Beyond Bourgeois Gentrification Essay Example for Free

Beyond Bourgeois Gentrification Essay We’ve all seen those new work-live artist loft spaces in the remodeled industrial complexes next to the new galleries, cafes and office buildings that used to be factories, low-income housing tenements or warehouses. They look chic and modern while still trying to maintain their urban appeal. However, what does gentrification mean in our post-industrial urban society and how should we address its contradictory standing? According to the PBS special Flag Wars: What is Gentrification, it is the â€Å"general term for the arrival of wealthier people in an existing urban district, a related increase in rents and property values, and changes in the districts character and culture (Grant). In this vein, we can read gentrification from two perspectives. The first would be from the point of view of the newly arrived ‘wealthier people’ who see this process as an investment in urban renewal that brings down crime rates and increases the economic cultural capital of what was once a neglected and impoverished neighborhood. On the other hand, gentrification as seen from the perspective of the original community is thought of as another form of economic and geographic discrimination and exclusion due to the increase in rent and property values as well as the overall cost of living. The issue of urban displacement results in an unbalanced benefit for the already economically advantaged. UNESCO recently published an article concerning this contradiction: â€Å"Building projects become the centre piece of the city’s economy, justified by job creation, taxes, tourism and the building of large cultural complexes† (Smith). What makes this such a divisive issue and halts community building is that much of the new investment comes from the social class that fled to the suburbs during the white-flight era of urbanization. After fleeing to the suburbs due to a discomfort of having to live so close to other racial and ethnic populations, there is now a distrust of the new inhabitants by the pre-existing urban population who are being forced out of their own neighborhoods. So we must ask ourselves how we can overcome this contradictory social movement in a way that will be mutually beneficial to all involved parties. The best way to accomplish this would be to invite community dialogue in an effort to address all sides of the issue. An interesting study put out by the Urban Institute echoes this sentiment. They emphasize the need for â€Å"strategies used by nonprofit organizations, for-profit developers, and city agencies to ensure low- to-moderate-income residents can live in revitalizing and gentrifying neighborhoods† (Levy). This is essential in order make sure that all voices can be heard so that more than just money talks. If this can be done, urban renewal can be embraced and cultural diversity can flourish in a vibrant new community based on shared principles and the exchange of different ideas. We must abandon the notion that gentrification is either positive or negative, as many people have argued in the past. Gentrification is a social process that affects us all differently depending on our own cultural context. That being the case, let us open the discussion to the public at large so that everyone has an equal say in how their community will develop. Urban transformation is a constant presence that we need to shape into a vision of the future that we would all like to live in. References Grant, Benjamin. (2003). What is Gentrification?. PBS Flag Wars. Retrieved November 30, 2008, from http://www. pbs. org/pov/pov2003/flagwars/special Levy, Diane, Comey, Jennifer, Padilla, Sandra. (2006). In the Face of Gentrification. Urban Institute. Retrieved November 30, 2008, from http://www. urban. org/publications/411294. html Smith, Neil. (2007). From Gentrification to Forced Eviction – how should economic competitiveness be reconciled with social sustainability in historical districts?. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. Retrieved November 30, 2008, from http://portal. unesco. org/shs/en/ev. php

black and chinese americans :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the present day, people view America as a land where everyone can be seen equal to one another, but this was not always the case. In the 1800s black and Chinese Americans went through a ruthless period of discrimination, due to the white man’s ignorance. Even though the Chinese and blacks were singled out they both were treated differently but also had many similarities.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Harsh treatment, long hours, and extremely low wages were only a small part of the brutal-ness both races faced. The Chinese men came to America hoping to provide a better life for theirs families back in China. Most of them received jobs working for the corrupted railroad companies. They faced horrific working conditions, which some died from, low wages, and long hours. The Chinese men wasted years of their lives and sacrificed seeing their families so that they can make enough money to support them.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The blacks have faced similar conditions to the Chinese men. They too worked long hours and earned very low pay. Many of the blacks became sharecroppers once they were emancipated. Sharecroppers were tenant farmers who gave a share of the crops raised to the landlord in lieu of rent. These landlords were cruel and took a good portion of the crops grown by the black farmers. Whatever the landlords did not take was left for farmer and his family, which was not much. They had to survive through the winter with the limited supply. Both the Chinese and blacks could not do anything about the working conditions due to the fact they could not unite and form labor unions.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Though both Chinese and blacks faced many similarities they also had differences. The blacks have lived in American for generations while the Chinese were just starting to immigrate. Blacks were forced to come to America to be slaves as opposed to the Chinese coming here by their own free will. Also the America did not allow Chinese women into the country due to the fear of an even more rapid rate of increase in the Chinese population, while black women were in the country and had a prominent role in their family lives. Another difference between the two races was that the black Americans had families in the country and the Chinese left their families back in China. Another differentiation was that once the blacks were emancipated most stayed in America while a good number of the Chinese left to go back home.

