Le Corbusier’s design for a city of three million people was has been adopted by many cities in today, mainly because of its modernized plan. The architecture designed by the theorist has incorporated the economic, cultural and political parts of the city but still keeps its design modernized and sophisticated. The contemporary city of three million people appreciates the use of space between where every division has a specific function. The divisions will be based on characteristics of the function or role they wish to provide. The divisions in this case are referred to as fields, which can be identified as streets in the modern world. Each street in the modernized cities has a specific role. For instance, big cities like Paris have a street for everything to make it easy to identify roles.
The city plan designed by Le Corbusier sought to establish an organized system that condemned the disorganized state of cities like Hong Kong at the time. The contemporary city of three million people was also designed for the cities to act independently. The fields in the city did not live room for relationships with others since they were designed to be autonomous. Every field was separated by a boundary and marked with the signs of streets. They were each independent and dealt exclusively with their roles. The buildings in this city were systematically arranged and spaced. Each building was a single entity that stood alone and was associated with a specific function. The buildings were surrounded with gardens and amusement parks. They are divided by clear roads and lanes which serve as a mode of transport.
In contrast, the city represented in the 1927 film titled Metropolis is a chaotic city that foreshadows into the future nature of urbanization. The city in the film is a modern version of the city with sixty million people. The city consists of the rich and the poor who each has their place in the urbanized place. The city is a dusty and rusty place that has been worn out because of too much industrialization symbolized by the many factory workers. The city of three million people is organized in a state that makes life fair for everyone. However, in Metropolis, the city is damaged and divided into an upper and lower class.
The upper-class rules from a more beautiful side, and is not sympathetic of the living conditions of those in the lower class. In Metropolis, people have been reduced to robots, and machinery is the way of life. The city of three million people is a representation of a time when capitalism had not taken over. The city in Metropolis is arranged in a haphazard manner, where buildings are joined together and placed with no particular arrangement. Because business has taken over society’s sense, every corner and building in the city is attributed to business entities. Buildings do not stand alone as is the case with Metropolis, and streets are seriously overcrowded. The life in the two cities, when compared, showcases a state where the two are opposites of each other.
Istanbul is the prevalent city found in the modern Turkey since it acts as the base of the country’s economy as well as culture and history. Its origin would be traced back to the 660 BC when it was preoccupied by the Sarayburnu from where it was able to develop progressively to the modern city it is in recent times. There various attributes that were founded as the reason for its progress to a great city. One of such attribute was the strategic position that the city had. It was along the historic Silk Road as well as rail way complexes that acted as a link between Europe and Middle East. Correspondingly, it was at the center of the only sea route that connected the Black Sea and the Mediterranean something that boosted its trade, and hence development. Although the city might be termed as abundant, its long history would not be termed as so because of the various regimes that controlled it at various periods of history. The take-overs were never smooth since it involved struggles that were based on divergent political and social convictions of the opposing leaders.
Istanbul grew into a modernized city through the influence of the economic regime that saw industrialization as the main gateway to a looming crisis. People in Istanbul then abandoned their indigenous methods of living and embraced aspects of entrepreneurship. They embraced the free market system where people participated in trade instead of owning homes and single investments. Through the process of commercialization, people migrated to the Istanbul. Turkey in general became modernized through economic policies by local authorities that saw people migrate into the cities in such of better opportunities. The result was deterioration in the value of historical practices and an embrace of the civilized methods of doing things.
There was a need for Istanbul to rise as an economic giant since it was the capital of the Ottoman Empire. As such, through the forums that were held in the capital on a routinely period, the city borrowed modern cultural ideas from those they met. Istanbul embarked on a modern policy campaign that intended to change its outlook in an effort to make the Ottoman Empire stand out. Istanbul heavily copied its plan from Paris, which was extremely modernized at the time. The city copied the architectural design of the building in Paris, which sought to incorporate a sense of historical richness into the modern aspect.
The Ottoman Empire, which was of great historical significance, was curved into a modernized outlook to show the dominance of Turkey as a political giant. The city displayed a lot of buildings that were curved into streets as was the design in Paris. It is surrounded by serene neighborhoods, adjacent to the city. Just like in Paris, the city was created with sidewalks adjacent to main roads, amusement parks and tall buildings that were neatly scattered all over the place. In addition, the city adopted the use of monuments to represent its origins and historical impacts of famous people and places.
Even though, Istanbul greatly copied the urban schemes of Paris, the city was an independent entity and became one of the most economically established cities in the modern world. It rose from buildings coupled with Islamic themes into a cosmopolitan city that embraced the input of the modern world. The streets were made in a manner that facilitated the aspect of communication. The need to become modernized was also fuelled by the constant fires that the structures in the capital could not prevent.
Boston’s Back Bay is one of the technologically advanced upscale neighborhoods in the USA. The process of advancement began as early as the 18th century, where development was started to build buildings on the soft ground. The two dams were present in the area, which generated power was the source of the technological ideas. The idea was mainly to fill the part of the dam that was known as the receiving basin. The place was turned into an urbanized area that was coupled with great architectural designs and unique arrangements. The process involved architects, engineers and politicians.
