In an interesting writing experiment, Alain de Botton has become the writer in residence at Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 5, recording and telling stories of those passing through. It’s interesting as the airport is likely one of the most ripe places in the world for storytelling. Everyone there is moving with purpose. Sometimes the trip is routine or small, sometimes the trip is life changing. Regardless of the purpose, trips are always ripe with possibility for storytelling.
Despite the transitory nature of most time spend in the aiport, the feeling of impermanance, I’m sure the stories offer an interesting insight into the human condition. In addition to the drama created by those moving through the airport, de Botton was given access to secure areas “behind the scenes” and fed gossip by airport employees.
I’d be interested in seeing an American airport repeat this experiment or send an oral historian to a place like O’Hare to capture the stories and narratives of those passing through.
See some of de Botton’s musings here.
[...] is cool: Heathrow Airport has its own writer in residence. (Delayed [...]
By: Book News and Views « Books Worth Reading on September 18, 2009
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