Frankenstein, Blade Runner and the Natural World

Continually throughout history humanity’s connection to the natural world has been probed, celebrated, mocked and forgotten in a haphazard cycle that has been classified as human nature. Through a comparison of Mary Shelley’s 19th Century didactic novel, ‘Frankenstein’ (the Modern Prometheus) and the director’s cut of Ridley Scott’s ‘Blade Runner’, a common conception of man’s place amongst nature is posed as being submissive to her dominance.Though each text shares the same values each represents its core concepts in a manner inimitable to its context, ultimately critiquing the respective society’s, bringing to light the fears that the majority of society refused to acknowledge at the time. These fears centre mainly around three broad concepts; scientific discovery, industrial development and religion, which collectively invite consideration of humanity’s unabridged connection with the natural world and how i t has been altered over time.In the spirit of Enlightenment, a large cultural movement in the pre-19th century world, Shelley conceived Frankenstein and, in effect, his creation. The Enlightenment movement encouraged people to turn away from faith and to start relying more on reason and the answers developments in science were beginning to supply. â€Å"A mummy again endued with animation could not be so hideous as that wretch. † The juxtaposition of the Creatures unnatural image with the romantic values of the sublime and creative genius characterises the monumental shift away from the natural.The death of her protagonist, Victor Frankenstein, represents the expectations the romantic writer has for the enlightenment movement, alluding to the inevitable doom it will bring upon humanity. By creating a juxtaposed image between Frankenstein, who is repeatedly surrounded by pejorative terms such as ‘suffer’, ‘malice’ and ‘bitter’, and his br other Ernest, characterising the latter as ‘full of activity and spirit’, Shelley places Ernest in the role of Romanticism whilst Frankenstein personifies the Enlightenment movement.Their contrasting connections to the natural world and their subsequent lives, permits Shelley to critique her own context and the ideals within it. Her views on Romanticism and Enlightenment are similar to that of Rousseau, a known philosopher who suggested that ‘†¦nothing is so gentle as man in his primitive state, when placed by nature at an equal distance from the stupidity of brutes and the fatal enlightenment of civil man. ’ This suggests that humanity’s connection with nature is essential to ensure harmony within ociety and in effect it’s survival in the world. Reinforcing this theory, Blade Runner, presents an image of this corrupted harmony and its effects on humanity. Ridley Scott’s text reveals that within his time, 178 years after ‘Fra nkenstein’, scientific development still held the same destructive concerns. However, by the use of film rather than text, Scott represents the fears of his society in a much more vivid approach, preventing them from being so easily disregarded.Current technology now allowed scientists to experiment in the world of robotics and areas such as IVF, leading many to question how this would affect humanity’s natural roles within society. This is demonstrated as Scott blurs the lines between what makes a human truly human. He does this by giving the replicants human emotions and unique identities. Pris’ words ‘I think Sebastian, therefore I am’ reinforce this idea while also alluding to the evolving knowledge and skills of the artificial beings, their natural abilities to adapt and progress.These developments in science within the film have dismal consequences, ones which Scott fears for his own world, and the continuous downfall of rain is just one prese ntation of this, symbolic of mother nature grieving over her destruction. As times were changing in both contexts and new sciences were explored people repeatedly questioned their faith, causing many religious debates and conflicts. ‘Frankenstein’ represents common battles of moral and God, going so far as to be known as the Modern Prometheus.The reference to the Promethean myth foreshadows the consequences Frankenstein will undoubtedly have to face. Blinded by his own ambition and dreams of glory and fame he endeavours to take on the role of God by creating life and disrupting natural order. In creating his monster Frankenstein also usurps the natural role of women as child bearers, questioning their place and use within humanity. â€Å"A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me. The