After reading the article again, I wanted to add a supplemental post...
Bickford made the statement:
"In this essay, I argue that the architecture of our urban and suburban lives provides a hostile environment for the development of democratic imagination and participation."
Coming from an suburban/rural area of mostly white, middle-class people (and perhaps this is a naive point of view on my part) - but I find urban areas (such as Boston) quite rich with culture. There may be "poorer areas" of the city itself, but I do not feel that these areas lack any of the growth potential that is available in the suburban surroundings.
It was almost as if Bickford was blaming the suburban areas and their ultimate growth for the problems (and fear) of the cities.
I do believe that it is economics that plays a huge role in the shaping of our democracy, rather than the architecture (or the urban planning) that surrounds us.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Susan Bickford: Cty Spaces & the Architecture of Citizenship
Susan Bickfords writing touched on many interesting a valid points that I have never considered before reading this article. I honestly had never considered the viewpoint of "safety" or "home" from anyone else's viewpoint other than my own (or people "like myself").
I agree with her viewpoints on suburban culture, and that by living in suburbia you can feel disconnected from others. But what I don't agree on, is the fact that people want to be immersed with others who "are not of ones own." Generally people will gravitate around others, not necessarily who are like them, but who cause them the least amount of fear.
I think our concept of "fear" in general has greatly changed over the years. (Just for an example, I live next door to a young family with 3 boys. I am not being sarcastic when I say I have never seen these boys playing outside. Their mother tells me she is in fear of the boys safety and does not like them to play out-of-doors. Now keep in mind we live in a "tough neighborhood" *please read into my complete and utter sarcasm*, a cranberry bog in our backyard and the Cape Cod Rail Trail across the street....wow. Growing up, I played outside till it got dark, climbing trees, riding my bike to my best friends house - and my parents never worried about my saftey! And to think - we didnt even live in a gated community!)
Getting back to the article, Bickfords point on the CIDs - that they intentionally segregate people - of course they do! The people who live in those communities want to be segregated - not because of racism, ageism, or rank - but because of comfort. Don't you think it is up to the individual to decide where they want to reside? (Yes, I understand that not everyone has that choice, and that financial circumstances are what truly govern the ability to "choose.")
I was sad to see that Bickford could not really come up with a viable solution to her own question either. She lead me on a roller coaster of information - leaving me hanging in the end.
It seems as if many answers lie in the hands of our schools and educators. If people are "taught" to be tolerant of one another from an early age, then perhaps a mixing of the cultures/races/ethnic groups would not be such a difficult task.
In the end, I have one thought: It would be interesting to see where Bickford lives....probably not in the ghetto.
I agree with her viewpoints on suburban culture, and that by living in suburbia you can feel disconnected from others. But what I don't agree on, is the fact that people want to be immersed with others who "are not of ones own." Generally people will gravitate around others, not necessarily who are like them, but who cause them the least amount of fear.
I think our concept of "fear" in general has greatly changed over the years. (Just for an example, I live next door to a young family with 3 boys. I am not being sarcastic when I say I have never seen these boys playing outside. Their mother tells me she is in fear of the boys safety and does not like them to play out-of-doors. Now keep in mind we live in a "tough neighborhood" *please read into my complete and utter sarcasm*, a cranberry bog in our backyard and the Cape Cod Rail Trail across the street....wow. Growing up, I played outside till it got dark, climbing trees, riding my bike to my best friends house - and my parents never worried about my saftey! And to think - we didnt even live in a gated community!)
Getting back to the article, Bickfords point on the CIDs - that they intentionally segregate people - of course they do! The people who live in those communities want to be segregated - not because of racism, ageism, or rank - but because of comfort. Don't you think it is up to the individual to decide where they want to reside? (Yes, I understand that not everyone has that choice, and that financial circumstances are what truly govern the ability to "choose.")
I was sad to see that Bickford could not really come up with a viable solution to her own question either. She lead me on a roller coaster of information - leaving me hanging in the end.
It seems as if many answers lie in the hands of our schools and educators. If people are "taught" to be tolerant of one another from an early age, then perhaps a mixing of the cultures/races/ethnic groups would not be such a difficult task.
In the end, I have one thought: It would be interesting to see where Bickford lives....probably not in the ghetto.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
January 2, 2008
Well the day has finally arrived....grad school begins today. Getting excited to begin - and looking for a comfortable place in my office to start all this required reading!
Monday, December 31, 2007
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