Binary Opposition

Anyone that comes to the town of Normal is able to feast themselves upon the Normal Theater. Sure, it’s unique, it’s fun, it’s one of the original places in Uptown Normal, but that is not exactly what I am showing in this photograph. I chose to take the picture from this angle to represent the new versus the old. Immediately behind the Normal Theatre, we are greeted with an overpowering display of the JQHhotel Marriott hotel. This picture represents where Normal once was, and where it may intend to go.

There is a story that lies within this picture that most do not notice. The Normal Theater originally opened in November 1937. The theater was closed for a short time from 1990 until 1993 due to renovations, and was then bought by the town of Normal. This theater has proven to be a staple to Uptown Normal and the theater itself has become a binary between new and old. With the same looks outdoors as it would have in the late 30s, this theater has a renovated art deco look on the inside and tends to mix up movie showings with the classics to new releases.

The Marriott, on the other hand, has been opened for just under three years and brings a new feel to the uptown area. With the only full service hotel in Central Illinois it is bound to bring people in. Businessmen and women from all over, families, wedding parties, and other types of banquets all come together to stay at this fresh hotel. I’ve been lucky enough to work at the Marriott since they have opened and have seen all sides. At first the thought of putting a Marriott hotel in Uptown Normal got a lot of questions and concerns. People wondered who would be staying there, would the business do well, and how would it fit in to the areas surrounding? The Marriott has proven to be a convenient spot especially for parents visiting their students away at college, and businesses that come to work with others such as State Farm, and Country Financial.

The town of Normal is expanding in many ways and this picture is a perfect indication of how it should be represented. There are multiple sides to the normal, yet we aren’t like just any other town. Whether actually staying at the hotel on business, meeting family for Homecoming weekend, going to a banquet hall for a friends wedding, or just simply going in to the restaurant to have a meal, the Marriott is a middle ground that brings all kinds of people together.  What other place can you find this? The staff of the Marriott is a mixture of college students, people native of Normal, those that came from Chicago, and believe it or not a large population from a French speaking area in Africa.       

Just from walking into the Marriott, you get a feeling that you’re not in Normal anymore. It makes you question, what is Normal? Who are we as a town? I don’t think there is one way to describe us. We are just an all-around not normal town.-- Christa Knight