Skip to main content

The Meaning of Headlines: 'castles in the air' - Parisian architecture


'Parisian castles in the air' is the headline of an Opinion article in Politico on May 28, 2015. Written by the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, the theme of the article is that the French capital has become a testing ground for new technologies, particularly in urban planning. But what does 'castles in the air' mean?

The online Free Dictionary defines the phrase 'castles in the air' as 'dreams about future success' but also 'plans or hopes that have very little chance of happening.' American singer Don McLean (1945-) composed a song called Castles in the Air in 1970 (and re-recorded it in 1981), and there have also been films of that title.

France, and its capital Paris, are known for their castles. Famous tourist attractions include the Chateau de Versailles and the Chateau de Fontainbleau. These are real castles with long histories, rather than castles in the air.

The author describes Paris as an 'open-air laboratory' adding that the Council of Paris is preparing to make 'crucial decisions that will ensure Paris remains a smart and sustainable city' through its 'innovative approach to urban design.' These innovative designs have included the Haussmann architecture and the metro, as well as new ways of living in urban spaces, such as with the Velib and Autolib introduced to reduce the number of cars in the city. In progress are the Les Halles complex and the new Law Courts project.

The author also includes a quote from Henry David Thoreau - 'If you have built castles in the air, one day, our work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.' Hidalgo concludes with, 'This is what we are doing in Paris, imagining and implementing new possibilities at the human level, laying the foundations for our dreams.'

Hence the author is directly referencing a quote from American writer Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) about castles in the air as dreams, but building foundations to support those dreams.

The Scorecard for the Politico headline: 100% for its excellent use of a quote, the quote's inclusion in the article, and connecting the quote to the historical castles that Paris is famous for. The article title is captivating with its use of imagery that re-imagines history while discussing the future of architecture and urban planning in France's capital. Not only is the headline relevant, but it also reassures readers that past glories will be celebrated while the daring concepts of the future will have the foundation, or basis, for establishing lasting infrastructure that will also capture the hearts of residents and tourists alike.







Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Pir-E-Kamil - The Perfect Mentor by Umera Ahmed: book review

The Perfect Mentor pbuh  (2011) is set in Lahore and Islamabad in Pakistan. The novel commences with Imama Mubeen in medical university. She wants to be an eye specialist. Her parents have arranged for her to marry her first cousin Asjad. Salar Sikander, her neighbour, is 18 years old with an IQ of 150+ and a photographic memory. He has long hair tied in a ponytail. He imbibes alcohol, treats women disrespectfully and is generally a “weird chap” and a rude, belligerent teenager. In the past three years he has tried to commit suicide three times. He tries again. Imama and her brother, Waseem, answer the servant’s call to help Salar. They stop the bleeding from his wrist and save his life. Imama and Asjad have been engaged for three years, because she wants to finish her studies first. Imama is really delaying her marriage to Asjad because she loves Jalal Ansar. She proposes to him and he says yes. But he knows his parents won’t agree, nor will Imama’s parents. That
1 comment
Read more

Flaws in the Glass, a self-portrait by Patrick White: book review

The manuscript, Flaws in the Glass (1981), is Patrick Victor Martindale White’s autobiography. White, born in 1912 in England, migrated to Sydney, Australia, when he was six months old. For three years, at the age of 20, he studied French and German literature at King’s College at the University of Cambridge in England. Throughout his life, he published 12 novels. In 1957 he won the inaugural Miles Franklin Literary Award for Voss, published in 1956. In 1961, Riders in the Chariot became a best-seller, winning the Miles Franklin Literary Award. In 1973, he was the first Australian author to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature for The Eye of the Storm, despite many critics describing his works as ‘un-Australian’ and himself as ‘Australia’s most unreadable novelist.’ In 1979, The Twyborn Affair was short-listed for the Booker Prize, but he withdrew it from the competition to give younger writers the opportunity to win the award. His autobiography, Flaws in the Glass
Post a Comment
Read more

The Beggars' Strike by Aminata Sow Fall: book review

The Beggar’sStrike (1979 in French and 1981 in English) is set in an unstated country in West Africa in a city known only as The Capital. Undoubtedly, Senegalese author Sow Fall writes of her own experiences. It was also encapsulated in the 2000 film, Battu , directed by Cheick Oumar Sissoko from Mali. Mour Ndiaye is the Director of the Department of Public Health and Hygiene, with the opportunity of a distinguished and coveted promotion to Vice-President of the Republic. Tourism has declined and the government blames the local beggars in The Capital. Ndiaye must rid the streets of beggars, according to a decree from the Minister. Ndiaye instructs his department to carry out weekly raids. One of the raids leads to the death of lame beggar, Madiabel, who ran into an oncoming vehicle as he tried to escape, leaving two wives and eight children. Soon after, another raid resulted in the death of the old well-loved, comic beggar Papa Gorgui Diop. Enough is enou
8 comments
Read more