juxtaposition of the phrase ‘excellent natures’ with the clearly unnatural give insight into the one -tracked desires of Frankenstein, not pausing to consider the moral issues surrounding his experiments. However, he ironically seems to blame God and fate for the destructive course of his life, telling Walton ‘destiny was too potent, and her immutable laws had decreed my utter and terrible destruction. ’ Faith subsequently had a ambiguous impact on humanity’s connection to nature, representing the ideals of natural order and the consequences of destroying it’s structure.Similarly, the role of God is also obscured in the dark scenes of Blade Runner, stemming from the lack of nature. Religious allusions are rich throughout the text, beginning within the first sequence when syncopated bursts of flames create an image resembling Dante’s hell, suggesting hell on earth. â€Å"A new life awaits you, the chance to begin again in the New World. † After destroying their own world the Tyrell corporations promises of bigger, better things are seen as a missionary act, the answer to humanity’s problems. This earns Tyrell levels of power unequitable on Earth and lead him to believe himself to be a God.The sharp cut lines and magnitude of the Tyrell building reinforces these implications as it looms over the city, placing him above the rest of humanity. However, the triumphant forces of nature come through in the final scenes as Tyrell meets his end, and natural order begins to be rectified with the death of Pris and Batty. The white light illuminating Batty’s form as his body shuts down gives him a godly image, supported by the nail protruding through his hand and the white dove that flies away, a symbol of peace and hope for restoration.This scene reinforces natures purity and the extent of its healing powers in contrast with humanity’s destructive impact on its elements. Mary Shelley and Ridley each created monumental texts with the common concepts of scientific development, industrialisation and religion. Bot h explore how humanity’s connection with the natural world is distorted and overshadowed by the influences of modern advances and opportunities, leading to its exploitation and neglect.

Wounded Veterans Essay - 1618 Words

Wounded Veterans English 101 Effective Essay Writing October 7, 2012 Shawna Rand Wounded Veterans As of December 2009, over 3.3 million American troops have been sent overseas into Iraq and Afghanistan alone; 793,000 of them have been deployed more than once. (Tan, 2009) Sadly, not all of our troops return home alive and many that do face many challenges ahead. Physical wounds surly do not go unnoticed. They are fairly common in war time situations and are even shown in war movies. They show the viewer a sense of what a soldier goes through when injured and what to expect; but what about the mental wounds? The United States sends thousands of military men and women overseas into battle, returning them home with not only physical†¦show more content†¦( dsm criteria,) Once diagnosed, a veteran can receive the proper treatment he or she needs to the road of recovery. There are two methods that have been proven to work; counseling and medication. Counseling helps one understand their thoughts and feelings and finds a way to cope with them in a healthy manner. The medication treatment is called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). They are to help a patient feel less worried or sad. (Make the connection,) These treatments are like any other treatments, meaning they will not happen overnight. It will take time and patience to see changes in a patient’s symptoms and way of life; but done right a patient can succeed and overcome PTSD. Another issue involving military veterans who went to war is TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). A TBI, also known as a signature wound, is exactly what it means; a traumatic brain injury. (Soldiers and tbi,) â€Å"A TBI is caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the normal function of the brain.