CIVICS & GLOBALIZATION

City and Culture Ethnic diversity in the United States and Europe –Ethnic urban districts are reflected by their names –Older, stable cities = long-established ethnic neighborhoods –European cities same –Most immigrants gravitate to the cities –Asylum seeker

City and Culture Cities in the developing world –Represent different urban landscapes –Squatter settlements –How do cities handle the situations?

City and Culture Power and accommodation –Slums can have their own ethnic neighborhoods –Survival of immigrants in slum-ridden rings Remittances –Informal economy –Globalization is a factor

Life in Urban America Many contradictions in US –Inner cities Have lost tax revenues Unable to adequately fund schools, public housing, and social services Many people must live in overfilled rat infested apartment houses –Smaller cities have been spared some of the worst problems –Some establishments and businesses have not moved to the suburbs –Deglomeration Moving away from CBDs

Life in Urban America Revitalizing the center –Gentrification –Commercialization –As the city core declines, its role and relevance in America's urban culture is diminished

Life in Urban America The Suburban City –Converts land from rural to urban use –Affects many people –Reveals living patterns –Helps with models and layouts Do the suburbs need the city? –Suburbs almost synonymous with the modern American city

The Canadian City Urban areas less dispersed Multiple-family dwellings Urban amenities not reached suburbs Wealth discrepancy less evident Not same problems as American cities— yet!

The European City Impact of the Industrial Revolution –Transformation of cities –Population similar to major North American cities –Smaller manufacturing cities, but major urban complexes –Durable primate cities –Past readily preserved –Wars have taken their toll

The European City Greenbelts –Cities more compact –European governments sustain central city dominance –Highway and beltway development lag –London example…

Urbanization and Environment Our Urbanizing World Possible detrimental planetary impacts –Hazards of site –Loss of land from expansion –Changed land cover –Impact of pollution –Production of waste (in the developing world) –Larger demand for water –Changing consumption habits

CULTURAL CHANGE IN AN ERA OF GLOBALIZATION

The Changing Scope of Cultural Interaction All cultures have been affected –No culture exists in isolation –Folk cultures –Popular culture –All cultures are dynamic –Today’s fast paced diffusion…

Impacts of the Globalization of Culture Globalization –The influence of television –Economic and cultural globalization links

Impacts of the Globalization of Culture Commodification –The process by which something is given monetary value

Impacts of the Globalization of Culture The evolving cultural landscape –Diffusion of architectural forms and planning ideas –Idealized landscape images

Impacts of the Globalization of Culture The changing meaning of “local” –Cultural convergence? –Cultural form & process has differential impact –NOT a mono-cultural world –Global-local continuum

Reactions to Cultural Globalization Loss of local distinctiveness Can represent a challenge to cultural forms and behaviors with a high degree of symbolic importance Accelerate human alteration of the environment –“Minorities” often feel culture forced on on them Impacts of resistance –Widespread resistance –Limited impacts –Cultural & landscape hybridity

Discussion… What events are tied to the link between globalization and culture? How did Michael Jordan become the most recognized person on Earth?