The Gardens at the Getty Villa
Truth and Misinformation about the Los Angeles Wildfires
Infophilia, a positive psychology of information | January 11 2025 - Vol. 3, Issue 2
Welcome to Infophilia, a weekly letter about the human love of information and connections. Last week, I traced the origins of information literacy, but today's planned discussion of Christine Bruce's contributions must wait. A more urgent story demands attention: the devastating LA fires affecting our Southern California communities, and the parallel spread of misinformation complicating relief efforts.
The Gardens at the Getty Villa: Truth and Misinformation about the Los Angeles Wildfires
Cite this as: Coleman, Anita S. (2025, January 11). The Gardens at the Getty Villa: Truth and Misinformation about the Los Angeles Wildfires. Infophilia, a positive psychology of information, 3 (2). https://infophilia.substack.com/
Gardens of Memory
The images of some of the popular Los Angeles communities on our TV screens are of devastation and ruin —charred cars, homes burned, thick smoke, jumping fires. The Santa Ana winds, which get their name from a canyon in neighboring Orange County, have been exceptionally strong this week and have played a crucial role in the fires that continue to rage in Los Angeles (LA) and Ventura counties. My mind drifts to clearer days at the Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades, where my son and I often enjoyed unforgettable moments among its four meticulously recreated gardens and the ancient art and sculpture in its library and museum. I believe that the gardens are key to the survival of the Getty Villa from the LA wildfires. Now, as misinformation spreads about the fires threatening this cultural treasure, among others, I'm drawn back to the truth and beauty we discovered there.