Tag: Nissan

And, what is this supposed to be?

This is a question that challenged my soul during my time in graduate school. A year ago, I completed my Master's Degree in Arts and Cultural Management at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. Supposedly, it was to be an entry into the management ranks of arts and cultural organizations in the Twin Cities and across the country. Instead, I became a fully-fledged automotive journalist with an unrelated contract position at a healthcare firm.

My time at Saint Mary's was spent understanding the idea of art. From the arguments over Mapplethorpe's exhibitions to working with a choral group whose performances challenges audiences to think while listening, the definition of art can be concluded as a moving target where appreciation and comprehension fluctuates with the moment.

I will argue that the same ideal should be applied to automobile design. When concepts and new production vehicles debut, the arguments fly whether the design was right for the era or the segment. In supercars and GT coupes, we excuse the design by carrozeria's efforts to create a masterpiece with signature elements denoting both brand and design house. For volume vehicles, it is a completely different story.

How does a person who is supposed to work in an arts organization explain the Nissan Juke?

An old friend has returned for a visit.

We all have this friend that you love to have stay the week with you. One forged from a friendship by chance or circumstance that have run through the tides of mutual ups and downs. When you two do get together, it’s about having fun and letting loose the stress of your individual lives.

When the friend visits, you put him or her up at your place – not at some hotel miles away. You cook breakfast for that friend, take in a movie or a museum, laugh over mutual losers over coffee – even share recent love interests (that is, of course, if you’re single). The fun you have with said friend is supposed to be drama-free – until an ex pops up and acts all slimy and so forth.

It is true that we often view automobiles as extensions of our lives. Perhaps this notion of a “returning old friend” is apt when I welcomed the return of a familiar steed to the V&R Garage recently – the Nissan Rogue.