Urbanism and theory - Essay Example

Purdue1 A.Parvathi M.L.A Style 13, Dec 2005 URBANISM AND THEORY. For times immemorial people lived in villages. Life in villages was staid, stable and uncomplex with set rules, traditions and highly expectable behavioral patterns. With the industrialization particularly in the post first- world war period rural economy started giving place to that of urban economy. Urbanization means diverse people with equally diverse cultural, economic and social backgrounds living together. People flocked to the city in pursuit of a better life and bigger opportunities.

At times the exodus led to privation, misery and disappointment. Nevertheless, man being what he is, continued to move and shift seeking greener pastures, which he hoped to find in cities. Thus urbanization has become a way of life. The urban society is a mix of multitudes of population. Size of settlement determines the character of the society. Social institutions and practices continue to exist not because they are needed anymore but because they are a part of life. It is a mix of heterogeneous culture and people with varied interests and variegated traditions.

This cauldron gives gives birth to a new hybrid culture. Urbanism has developed one primary character. The close-knit rural society has given place to isolation. People to people contacts have become impersonal, superficial and transitory. Human relationship that developed here is need based. Urbanization led to urbanism which means cosmopolitanism. According to Wirth city is a product of growth. A village due to extraneous and internal forces grows in population and in size.

But Wirth is of the view that the basic characteristics of the society; cultural, traditional, and social will continue to be the same with small variations. So he says, there would be no discontinuity in the personality of the rural and the urban. "Wirth suggests that those components of urbanization; size, density, heterogeneity are the independent variables that create a distinct way of life called urbanism". Urbanism involves competition, specialization, and achievement, apart from a way of life "that is predominated by superficiality anonymity, independence and tangential relationship." (1)This forms quite a contrast to the less competitive and simpler rural life.

Foot notes: Urbanism- is the study and practice of human communities for living work and playPurdue 2 Simmel believes that in an urbanized society, an individual loses contact with another individual on a person to person basis. The only thing that makes any sense to the urbanite is the uniform or the badge that the individual flourishes because it is how he is identified. The individual wearing it is overlooked or remains unidentified. To put it differently 'he' is unimportant and it is the badge that is important.

'Urbanism exposes the individual to glaring contrasts of splendor and squalor; intelligence and ignorance; order and chaos'(2). People are attracted to each other not because of any cultural ties but because of their need for the other person. This need depends on the power or influence that the other person wields. It is a society which is absolutely artificial and competitive, at times cruelly so, because only 'the fittest can survive'(3). Mutual exploitation becomes a norm.Large predictable routines are developed to survive in this world with its cut-throat competition.

Distances, lack of company, declining social significance of family life, lack of emotional outlets compounded by work pressure often led to frustration, instability and insecurity.According to Durkhein the rural society faced life as a collective challenge with common goals and common means. Urbanism changed this simple life into a complex one which was more productive and far more liberating. Durkhein was more positive about urban life. He believed that though the new division of labor undermined the city life it created a more independent society.

He believed that density of population helped to provide specialization.Tonnies feels that mental health is affected in the urban areas due to the pressures man faces in the cities. To conclude urbanism has brought about several changes in the life of man. Life has become more comfortable thanks to the modern technological innovations. Yet one feels rushed, insecure, and uncared for. Thus as Durkheim said urbanization has led to independence, freedom etc. But as Simmel said it has led to a disturbance of mind destruction of family life and disruption of social life.

As Wirth said there may not be a change in the personality of man but urbanization definitely leads to an attitudinal change which is not a healthy sign.Foot notes: Fittest can survive.People who are mentally and physically capable can withstand the urban competition. Citations 1. "Wirth suggests that those components of urbanization; size, density, heterogeneity are the independent variables that create a distinct way of life called urbanism". Urbanism involves competition, specialization, and achievement, apart from a way of life "that is predominated by superficiality anonymity, independence and tangential relationship.

" (The adequacy of this approach is addressed in detail in Chapter 7, Urban Life-Styles.)2. "Urbanism exposes the individual to glaring contrasts of splendor and squalor; intelligence and ignorance; order and chaos."http://bolender.com/Dr.%20Ron/SOC3073%20Sociology%20of%20Community/Class%20Sessions/Class%20Session%20Two/Wirth%20Urbanism.htm3. "the fittest can survive" By DarwinBibliography1. Chapter 7, Urban Life-Styles