Life in a parking lot

While I study transportation planning and policy, I'm really an ethnographer and sociologist at heart who's interested more generally in cultural insights about the world. I love the overlooked nooks and crannies of everyday life, and any attempt to delve into these fascinating realms warms my heart, especially if it's about social relationships, order, and conflict.

The Parking Lot Movie looks at the intricacies of social life in an ignored slice of the world, a parking lot in Charlottesville, Virginia:

Located nearby the University of Virginia and tucked in behind a number of bars, the assortment of overeducated attendants who work at The Corner Parking Lot have to deal with throngs of drunken frat boys, vandals, and SUV-driving jerks who either take off without paying or fight them over sums as low as $0.40. Fortunately in this establishment the normally agreed upon rules of customer service don’t exist. Disrespect the staff and face the consequences.

The interviewees are hilarious, but also overflowing with resentment, contempt, and sometimes subdued rage. At one point, a parking lot attendant tells the camera: "Maybe you shouldn't a bought your kid that Range Rover. Maybe you shoulda, you know, just thought about it a little while. . . cuz we see why your kid's a bastard."

There are lots of good clips and details on the film's site as well as on PBS's Independent Lens site. NPR also did a nice piece about the film and the parking lot's cast of characters. The Parking Lot Movie is available through iTunes or on DVD.

(via Independent Lens, NPR)