Roads are generally made for the purpose of having an easier access of different places and in order for the different modes of transportation to have a smooter flow of traffic and a quicker time to reach their destination. These maybe the meaning of roads for engineers, architects, and other people who view roads based on the functions and benefits. However, for other people with multiple views upon things, a road is more than its functions and benefits. For them, roads are not just a result of a construction project nor a huge infrastructure. Roads may symbolize something depending on how other people views it. It may symbolize progress, as roads are made out of the convenient minds of humans. With roads, sectors of the society are able to utilize their functions in the most optimum way possible. This is because land transportation has always been a part of human lives, and without it, the society will become paralyzed because many of the sectors depend on transportation to be able to function. Because roads are mainly directed with this necessity, their presence in a place is indeed a significant indications of development. For other people, roads may also symbolize a start of new journey. Because the roads extend beyond horizon, the imagery becomes prominent as something analogous to the many challenges ahead of life. Roads are not always smooth along the way, so the roughness can be linked to the hardships that may be faced in the future. Even in media, roads also play a significant role and can be appreciated as something that is pivotal to the flow of events. In movies or in games, roads serve as pathway for the story to progress, and for the players to finish a certain level.
Even it is not noticed, roads are everywhere, and are ultimately essential part of human lives, of the society, and of the world. The arguments made above are some of the supporting ideas which further support the idea that roads are significant innovations in different perspectives. However, the statements said above are just speculations which are purely based on opinion and personal views. To further prove these points, this paper will discuss the importance of roads not just in the life of people, but also in the different aspects of society, including media. On the other end, the possible disadvantages of roads in the perspectives of the different concepts will be included in the analysis.
Roads and the Concept of Speed. Speed differs based on how people and animals perceive time. Time is an important factor for the perception of speed not just because speed is defined in Physics as the distance travelled over the given period of time, but also in instances where speed is essential in addressing the situation. This is because people have the tendency to change their perception of time especially in grave situations wherein even a second can define the outcomes of their actions (Sacks 60). This kind of situations be seen in times when a certain deadline must be met, from the submission of academic and work requirements, to life and death situations, which can be considered as the worst deadline of all. In these situations, roads can be used as a tool to speed up the delivery given a short amount of time. For example, access to roads might even save a person whose life is endangered. With the presence of roads, ambulance drivers will be able to reach the location of the patient and bring him to the hospital in a shorter period of time than in roadless communities. Based from this example, it can be said that roads are associated with speed in a positive way. However, an equal negative point of view can also be inferred from the relationship of roads and speed. The occurrence of an accident is more likely happen due to overspeeding and can be accounted to the rushed mentality of most people in grave siuations (Sacks 60). Therefore, it can be concluded that roads can positively or negatively reinforced the concept speed, depending on the outcomes considering the limited time required to adhere with a certain situation.
Speed and Organization. Road users follow certain rules which concern the organization and systematized flow of traffic flow among land transportation vehicles. Furthermore, the continuous proposals of highway and road developments only prove that people look forward to provide a better future in the transportation sector. As such, organization can be reflected to roads and the networks of systems governing them. This is because without these rules and regulations, road situations would become more chaotic and the advantages cannot be exploited. For example, traffic engineers proposed the Interstate Highway Act with the purpose of organizing the traffic volume and flow (Easterling 76). A much simpler example, which pertains to the conept of ‘right of way’ in road use, shows a systematic approach to lessen the risks of accidents (Easterling 78). This convention provides a rule thumb that prioritizes which vehicle should move first and which should give way to the other vehicles. The organization brought about by road regulations will make a better view of a city, both in aesthetic and economic sense. In real life situations, the organization of roads represents a better evaluation of the priorities. On the other hand, a major downside can be reflected based on how roads are being organized. This is because some of the rules and regualtions require the segregation of vehicles from one another for the purpose of easier management of roads (Easterling 78). Though segregation has no significant negative impacts on road management, except that it would decrease the road and highway capacity (Easterling 108), segregation would entail an unequal distribution of action. In worse scenarios, it would mean neglection of activities which are less prioritized. In other words, organization provides a lot of benefits but it would be ironically disastrous when it is too much, especially in terms of ranking multiple activities.
