This is my 8th World’s Fair (New York, Montreal, Knoxville, New Orleans, Vancouver, Seville, Shanghai, Dubai).
People often ask me why I’ve loved them all.
A similar question arises with Disney parks. They don’t have the best roller coasters. They don’t have the best games. Some attractions, like Jungle Cruise, are hokey and haven’t changed in half a century. Disney parks cost more than all the other parks. Yet lots of people, including people in my family go every year, sometimes several times per year. I think it’s due to the original Disneyland tagline: “The Happiest Place On Earth”. Who doesn’t want to be someplace that promises happiness?
My answer for World’s Fairs is similar. They are always upbeat, promising a better future. The three themes here at EXPO 2020 are Opportunity, Mobility, and Sustainability. Every exhibit hall claims that their inventions will solve global warming, provide clean water for everyone, or some other bright future. Lots of cute little robots roam the grounds, delivering food, etc. One robot claims she is in charge. If she detects that you’re not wearing a mask, she scolds you and asks you to put a mask on.
It’s the future baby!
People often ask me why I’ve loved them all.
A similar question arises with Disney parks. They don’t have the best roller coasters. They don’t have the best games. Some attractions, like Jungle Cruise, are hokey and haven’t changed in half a century. Disney parks cost more than all the other parks. Yet lots of people, including people in my family go every year, sometimes several times per year. I think it’s due to the original Disneyland tagline: “The Happiest Place On Earth”. Who doesn’t want to be someplace that promises happiness?
My answer for World’s Fairs is similar. They are always upbeat, promising a better future. The three themes here at EXPO 2020 are Opportunity, Mobility, and Sustainability. Every exhibit hall claims that their inventions will solve global warming, provide clean water for everyone, or some other bright future. Lots of cute little robots roam the grounds, delivering food, etc. One robot claims she is in charge. If she detects that you’re not wearing a mask, she scolds you and asks you to put a mask on.
It’s the future baby!
