Introduction A Historical Snapshot - Early Years - Visitors - Diversity Modern Culture - South Beach - Pop Culture The Art and Architecture - Art Deco A Tourist's Perspective Works Cited	Art Deco "As you walk through these streets, remember that the architects and planners who created them had a set of values that were in some ways much like our own, and in other ways perhaps more sensitive, more idealistic, more optimisitc." - Barbara Baer Capitman, "Saving the District" (Bush 194).    http://community.webshots.com/photo/57605820/57608674dBLHyS The Tropical Art Deco style that was popular from the 1920's to the 1940's has become one of the defining characteristics of Miami architecture. Although located primarily in the South Beach and Miami Beach, when many members of the general public have thoughts of the area this is what they think of. The famous photographs of the hotels of Ocean Drive stand out for a reason. Each year the Miami Design Preservation Leaguge holds a festival to celebrate the style of Art Deco (http://www.mdpl.org/). It is no wonder so many photographers, whether tourists, amateurs or professionals, find the views of Miami's architecture so interesting. The beautiful vibrant colors combine with unique building structures to compose really strong photographs.    Ravi Kochar's Travel Photos - http://www.physiology.wisc.edu/~kochhar/photos/mbad1.html This photo of 1920 Collins Avenue was taken by an amateur on vacation. There are three points of focus in it. The facade, the Bikini Sale, and the people sitting on the sidewalk in front of it. Arguably the most important of these is the building itself. This is the typical art deco style found in the Miami Art Deco District. The vibrant colors are the most attracting feature. Because of this the unique design is highlighted. The first of large wave of these buildings were constructedin 1935 as Miami pulled itself slowly out of the Great Depression thanks to increased tourism. While the style was left unappreciated for many years the popular TV show Miami Vice helped to create a resurgance, as those bright colors and flashy buildings became what Miami was known for (Bush 171). The Miami skyline grew to be increasingly more Moderne and a public works initiative set that 1.5% of all construction spending must be used for art (Bush 172). This works in favor of architects designing buildings which can be considered art. It is no wonder photographers become fascinated with the city. Not only does it photograph well, but there is so much of it to be photographed. Standing on the beach side of Ocean Drive one can photograph almost entirely Art Deco buildings in either directions. Although the colors and design may vary, the architecture provides cohesion from building to building.    http://community.webshots.com/photo/57605820/57609069sYNXLY This photograph inheritly takes on a quality of the architecture. Instead of being a straight view of the building, the camera is angled so as to exaggerate the abnormalities of the architecture. The Miami Design Preservation League describes Art Deco as, " Smooth stucco, clean lines, terrazzo floors, nautical motifs and neon lights are all found on these structures that took modern technology and materials and applied them to the design and construction of our seaside marvels of the 20th century." (http://www.mdpl.org/prod06.htm)    http://www.mdpl.org/prod06.htm Breakwater Hotel, 940 Ocean Drive: 1939, Anton Skslewicz This photograph from 1939 has the same effect as the modern photograph above it. The angle at which it was taken makes the building appear to tower over the street. The colors are regal and similar to those of a Naval officer. The architecture also is vaguely similar to that of a large boat (with multiple decks and a large smokestack). The photograph captures all of these equally as well, proving the capacity of a photograph to store many effects that combine together to give multiple meanings.
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