Against Urbanism
February 25, 2015 8:23 PM Subscribe
On the lie urbanism is selling "There is nothing inherently progressive or virtuous about urbanism. Cities are still first and foremost places where goods and services get exchanged. Commerce is still the lead singer. Art and culture may play a solo now and then, but they need to harmonize with the moneyed class’s tastes to remain in the band. Which is why artist communities have sprouted north of the city in small towns like Beacon and Hudson. Which is to say, everyone and everything can be uprooted to make room for the money. A city’s eminent domain power guarantees this.
I can’t begin to count the number of hushed exchanges I’ve had about my departure this past year. At this point I can fairly accurately predict their arc. Usually, but not exclusively, my squinty eyed inquisitor, asks, “What’s it like?” At which point I say “It’s awesome” both because it’s true and, as I’ve discovered, it’s what they want to hear. Part of my charm—a term I use loosely and a little tongue and cheek—is that I exist as a kind of curiosity. “It isn’t awful, though?” they’ll ask, “Commuting? Driving everywhere?” In their mind, schlepping back to the burbs every night is grinding, slow death by monotony. It never occurs to them that my car might be Bluetooth-enabled so, while I’m in traffic, which really is just a modern inconvenience, not hell on Earth, I can call my mother, hold a conference call, listen to the new J Cole album or the new Invisibilia podcast. Or—and this really blows them away—I can just turn everything off and enjoy some alone time. It’s at that point that the conversation switches from interrogation to confession. They see the limits. They feel shortchanged. They don’t know how long they can hang on at this rate. It’s as if they’re asking for permission to look elsewhere."
*I would like to note that I am an editor at the magazine this was published on. I had no part in the commissioning, writing, or editing of this essay. My sole responsibility regarding it was to tweet links to it from the magazine's twitter account to promote it, after it had been published. I do not share many (most!) of the things The Morning News from my personal accounts, and wouldn't go to the trouble of making a MeFi post if I didn't think it was really really interesting/well-written. That is to say, if it had been published anywhere else I would be doing the same thing, without writing all this.
*I would like to note that I am an editor at the magazine this was published on. I had no part in the commissioning, writing, or editing of this essay. My sole responsibility regarding it was to tweet links to it from the magazine's twitter account to promote it, after it had been published. I do not share many (most!) of the things The Morning News from my personal accounts, and wouldn't go to the trouble of making a MeFi post if I didn't think it was really really interesting/well-written. That is to say, if it had been published anywhere else I would be doing the same thing, without writing all this.
This post was deleted for the following reason: This is absolutely not acceptable, with or without disclaimer. -- restless_nomad
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posted by Stecklow at 8:24 PM on February 25, 2015