PBS Independent Lens: The Parking Lot Movie.  [and on Netflix if you have it. or mine].

The film is is an inadvertent study of car culture, college subculture, outliers and adversaries of common thought, social expectations and overall entitlement – All wrapped up into one doc, literally, about a parking lot.

The lot crew is comprised of anthropology and philosophy students, PhDs, assistant professors and Fulbright Scholars; all employed by the Corner Parking Lot during this transitional phase in their life.  Spending hours in a booth described to be “something you might discover in Albania at the border”, these guys observe throngs of drunken frat boys, jackass vandals, and SUV-driving assholes come and go.

Given the large amount of time to burn, the crew has a chance to contemplate the unique facets of their place of business and as a result have a lot of amusing and occasionally insightful things to say – both about the job and the microcosm of humanity that’s displayed within it.

You develop a strong sense of self…You get to know who you are fundamentally in the absence of any other external trappings … that typically frame our identities and make us who we are. Y’know, ‘I do this, or I do that.’ Well, when you’re at the parking lot, you do nothing.
Scott Meiggs
Parking Lot Attendant

At the lot it’s “us versus them,” and the battle is fierce. The best parts for me are those when someone doesn’t want to pay. They either take off without paying or fight them over sums as low as $0.40. But the crew lets it be known: disrespect the staff and face the consequences…

Just listen to any one of the staff members describe (or in some cases put their lives at risk by chasing) the jerks who drive out without paying and it’s clear that to these guys it’s about more than just getting the money. It’s about respect, honor, and decency toward your fellow man.

In the parking lot we were dynamos. Whirlwinds. We were rulers. We had complete autonomy. We had it all in a world that had nothing to offer us.
Scott Meiggs
Parking Lot Attendant

Post watch, or pre-watch, which ever you prefer, check out attendant Mark Schottinger’s music page. I’m a fan.