theatrical security

one thing about airports: they've become super-illuminated theaters of security: a lot of what is there is intended to convey the message of extreme surveillance, instant response, saturated personnel, etc. i think they've created that partly to make people feel secure, though you'd have to say it has ambiguous effects. but at any rate, these places have been constructed as symbols of the security state in a regime of total visibility. all the surfaces gleam and every corner is transparent to the light. as i say, it's a theatrical space. it will draw actors like bugs to a zapper.