That's a lot of Bull

Signifier- The Wallstreet bull: bronze, as tall as two large men and as wide as a baby whale.  It stands in the middle of a street island surrounded by make-shift gift shops.  The bull itself was created by its artist to appear fierce, powerful.  Its semi-cartoonish design is made to appear as if it’s beginning to charge.

Signified- The bull was originally meant to signify prosperity, fierce determination and strength over adversity.  It symbolized a people powered by money, attempting to capture the American dream of hard work and wealth.  But that’s changed.  The heavy Wallstreet buildings around the bull are all locked up tight with a small army of guards.  People are no longer allowed to enter, only top officials of the stock exchange can go in.  The bull is now simply a tourist moment, a prop in photos  use to prove you've visited Wall Street.

Credibility- I just moved from New York.  My friends worked near Wallstreet and we visited there quite often.  I chatted with the guards who made it very clear I couldn’t enter or tour any of the buildings.  And I watched the tourists take photos of the Bull.  Of course they did so not to remember “impending prosperity” but to simply signify to others they’d been to Wallstreet.  I've got a picture with the bull and me together.  Everyone says, oh you went to Wallstreet.