Blog #3: Fluorescent Groceries

The other day I found upon looking inside of my refrigerator that it was empty, and soon decided that a trip to the grocery store was in order. One brisk walk later and I was standing just inside the automatic doors of the local Albertsons and was greeted by the pale fluorescent glow of the lights installed inside of the ceiling. Although the sight of food and snacks was indeed glorious, my brain fixated on the terrible atmosphere created by the devilish fixtures. The white light given off by the fluorescents felt unnaturally bright and uncomfortable to even stand in, and gave the entire store an eerie feeling. Like just around the corner there was a hand inside of a soup can waiting to spring out and yank you into the canned foods aisle. Eventually, it got to the point where many items in the store ( even those with bright coloring) didn't stand out anymore and I had to physically tell myself to focus on finding the supplies I needed with the eyeballs in my head. I suppose in that way, the fluorescents had a dulling effect, or maybe more of a lulling effect that induced a sort of shopping coma, making me float through the shelves like a ghost or a jellyfish. The entire ordeal was horrific in an overly mundane way, but it did make me think a bit more about what kind of light texture and colors could encourage different emotions. Like if the fluorescent nightmare inside of Albertsons could do this, what other commercial locations have specific lighting schemes and what do they do to people? It all just has me dwelling again on the whole overture of lighting design that lies beyond theatre, and what they can and maybe shouldn't do.