Our Built Environment - Assignment Example

Part One (worth 10 points) In and in the textbook, we have talked about the functions that cities fill, the ways that historical and economic processes shape cities, and the ways in which urban structure shape our day-to-day lives: where we work, where we hang out, where we live. Peruse the materials on New Orleans and think about what the city (both pre and post Katrina) tells us about urban life in the United States, and then answer the following questions: 1. In class and in the textbook, we’re told that our built environment reflects our way of lifeincluding cultural, economic, and political factors. Viewing New Orleans as a cultural artifact (a material thing that reflects and reveals something about our life), discuss what New Orleans (both pre- and post-Katrina) tells us about urban life in the United States. What specific changes in urban structure are illustrated by the article “New Orleans still a fraction of its former self”? Response: The Pre-Katrina in New Orleans revealed the musical influences of various urban artists, ranging from the Cash Money Rappers to the No Limit Rappers. These musical influences shaped the urban life in the United States and ultimately influenced the use of various terms, such as Bling Bling. The term Bling Bling refers to the New Orleans Rapper Lil Wayne’s love for diamond jewelry. The term was used throughout the United States, and many people of all classes referred to their jewelry or diamonds as Bling Bling. The Post-Katrina New Orleans still has these musical influences, but due to the impact of the hurricane, many artists struggle to maintain their musical influence. Many people have abandoned New Orleans, and as a result, took their musical influences that once contributed to the culture of the city. The Post-Katrina New Orleans struggles to maintain its identity as a musical influence. The specific changes in the urban structure that are illustrated in the article, “New Orleans still a fraction of its former self,” are the lack of housing development projects. Because the housing project is at 0%, the urban structure in New Orleans has abandoned the city because there is no place for these residents to live. Many urban areas, such as the Seventh Ward, were completely destroyed. These areas have not been restored, and many residents who left New Orleans will not return. 2. Cities are important sites of cultural production. Consider the impact of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans and the impact the storm had on arguably the city’s greatest asset: its cultural diversity and musical heritage. According to the online articles (The Daily Finance and The Daily Beast), what transformations are occurring in post-Katrina New Orleans with respect to cultural diversity and demographics? Do you think this is a ‘good’ or ‘sustainable’ transformationwhy or why not? Should resources go into rebuilding New Orleans’ cultural/ethnic diversity, or will it occur without help? If yes, who should payprivate individuals and firms or the public sector? Defend your answer. Response: According to the online articles (The Daily Finance and The Daily Beast), the transformations that are occurring in Post-Katrina New Orleans with respect to cultural diversity and demographics is the change in the cultural diversity and demographics. After reviewing the article, “The Daily Finance,” the city has attracted an older age population. The city has also become less diverse, and wealthier people live in New Orleans. In the article, “The Daily Beast,” the musical sounds have been replaced with more coffee shops and Macbooks. I believe that this is a ‘good’ or ‘sustainable’ transformation as long as the residents of New Orleans maintain the musical influences that once allowed New Orleans to thrive as a city. It’s a good thing when a city incorporates new ideas into its culture, but I do not agree with New Orleans shying too far away from its musical culture. I believe that a portion of the allotted resources should go into rebuilding New Orleans’ cultural/ethnic diversity. Allowing New Orleans to obtain resources to build its culture and ethnic diversity is important for the city’s revitalization. I do not believe that New Orleans has the stability to revitalize itself without government assistance as well as a combination of private individuals and firms and the public sector. The Post-Katrina New Orleans is in a fragile state, and assistance from all sources, private and public, is needed to help build New Orleans to reflect the Pre-Katrina New Orleans. Part Two (worth 25 points) New Orleans provides a case study example for many of the key terms from our chapters on urbanization and city spaces. As a group, choose five of the key terms below, then define each one in your own words and explain the term using New Orleans as an example. Zone of Transition is defined as an area between the factory zone and working class zone as it relates to the Concentric Zone Model of the urban structure. The Zone of Transition in relation to New Orleans is the evolving demographic pattern of New Orleans. New Orleans was once a city thrived by young, urban life. However, the Post-Katrina New Orleans reflects a demographic that is wealthier and older. The Central Business District is the commercial and geographic core of the city. The Central Business District in New Orleans is the French Quarter. This area thrived in New Orleans, and it was the home to many local musical talents and business owners. The Cycle of Poverty is a sequence of events or factors that contributed to poverty, forcing poverty to continue unless outside forces intervene. The local urban areas, such as the Seventh Ward, were known for its poverty. Several factors, such as violence and drugs, contributed to the rise in poverty in this area and many urban areas throughout New Orleans. Segregation can be defined as similar forces, such as race and class, residing in the same area. The City of New Orleans segregated residents based on wealth. Many of the poor areas housed urban residents, and many of the wealthy areas housed business owners and wealthy residents. Gentrification is the process where wealthy individuals purchase property in poor areas. New Orleans areas of gentrification are the urban areas. With the wealthy people purchasing property in the poor areas of New Orleans, this process with ultimately change the culture of these areas and hopefully revitalize these poor areas. Read More