The Granite Run Mall was a symbol of commerce through my childhood. Growing up in suburban Delaware County, Pennsylvania, the Granite Run Mall-- a 1974 behemoth built on a former granite quarry-- was, to me, more than a collection of stores. Since my 2013 visit to Granite Run, plans for new construction, in the footprint of the original shopping center, were revealed to Middletown Township. The plan called for continued use of the original mall's anchor stores, and includes creating 350,000 square feet of retail space, a 36,000 square foot gym, a replacement for the AMC multiplex theater (opened in 1988), and a number of residential facilities. According to an October 7 2017 article in the Delaware County Daily Times, 15% of American malls were, like Granite Run, "unable to continue attracting those who once considered the 125 storefronts to be destination shopping." 

The future economic success of the Promenade at Granite Run remains under construction. The photos included in this blog were taken during the winter of 2014 and early spring of 2015, during some of the last days that the mall was open to the public. All photos were taken by me, Christopher Smith, and may be shared; attribution is requested.