Roads and Nomads. Because roads are able to connect more places, nomads are able to travel farther than what they did before. Regardless of the purpose of the nomads, the construction of roads has improved the nomadic way of life especially in terms of searching the needed resources. Highway networks are able to connect even countries, which can be branched from various pinpoint locations that are convenient for road users (Easterling, 86). Furthermore, since the nomadic way of life can be easily done, the issue about dissatisfaction is resolved because it is now easier to transfer from one place to another. Despite this, there are also disadvantages when nomads depend mainly on roads. Road systems will only bring nomads to limited number of places. In addition to this, the roads will lead nomads to a more crowded places because roads are constructed for easier access of important places such as markets, commercial establishments, and residential areas. As a result, they will be unable to find a more peaceful and desirable place for temporary settlement and other reasons. Moreover, the development of roads and highways will discourage, or even prohibit nomads to travel by foot. This is because roads and highways provide a more convenient transportation, especially for vehicles. As a result, walking alongside the road entails risks of being involved in an accident, directly or indirectly. In response to this, nomads will prefer to take a ride on public or privately-owned vehicles. However, an expected higher cost of living must be maintained because transportation cost will now be involved in the daily expenses. In general, even though roads provide easier access of places, the nomadic culture will be discouraged mainly because og higher maintenance especially in transportation aspects.
Roads and Dytopia. Depending on how and where they are constructed, roads can provide either a utopian way of life, or a dystopian disaster. There are several factors to consider in the possible development of roads and its entailed road systems. First is vehicle noise, or the noise produced by a moving or a passing vehicle. As the volumes of vehicles increase, the noise also worsens because of more vehciles will surely provide a noisy surrounding. However, mitigation of the external noise will most likely be a continuous problem for the society, and it is will most likely affect the privacy of the people, especially when living near the roads and highways. Moreover, the smokes contributed by vehicles is a significant indication of possible harmful conditions, thus a dystopia regarding settlement and daily human activities will be created. Another factor is the serviceability of roads, which pertains on how the road usrs were satisfied when they their vehicles pass that certain length of the road (Easterling 102). A dystopia might only be created when the desires of the road users are not met. However, the feeling of uneasiness in roads is a common occurrence along the road way. Materials are made separately, so their service life and quality differs by just a little bit. Like in roads, there will be some instances in life wherein one had to make the right decision. In a general sense, the concept of dystopia can be seen in roads in terms of suitability and desirability for an ideal place for a peaceful and private surrounding. However, the dystopia that the road represents can be balanced by its free service, and being the most convenient way of transporting goods and services.
Picturesque of Roads. In an artistic sense, roads have some kind of artistic value that can be found either in its simplicity or in the grandeur of roads which are constructed with an artistic touch. Depending on the way it is constructed, roads can express several emotional qualities, depending on the mood and the perception of the observer. Some convey nostalgic atmosphere not because of the theme of the construction, but rather it is because of the historical contexts that are associated with the road (Baudrillard 1). In this kind of expression, roads are able to associate aesthetics and history, which are two different perspectives. This means that history contains a different kind of aesthetic value which makes history more interesting and unique in its own sense because even if the external qualities of the roads are similar with typical road designs, the fact that a certain significant event in the past happened in the location will make the road valuably important.
