Big-hat architecture

Let’s start with the hats. It’s a cultural thing. American cops like to look like aviators whose hats got warped after hundreds of hours under big headphones. Their hats peak at the front but the rest of the crown droops to the sides. On the other hand, there’s no way to imagine that a Belarusian cop ever wore headphones over his hat. These guys wear enormous hats which swoop to a high peak and flare out at the sides, making the officer look very tall and sometimes a little bit scary. At least it scared me until I got used to the look. Here are a couple of examples I found online, one from the head cop in Massachusetts and the other from the top guy in Belarus. I think the second guy looks much more formidable.

As I said, I have always imagined that these Belarusian hats are intended to instill fear, or at least respect. We can’t help but notice them. But lately I’ve started noticing them in new places. I first thought about it last winter, as I walked toward the little arena where I lift weights. The whole building looks like a giant officer’s hat. Thinking further, I realized that I’m surrounded by big-hat architecture. Is this intended to warn us about something?