TOW #4: The View From Dubai by Lauren and Mike Arnold, NY Times (Article)

         Dubai is home to the world’s largest building, the Burj Khalifa. The Burj Khalifa stands 2,716 feet tall, has 163 floors and is home to Lauren and Mike Arnold, the authors of the article, The View from Dubai. The authors give their opinions on what it is like to live in Dubai and in the Burj Khafila. Lauren is a health care executive and Mike is an artist and architect, they have both been living in the building since 2011. They write the article as if the reader is completing their Friday morning routine right along beside them. By describing the view and the vibe that comes with living in Dubai, the authors give the reader a glimpse into this unique lifestyle.  

          Any one from an avid traveler to an architect will appreciate and enjoy this article.  By giving a positive prospective on what life is like for residents of the Burj Khalifa, the authors are able to appeal to a large range of readers. Their goal in this piece is to tell their readers about life in Dubai and also about the cultural influences that belong to the building and city. By using a casual tone, the authors are able to achieve their goal of giving the reader a view into the life of Dubai citizens. Words like “we” and “our” attempt to allow the reader to feel engaged and involved in the article.

            I believe that the Arnold’s were able to achieve their purpose because as I was reading the article I felt as if I was in Dubai with them. I was able to visualize the view from the building and even the elevator ride the authors take to get to the 123 floor of their building. They said, “we board one of the tower’s 57 elevators and are catapulted even higher, to the 123rd floor, as if we were weightless objects being effortlessly lifted through the air. Our ears adjust several times as we speed along at almost 60 feet a second”. By illustrating what life is like in Dubai, the authors are able to successfully achieve their purpose.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/06/opinion/sunday/the-view-from-dubai.html?ref=opinion&_r=0