NTSC/Widescreen/TRT 4:24/Color/2023
“Welcome to Peoria”, taking the form of a civic promotional filmstrip of the type that were popular in the mid-20th century, is a tongue-in-cheek, satirical reflection on the gentrification and the washing-away of historical cultural interest in one American city.
Despite the rich and boastful background provided by the narrator, the film’s visual landscape consists entirely of an exploration of a sprawling, virtually-empty outdoor shopping mall. The narrator’s chipper, excited tone, along with the bouncy jazz score, provide a sharp contrast to the desaturated, wintry images of an outdoor mall on a slow shopping day.
As reflected by the time-honored phrase “how will it play in Peoria?”, the city is historically seen as the most quintessentially American of the nation’s heartland. If gentrification and runaway development can infect a city like Peoria, it can happen anywhere. As in many other historically industrial cities, gentrification in Peoria has been driven by a variety of factors, including rising housing costs, urban renewal efforts, and dramatic changes in the local economy. It’s important for Peorians to work with community organizations and residents to develop policies and programs that preserve affordable housing, prevent displacement, protect historical communities and ensure that all residents benefit from any revitalization of the city. And Peoria must fight to preserve its rich historical character, keeping an eye on urban sprawl and on commercial developments of the type depicted in this short film.
Prof. Morrow’s films are viewable at his Vimeo channel.
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