Assignment
Davis packs a lot into one sentence. Each paragraph has many issues we could discuss, it is hard to choose just a few! But let's start with the ones below and we can address other topics of interest in our follow up.
1. Davis discusses the "neoliberalism" of the contemporary city and how it has divided urban areas into distinct social spaces. he also discusses the rise of fear-based decision making or views of urban spaces that has little to do with crime rates in reality. What does Davis mean about "fortified cells" vs. "spaces of terror?" Give an example. Also, how does this urban circumstance impact public space?
2. Throughout your reading, Davis talks about the "architectural policing of social boundaries" (p. 225). What does he mean by that? Can you give one example of policing through architectural and/or urban design from the text? What message does the design send? What kind of behavior does it discourage and by whom?
3. I'm interested in hearing your own voices, as I'm sure are all of your classmates. What are your personal thoughts about this reading? Do you agree or disagree with Davis' reading of the city, particularly how spaces are designed to send certain messages to certain social classes and ethnic/racial groups?
Text Book: City of Quartz: Excavating the Future in Las Angeles by Mike Davis.
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