† (Traumatic brain injury,) So what exactly causes a TBI? A TBI can be caused by a simple blow to the head, the head hitting a windshield in a car accident, or a blast from a bomb or other explosion. â€Å"TBI can cause changes in a person’s ability to think,Show MoreRelatedThe idea of creating a charity that gives back to wounded war veterans and their families was700 Words   |  3 Pages The idea of creating a charity that gives back to wounded war veterans and their families was created by Mark Foster. Mark also wanted the families of these soldiers to have the money to keep a healthy family while being able to pay for the hospital depts.Thank you, Operation Home front for helping my family get back to normal after my dad was injured in Iraq. (Jonathan) Operation Home front had raised enough money to give Jonathan’s dad replacement legs after losing them in Iraq. Mark alsoRead MoreThe Government Doesn t Care About Wounded Veterans1611 Words   |  7 PagesDoesn’t Care About Wounded Veterans Veterans make up seven percent of the American population, but they account for twenty percent of its suicides. Yes, that is indeed a real statistic, more importantly, what is the government, the people that ordered those men and women deliberately into harm’s way, doing about this tragedy. In light of recent conflicts the United States has been engaging in, such as the conflicts in the Middle East, a new silent killer of returning veterans, has become more visibleRead MoreMusic Therapy : An Effective Treatment For Wounded Veterans1223 Words   |  5 PagesThe roots of music therapy dates back to World War II, when music was found to be an effective treatment for wounded veterans. Music Therapy is even mentioned in the Old Testament and its account of young David’s playing his harp for the troubled King Saul. 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Supported by the Wounded warrior project a group of wounded veterans have found a way to use laughter to uplift society without being affected by the emotional or physical tragedy that they have been through. The purpose of not allowing the tragedy to turn them away from a pleasant or positive state of being. The Comedy warriors are made of five wounded veterans from different wars. Watching the dvd of the comedians is a delightful way to be entertained, but itRead MoreThe Wounded Warrior Project :1361 Words   |  6 PagesThe Wounded Warrior Project For as long as there have been wars, there have been warriors who survive — and yet become as much casualties of battle as those who died (Blair). Founded in 2003 in Roanoke, Virginia, by a group of veterans and friends the Wounded Warrior Project took action to help the injured service men and women of this generation. The mission of the WWP is to honor and empower wounded warriors who incurred a physical or mental injury, illness or wound, co-incident to their militaryRead MoreEssay on American Poverty Levels1217 Words   |  5 Pagesthat has been struggling with poverty for many years is Harlem, New York. After WWII, veterans were returning home with no place to live, work, or eat. To help this cause, Harlem city planners built affordable apartment complexes for our war veterans. Though, it was a great gesture to help our veterans, Harlem still had a hard time giving jobs to all of these veterans. With a lack of a way to make money, the veterans can’t pay their rent . Resulting in eviction, and homelessness. (woundedwarriorprojectRead MoreBorn on the Fourth of July Starring Tom Cruise781 Words   |  3 Pagessoldiers when they returned home, from the horrifying conditions of VA medical facilities, the lack of support from the general public as well as the families of veterans when they returned home, as well as Kovic’s turn to being against the war by the end of the film. This film, which was the second of three director Oliver Stone, a Vietnam War veteran himself, and based off of the memoirs of Ron Kovic, who assisted in the writing and creation of this film, made to explore the different aspects of the conflictRead MoreThe Transition Of A Soldier1806 Words   |  8 Pagesdignity they deserve? Veterans all across the United States are not being treated with the level of honor or respect they deserve. The transition from a soldier to a veteran is supposed to be made easy however the transition has only became more difficult as time as proceeded. Veterans have been mistreated, since the Revolutionary War and have continued to be treated so even in today s world. They have had their lives stripped from them throughout history the mistreatment of veterans has sustained andRead MoreWW1 Canadian Vets and Post-War Veterans Assistance1553 Words   |  7 Pagesassistance that the war veterans receive in Canada today is considered one of the best in the world. With assistance programs that provide support to the veterans in the form of attentive health care, health insurance, health related travel expenses, assisted living, career training, rehabilitation, financial benefits, and much more. But, this wasn’t always the case with the Veterans Assistance Commission in Canada. Very little was done prior to WW1, for the war veterans. Even though much difference