The leaders wanted to turn a small part of Boston into a big urban center that would advance the economic and political aspect of the community. The leaders saw potential in Back Bay positively influencing the lives of the community around through provision of the necessary facilities that would make urbanize the town. President Roosevelt had a vision for America that would make people free to trade among each other, which would form a strong economic base for America to flourish after independence. Roosevelt has a vision for a technologically advanced America and embraced modernization. He shares the same sentiments with the leaders of Boston, where a technologically advanced world gave rise to better and free modes of trade, just like his vision for America.
Part two
Power is important in modernization because it influences and determines the process of change that would be taking place within a certain locality as well as at a certain period. Having an attitude that is not deterred by anything is a factor that is needed in the influence of change. Modernization was a process of radical changes and transformations within a society, and therefore, it required the power of some individuals in society who would spearhead it to the right direction. Moreover, it was undoubtedly that without leadership, no changes would be possible.
That as well translates to lack of modernizations since leadership and modernization go hand in hand, and without the other, none of them would be in a position to take place. Change can be difficult for people since each and every person has his/her own definition for change. As a result, it requires a particular way of thinking for its effectiveness to be realized and attained. Power provides the necessary framework for modernization to take place. Believing that modernization is the right way to go provides room for it to take place. The idea explains why specific individuals in society facilitated the process of modernization.
The process of modernization was influenced by individuals who had an influence in society or who merely had a vision that made sense. The process of change involved proposals and presentation of ideas to the relevant people. The change proposed would be assessed on its benefits to the people in society. A proposed change had to go be assessed, not merely on benefits, but on the political and economic standings of a community.
The people who had good social standings were well positioned to influenced the change that they deemed fit for society. Because of the power they possessed, they were able to influence society in the direction of change, hence making it see the good in it. In addition, modernization of society required the use of economic facilities. Those in power possessed the means to influence these processes through gathering of the relevant information. They were also seen as the elite members of society who were well placed to instigate change.
Architects especially played an important role in the modernization process. They were responsible for building great cities that were coupled with rich historical backgrounds. One such person, who was probably the greatest architect in history, was Frank Lloyd wright. The architect was responsible for great buildings such as the imperial hotel in Tokyo, the Guggenheim museum located in New York and the falling water, all of which are extraordinary.
The architectural designs greatly reflected on the culture and democracy in the USA, where they symbolized the American vision and spirit. In addition, the architect participated in revolutionary proposals that sought to change the way things were being conducted to represent the spirit of America. For instance, he wrote a proposal that sort to ensure every American was given a piece of land for equality purposes. He believed in that land offered to the people would reduce their struggle for a place in society.
The architect wanted a society plan that was befitting to the whole community, where everybody got a certain class, and no one was left with nothing. According to Wright, the modern culture is influenced by oneness in society, where people were at the same level. Frank considered civilization to be an embracing of democracy because it reflected the growth of society. The community plan he advocated saw modernity as a remedy for the crippling economic and social situations.
Wright acknowledged that the community was destroyed by unemployment, pollution and lack of an adequate social plan for the people. His community plan saw modernization as something that would end the outrageous behavior in society. In addition, he saw change as a way that would not only reflect on society, but also on individuals. The plan by Wright did not work because the mechanisms where every person in America owned land were not there.
The white Americans influenced change in the society by pointing out aspects that were not functioning according to plan. The white community was seen as the elite one, which was full of knowledge and wisdom. Therefore, the views they presented were regarded as serious. The white people in noticed the free space in the Boston back bay and saw an opportunity to revolutionize it into something good. The white affluent community required an environment that matched their standards, hence continually wrote proposals that demanded the society to change to suit their needs.
The white community was associated with the upper social class. The upper social class consisted of people who were responsible for decision-making in society. When they noticed something that was not befitting to their social standing, proposals would be made towards the change. Many people of the upper social class saw the change that was happening in other cities. They were responsible for the decisions made that pertained to the social and economic aspects of society. As a result, they influenced society in changing since they made the laws that regarded change. Most of the whites were involved in political dynamics, which greatly influenced modernization.
In an effort to stand out politically, the group of whites that held political prowess encouraged a change in the structure of their cities, where they made decisions that would make them great political entities. After the world war, political dominance was fought for from all angles. Politicians struggled to remain relevant using all resources possible. Becoming modernized was a way that was recognized to bring political dominance and continued relevance.
There was a class of merchants that was involved in the economic outlook of society and general changes to the means of trade. They needed an environment that would advance their economic interests and provide them with a good environment necessary for trade. When they witnessed the happenings in other places, they noticed that the forms of trade became different. Modernization provided a chance for better trade through technological advancement. The merchants then pushed for the incorporation of modernization in the society so as to advance their interests and those of society.
In addition, the merchants saw modernization as a means for them to acquire new markets of trade. Because modernization opened new ways of communication through a decentralized community, merchants were able to establish trading opportunities. The system advocated in modernization included those aspects in society that would facilitate the movement of people and foster communication through the available means.
As a result, merchants saw a chance to trade with others around the world through the newly acquired methods of trade. Modernization, to them, was a way that took commercial activities to a different level, thus improving the economic aspect of society. In addition, modernization provided them with a wider market that would facilitate trade. Therefore, the merchants in society made proposals that sought to incorporate modernization in the society.
