Shopping Center Site, Yorba Linda, California 1983

Joe Deal's photograph, "Shopping Center Site, Yorba Linda, California," captures a stark scene of development. The tire tracks scarring the bare earth become symbols of human impact. Consider how the grid-like layout of the distant houses repeats this artificial imposition onto the natural landscape. This echoes ancient Roman city planning, where the 'cardo' and 'decumanus' dictated order, yet here it signifies relentless expansion, a hunger insatiable. Across time, similar markings have symbolized conquest. Think of the furrows plowed into newly claimed lands, each a deliberate act of taking. The ground bears witness; it retains the memory of alteration, a palimpsest where past and present blend. The modern shopper may not see it, but the earth whispers of transformation, a psychological landscape shaped by our collective desires. What do we choose to build upon our history?