Picture of the Day – Locks of Love
There is a relatively recent custom in Paris (and other European cities) for couples to put locks on bridges and railings, which is adding so much weight to said railings, fences, and bridges that they are threatening to destroy them. This is a railing near Sacre Coeur with thousands of locks, and you can see how they might do damage. Of course, the souvenir shops in the area sell the locks, so most tourists don’t know that it is doing damage and that the city has to remove the locks periodically. Personally I don’t get it, and I don’t find it charming or romantic, but clearly there are a lot of people who disagree with me. What do you think? Charming and romantic, or eye-sore?
5 Comments
nance
When it was on just one bridge, the original (and now I forget which one), it may well have been charming and whimsical. Now, however, it’s ridiculous and trite. What the heck does it mean, anyway, to simply put a lock on any old bridge? Especially if you know it’s eventually going to be cut off because it’s a structural threat.
As a feminist, I also rail (pun!) against the message/metaphor here: is love a shackle? a method of restricting yourself irrevocably to this one person forever at the cost of all of your freedom?
The whole thing is dumb. And ugly, too.
J
Nance, I hadn’t really considered the feminist angle, that’s interesting. I agree, perhaps the custom was charming and whimsical when it first started, but that picture I posted is neither. It’s dumb and ugly, as you so aptly put it.
From the article I linked in my post, the Mayor agrees with your take on the custom:
“The Mayor of Paris’ office gave another reason for why love locks were not a great idea, not just from the infrastructural point of view—because love shouldn’t require people to use chains and locks when they are in love.”
NGS
I think I mostly agree with nance. It was probably really sweet the first time it happened, but now it’s just dangerous and trite. Everything in moderation!
J
NGS, I agree wholeheartedly. The article I linked says that the idea came from an Italian film. I wonder if there are a lot of locks in the film, or if it’s one sweet couple?
Tobia | craftaliciousme
I have to be honest that I did put a lock somewhere – can’t even remember where to be honest. To my defense I think we learned about this practice back in 2006 (?) in a tiny Italian village where an old sign hang near a chapel saying that a monk and a lady had fallen deeply in love and ran away together. I believe were that tale originated, but I am not 100% sure.
Now seeing it everywhere I do feel it is become a trite and I wouldn’t do it today…