The Hazel Project

Now that I’ve been here 3 months. I thought you might dig a quarterly report.

What I’ve learned about L.A. is this.

At best, I practice keeping all my judgments about this city in check, and if possible, let go of ALL of them on a minute by minute basis.

Let L.A. be L.A.

-Because there’s so many different kinds of people and neighborhoods and work; whenever I try to pin down a generalization about the city: how it works or the vibe or the culture, I’m quick to learn, how off I am. How wrong I am. That L.A. should be allowed to be a paradox and a dichotomy to the point of being schitzophrenic. The more this is practiced the better prepared I am to venture out into rush hour traffic, and find ‘large tracts’ of space in claustrophobic dwelling conditions. And find abundance in self employment.

HISTORICAL VIBE:
I’m taken with the history of Los Angeles. How city leaders had to make it a destination hot spot for the rest of America to visit. THey did so by planting Palm trees and haging neon everywhere. The Hollywood sign was an advertisement for Real Estate development in the early 20th century.
How the city voted on building roads in the early 20’s for the then “new” automobile; instead of having mass transit.

“We didn’t move all the way from New York City to reamake New York City,” I read in one book.

The Americans who created the idea for Los Angeles were very forward thinking for sure.

Now, there are pockets of L.A. with that left over vibe of neon and Art-Deco. Places that have seen their day, went out of style, still persevered, and have become kitcshe characterizations of themselves. Places like the “Dresden” or “El Cid”, come to mind. Places of entertainment you might find in a James Coburn or Steve Mcqueen movie.

I’m amazed at the spirit these people still have generations later. How early on they had a great idea with no-limits and attracted a lot of people with very large world views. Very outgoing people.
A lot of good fresh creative ideas and work stems from that. A lot of over the top self-help-guru-sheister’s come from that too.

But it’s that openness that allows for a story like Hustle & Body repair to exist. Can you imagine that happening at Kroger or Harris Teeter? We’d have a person like that arrested in the South.

THE L.A. EXPORT:
I remember in the early 90’s, in my communications class, Dr. Fortenberry said, “America’s greatest export was the entertainment industry.” His statement resonated with me deeply. This was before you could sell pirated DVD’s for $1 in Bangkok.

I admit I grew up with a distorted fantasy regarding L.A.’s entertainment export. Perpetuated in my own mind by devouring media; shiny magazines about musicians & equipment and fluffy TV programs, Lp’s, mix tapes & Top 40 radio. Not only did I believe to be the real L.A. I also believed my view was shared across America and the world!

But it’s all veneer. It’s played up to be a good story. To make life seem larger than life itself. Just like the 60’s post cards of Planted palm trees and hanging neon, and drinking rum out of coconut shells.

Or in my case, 80’s post cards of untouched Malibu beachfront, & girls that look like they just auditioned for Top Gun.

The export really is exemplefied by the Steely Dan song  “Glamour Profession” now that I think about it.

Thanks for checking in.

Stephen A. Thomas