August 28, 2008 3:45 PM
A modern classic?
After a week of techno-gorging, the Democratic National Convention went classical for Barack Obama's pivotal moment at Invesco Field.The stage at Invesco is a simple, understated affair. Its dominant element is a neoclassical arcade of Doric columns. That's a marked change from the LED lights, plastic steps and relentless video and text projections of the first three days, which had the effect of a stage-tech convention.
Just stately columns, a collection of American flags, and some subtly placed video screens.
Unlike, say, a Greek temple, though, the columns on this stage are just large enough to frame the speakers without dwarfing them. It underlines the visual message of the evening: Rather than elevating Obama to godlike status (75,000 hysterical fans should take care of that), the set celebrates humanity.
In fact, in broad daylight, it takes a moment to find the stage in the massive stadium. It's barely larger than the TV news stands flanking the ground, and even those are camouflaged by the expanse of seats the Broncos call home.
The effect: Emphatically populist. While Obama is the man to be heard, the sight will undoubtedly be a waving expanse of humans. Some with tickets are unhappy about their obstructed views, but they are in fact an essential part of the show. Any wide shot of the stage is going to be sure to include the listeners behind Obama. He will, in fact, be surrounded.
The arc formed by the stage and its arcade further underline the effect of bringing the people in toward the speaker. It's hard to create an intimate space the size of a football field (and the tiers above it), but visually -- and, presumably, helped by the lighting -- this does it.
Obama will stand atop a rounded pedestal of blue-carpeted stairs, and as of the afternoon, there was no lectern in sight. Rather, there would be the sight of him standing alone (until the inevitable family rushing forward), with only transparent teleprompters between him and the audience.
The set achieves a few important allusions with only the slightest of cues. The spaces between the columns are filled with opaque windows and 18 American flags (there is one larger one to the right). When Obama steps in front of them, the effect will be to reinforce his attempts to prove he is, indeed, presidential (whatever that weapon of a word means). It will look as if he's standing in the Rose Garden of the White House, the scene of many a presidential appearance.
Obama, no shirk on symbolism, has scheduled his speech on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial. You know, the one where he stood in front of the marble columns? Nice touch.
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