Moreover, the traffic scenery in populous place like the Los Angeles freeway, according to Baudrillard (55), draws an attractive sensation coming from the traffic flow, night lights, and the layout of the infrastructure. The relaxing smooth flow of the vehicles symbolizes that night is the time for resting, as well as to temporary forget the stress and problems that occurred during the day. On the same degree, roads serve as their pathway for comfort as they guide the way of people back home. Furthermore, the freeway signages tells people that life should be at slower at night time, suggesting that people should go home and enjoy their time with their families or to something that will make their night time worthwhile for them (Baudrillard, 56). Based from these claims, it could be said that roads are connection between something or someone important to the people. Also, roads always remind that life must not be taken at a fast pace. Everything should done in right time, and there is always someone or something waiting after a tiring daytime has passed.
Generally, roads convey messages which are unconventional on their purpose. However, people have always find something from the infrastructure that can be incorporated into their personal lives or into the society.
Mad Max Fury Road: The Imagery of Roads in the Film. Desert roads – This is where most of the setting of the movie took place. As such, several important events happened from the scenes that transpired as the movie continues to roll. Basically, the desert roads served as a symbol for hope and freedom. By trailing the long sandy road, Furiosa hoped for liberation from the tyranny of Immortan Joe. Moreover, through the collaborative efforts led by Furiosa and Max, they are able to win the war which took place in the long deserted road, that, in turn, also led them back to the citadel where many slaves await for the glorious day of freedom.
Connecting the movie to the previous discussion of roads, it can be said that speed, organization, dystopia, nomady, and picturesque can be linked with the course of events that transpired in the film. Speed symbolizes the desire for liberation and change. Without the speedy action of Max and his company, they would have been caught and killed, and that will end the story. The road served as the instrument to enable the speed that the team needs to outmaneuver and eventually overthrow Immortan Joe’s empire (Mad Max Fury Road). Liberation could not have been achieved, and change could not be delivered if the desert road was not present to lead them on the right track.
Also, the organization also developed as the team goes on their journey to find the hope they are initially looking for. Because of the significant developments as the film goes, the Max, Furiosa, and the other casts improved from being a pack of strangers struggling for survival, to a collaboration which desired freedom from oppressive rule. In this instance the road symbolized the evolution of humanity. This can be explained from their initial striving for survival, which is the basic instinct of primitive people, up to the point where a revolution for liberation is being done. It only means that the reasoning of humans evolved as well and will continue in the near future.
Nomadic way of life is important for the characters in the team to survive the onslaught of a pursuing Immortan Joe. Alertness is on a very high status to avoid the possible assault of other animals. In this way, the development of plot can actually be observed. Because of this, roads are considered to be essential for the development of people in terms of finding a way to survive despite the status of the people in the movie.
The road in the movie can also be symbolized as the rejection of the utopia of Immortan Joe. This is because the road is used as an escape tool for Furiosa and also to find the new hopes that she is expecting. As such, the road can be viewed as the path of agony because Furiosa cannot save all the people by her own methods. However, in the latter part, the picturesque changed from being a path of agony to being a path of revolution, as they decided to face the source of the problem instead of running away from it. Generally, the development of the story happened in the road setting, and that is the reason why roads can be viewed in multiple perspecttives based on the discussions.
Roads are significant innovation of humanity. It is beyond the definition of being a mere infrastructure. For other people, roads symbolizes a value or something that reminds them about the importance of life and relationships with other people. However, regardless of the depictions of roads in the physical or in the literary sense, it can be said that roads unconsciously influenced the minds of people who are able to create several imageries of roads because they have already realized the importance of road in different perspectives. Therefore, roads have other faces besides their practical purposes. The imageries they depicted depends on how people and the society observes and perceives.
Works Cited
Baudrillard, Jean. America. New York: Verso, 2010. Print.
Easterling, Keller. "Differential Highways." Organization Space : Landscapes, Highways, and Houses in America. London: MIT. Print.
Mad Max Fury Road. Dir. George Miller. Perf. Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron. Ratpac-Dune Entertainment and Village Roadshow Pictures, 2015. Film.
Sacks, Oliver. "A Neurologist's Notebook." New Yorker (2004). Print.
