There are different discussions concerning city studies. This paper looks into some of the debates on the whole structure of cities; social, economic as well as political organization. It uses four different sources to review city life.
In part two of the book, City Reader, LeGates, Richard T, and Frederic Stout talk about “Urban Culture and Society.” Cities comprise of a sequence of institutions. They include; the economic market segment, the government fort as well as the community. The community or society is considered as the most authentically communicative form of the city population, the city’s local culture as well as its neighborhood. Urban studies include the physical structure of cities such as infrastructure and its design; however, the people or the community that makes up the day in day out activities is what constitutes the most crucial subject of city studies. LeGates and Stout argue that “In turning to the people of cities themselves, we move to a consideration of the subtle and ever shifting interplay between society, community, and culture (87).
The part two of their book therefore looks into the factors behind effect of the urban society on the urban culture. It also discusses how the urban culture influences the day to day activities and life of the urban dwellers. Sometimes cultures clash among themselves leading to other related issues cropping up. Such issues include ethnicity or social economic classes tasking the Centre stage. This section explains how the urban culture is expressive different social situations either as a popular culture or as a high culture. The part two of the book then eventually examines a community functions an urban situation as well as predicting what it could be like. The urban society and culture comprises of dimensions that do not give up themselves with easy to strictly sociological analysis.
In an article in the Cambridge journals, Lucy Hewitt discusses about the “Associational Culture and the Shaping of urban space. The article specifically talks about the civic societies in Britain before the year 1960. The much that is known about civic societies is that they are a prevalent section of the amenity lobby. However, there is little discovered about the urban societies. Based on the coming up of civic societies as well as their growth and development up until before the year 1960, the article gives an overview of some of the history concerning the same. Firstly, the paper provides information on the background situation, the association of civic communities. The section also analyses the different changing ideas that shape and form the urban society. The urban society before 1960’ history involved activists who advocated for movements during the 19th century. On the second part of the article, Hewitt states the link between the increases in the number of civic societies including their memberships. Lucy Hewitt finally tables the discussion of the activities as well as the ideas relating to societies. It specifically tackles the evolution of spatial as well as social relationships. It discusses their use of fully detailed urban setting and political goodwill impact on the civic societies. This article similar to the second part of the City readers; Cities comprise of a sequence of institutions which include the economic market segment, the government fort and the community. The community or society is considered as the most authentically communicative form of the city population, the city’s local culture as well as its neighborhood.
In an article describing Manchester in 1976, the authors Benjamin Fraser and Abby Fuoto use Joy Division’s musical production to explain the contemporary urban life. They explain how the musical production has influenced the urban society and culture. This reinstates the City reading ideology that the most component of the urban life is the community. It is the community that is responsible for the day to day activities and life in the urban setting. What the community does socially is what most importantly determines the urban society and culture. According to Fraser and Fuoto, “Melding both cultural analysis and urban theory, this article first unpacks the urban reading of the band presented in the recent underappreciated documentary Joy Division by director Grant Gee (2007) – whose emphasis on the band’s connection to and representation of Manchester has gone relatively unnoticed by critics” (1).
The article further analyses Joy’s musical production from different urban theories. This helps one to understand the connection that exists between urban life and the urban culture and society. The society is by itself responsible for an urban culture and society’s values. Joy’s musical production most notably vividly explains how the modern way of city life has shaped or perhaps is the most important pillar of the contemporary life in city life situation. “While undoubtedly of interest also for frontman Ian Curtis’s epilepsy and tragic suicide, Joy Division’s music speaks more broadly to the influence the modern city has exercised over contemporary life and cultural production and to future reconciliations of music sociology and urban studies” (Fraser & Fuoto 2).
In another article by Mohammad Bayduon, the importance of the community in urban life is discussed. Bayduon explores how the use of innovative brains in society could encourage the achievement of sustainable achievement in urban development. The Masdar case is used for the study that explains how innovations are a crucial part of an urban society. The article presents an example of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations which have made major strides in urban development through sustainable research dictated cities. The Masdar case exposes the strengths as well as the weaknesses towards gaining the principles of sustainability in development. The GCC nations are specifically determined to developing and nurturing cities that embrace research that has its pillars as innovation and technology as well as encourage the minimization in the consumption of energy. All these are possible because of the existence of a sound community in the city life.
In conclusion, Cities comprise of a sequence of institutions, but the community or society is considered as the most authentically communicative form of the city population, the city’s local culture as well as its neighborhood. An article in the Cambridge journals, Lucy Hewitt discusses specifically about the civic societies in Britain before the year 1960. The much that is known about civic societies is that they are a prevalent section of the amenity lobby. Manchester in 1976, the authors Benjamin Fraser and Abby Fuoto use Joy Division’s musical production to explain the contemporary urban life. They explain how the musical production has influenced the urban society and culture. This reinstates the City reading ideology that the most component of the urban life is the community. Finally, Mohammad Bayduon states that the importance of the community in urban life is discussed. Bayduon explores how the use of innovative brains in society could encourage the achievement of sustainable achievement in urban development in GCC countries.
Works Cited
Bayduon, Mohammad. "International Journal of Technology Management and Sustainable Development." Journal of Urban Cultural Studies 12.1 (2013): n. pag. Web.
Fraser, Benjamin, and Abby Fuoto. "Manchester, 1976: Documenting the urban nature of Joy Division’s musical production." Journal of Urban Cultural Studies 1.2 (2012): n. pag. Web.
Hewitt, Lucy E. "Associational culture and the shaping of urban space: civic societies in Britain before 1960." Cambridge Journals 39.04 (2012): 590-606. Web.
LeGates, Richard T, and Frederic Stout. City Reader. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis, 2011. Print.
