Pan American World Airlines Building, New York City 1958

Editor: This aerial photograph, *Pan American World Airlines Building, New York City*, shows a dense cityscape, and the now former MetLife building dominates the view. What does this image tell us about the city at the time? Curator: It’s a fascinating document of mid-century urban aspiration and corporate power. The Pan Am Building itself, later the MetLife Building, physically embodies these forces. How does its prominent placement in the photograph affect our perception? Editor: I guess it suggests the building was meant to be seen as a landmark, an icon of American industry. I hadn’t thought of it that way before. Curator: Exactly. And consider the social impact. The building faced criticism for disrupting views and overshadowing iconic landmarks. This photograph inadvertently captures that tension, doesn’t it? Editor: It does. Seeing it framed as a historical moment rather than just a building gives me a fresh perspective.