In addition to descriptive language and imagery she also makes several useful comparisons throughout the piece so that material, which may be foreign to some readers, is understandable in the context that she has included it. When talking about the flooding and the Mayor (whom I have never heard of) she describes him in an extremely effective manner saying, "Just ask Mayor Massimo Cacciari, broody, mercurial professor of philosophy, fluent in German, Latin, Ancient Greek;...a man who raises the level of political intellect to just short of the stratosphere", for never having heard of the man, let alone met him, from her description I feel like I can paint a pretty accurate picture. His curt response to the problem of Venice sinking, "'So go get boots'", emphasizes the character she has already described.
From here she easily transitions into discussing another type of flooding problem that Venice is currently being faced with, tourism, and she does this again through aptly described comparisons and analogies. "Boots are fine for water, but useless against the flood that causes more hand-wringing than any lagoon spillover: the flood of tourism. Number of Venetian residents in 2007: 60,000. Number of visitors in 2007: 21 million". Her comparison between the amount of tourists to that of flood waters provides the reader with an image to relate the numbers to that she then provides in the factual support that follows. She continues this analogous language when she compares the 80,000 tourists of 2008 to a swarm of locusts; "Those who managed to get to Venice surged through the streets like schools of bluefish, snapping of pizza and gelato, leaving paper and plastic bottles in their wake". Her descriptions and comparisons leave no room for misunderstanding the severity of the tourist problem.
She continues this use of analogy to describe the city when she compares it to a play; "Please take your seats. In this play, Venice assumes a dual role. Lighting, sets, and costumes are so beautiful the heart aches, but the plot is full of confusion, the ending uncertain. One thing is certain: Everyone is madly in love with the title character". This is an analogy that is so telling on multiple levels, the plot like the city of Venice and it's various flooding issues is confusing, there are constantly unexpected twists and turns; the ending is clearly yet to be decided, and there is little to foreshadow a certain future. However, it is clear that everyone is indeed in a deep seated romance with the main character performed by the city of Venice.
In addition to the rich imagery and descriptive language Newman also provides an adequate local Venetian perspective through anecdotes and local quotes; "Venice is a different place altogether. The abnormal is normal. A flood is routine. The siren sounds, protective steel doors come down. Boots, essential to any Venetian wardrobe, are pulled on. The two and half miles of passerelle - an elevated boardwalk supported on metal legs - are set up. Life goes on". These are details that are not common in stories about Venice, this is the first mention I have come across of steel doors and passerelle, but she makes a point in including them that what seems unusual to me, is the usual for Venetians, these are minor interruptions. The great sensory language that she carries throughout the piece even goes beyond the visual, it demonstrates an awareness and a respectful appreciation that makes me feel like she is a trustworthy and conscientious writer. "Listen. Venice should be heard as well as seen. At night the eye is not distracted by the radiance of gilded domes. The ear can discern the slam of wood shutters, heels tapping up and down the stone steps of bridges, the abbreviated drama of whispered conversations, waves kicked against the seawall by boats, the staccato of rain on canvas awnings, and always, always the heavy, sad sound of bells. Most of all, the sound of Venice if the absence of the sound of cars". Even the first part of this paragraph is almost like Newman is demanding that the reader take this part seriously, she does not ask us to listen, she tells us to, informs us that the sounds of the city demand just as much attention as its sights.
The quotes she provides from local Venetians provide a true, if sad, but potential future for the people and city of Venice, these quotes almost demand our attention and respect again, they seem to imply the severity of the issue on a personal level. When Gherardo Ortalli talks about going out with his friends his quote, "I have to stop because someone is taking a photograph of us as if we are aboriginals. Perhaps one day we are. You go and see a sign on a cage. 'Feed the Venetians.' When I arrived 30 years ago, the population was 120,000. Now it is less than 60,000". The combination of his poignant observation and insight combined with the starting statistic emphasize how affected the locals are by this issue. She further emphasizes it with use of "battle language" when discussing Augusto Salvadori, who she refers to as the city's "defender", and he himself says, "My battle is for the city". Following this she provides a useful little nut diagram of tourism history in Venice which helps to put the current situation into perspective and provides some additional helpful insight for those who are not familiar with the situation or the history of Venice.
The piece does not come across as being biased though, she later mentions how some people think that the wounds of Venice are self-inflicted, providing both sides to the battle. She ends with a wonderfully written analogy, bringing the story full circle by returning to the notion of vanishing, beauty and romance, and even manages to briefly hint at the earlier referenced play analogy; "Kisses end. Dreams vanish, and sometimes cities too. We long for the perfect ending, but the curtain falls along with our hearts. Beauty is so difficult".
From here another section follows titled "Flood Zone", so I am left a bit perplexed, is this a new section? A new piece entirely? Where is the ending then? If it is an additional section written as a part of the piece I would have preferred it to end with the previously mentioned quote, I think the additional information muddies the rest of the piece.
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