EASTD 121 Chapter Notes - Chapter Brenner & Roger Keil: Global City, Social Reproduction, Cultural Globalization
18 Jun 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Vernacular:*the*spaces*of*everyday*life
○
Landscape:*the*spaces*of*power*dominated*by*capital*and*state*
institutions*
○
"The%build%environments%of%global%financial%centers%are%zones%of%intense%
contestation%in%which%the%forces%of%vernacular%and%landscape%continually%
clash"%(137)
○
Exposes%cities%to%the%turbulence%of%global%markets
§
The%basic%question%for%Zulkin%is:%should%the%space%of%the%global%city%be%
organized%to%facilitate%the%everyday%social%reproduction%of%working%
people,%or%should%it%be%reshaped%to%serve%the%demands%of%global%
corporations%and%financial%elites?
○
Vernacular*vs.*landscape
•
The*old,*diversified*urban*center*is*cleaned*up*for*new*offices*and*cultural*
consumption;*in*the*process,*it*becomes*more*expensive.*Not*surprisingly,*
governmental*priorities*shift*from*public*goods*to*private*development*
(138)
○
By*contrast,*each*global*city*has*at*least*one*densely*built,*centrally*
located,*high-rise*district*that*drives*both*property*values*for*the*
metropolitan*region*as*a*whole*and*office*employment*in*financial*
and*other*business*services*(139)
§
While*power*in*modern*times*is*best*abstracted*in*the*skyscraper*outline*
of*a*city's*financial*wealth,*the*vernacular*is*most*intimately*experienced*
in*low-lying*residential*neighborhoods*or*quartiers*outside*the*
commercial*center*(139)
○
"Just%as%landscape%shows%the%imprint%of%powerful%business%and%political%
institutions%on%both%the%built%environment%and%its%symbolic%
representation,%so%does%vernacular%express%the%resistance,%autonomy%
and%originality%of%the%powerless"%(139)
○
Financial*Sectors
•
Chapter*16
"Urban*and*other*phenomena*can*only*be*adequately*understood*by*treating*
them*as*part*of*a*larger*world-system,*of*economy,*society,*and*culture,*of*
which*they*are*an*integral*part"*(202)
•
"the*built*environment,*in*all*its*various*conceptualizations,*is*both*a*product*of*
and*a*major*resource*for*understanding*these*global*processes"*(202)
•
Chapter*23:
"Global*urbanism*can*be*regarded*as*a*uniform*or*homogenous*outgrowth*from*
Europe*and*America,*belatedly*affecting*Africa,*Asia*and*South*America"*or*that*
"cities*in*Africa,*Asia*or*South*America*can*be*understood*on*the*model*of*cities*
in*Europe,*Australia*or*the*USA"*(321)
•
Chapter*38:
Began*in*around*1970
○
Globalization:*greater*mobility*of*capital,*greater*mobility*of*labor,*rapid*
development*of*communication*technology,*computerization,*world-wide*
conveyer*belt*in*manufacturing,*shift*from*manufacturing*to*services,*
integration*of*all*economies*in*a*single*market,*permeability*of*borders,*decline*
of*the*nation-state,*homogenization*of*culture,*and*so*on*(361)
•
Two%separate%components%of%globalization,%the%social/economic%and%the%
technological,%and%suggests%that%the%former%determines%the%latter
○
Globalization%is%the%further%strengthening%and%internationalization%of%capital%
using%substantial%advances%in%communications%and%transportation%technology
•
And*I*would*finally*hypothesize*that*the*forces*shaping*contemporary*cities*are*
not*simply*the*products*of*the*current*form*of*globalization,*but*that*they,*like*
really*existing*globalization*itself,*are*the*results*of*more*deeply*embedded*
forces*of*longer*standing*in*our*economies*and*political*structure*(362).
•
Cities*today*are*more*like*"quartered"*cities*and*not*"dual"•
The*luxury*city,*the*gentrified*city,*the*suburban*city,*the*tenement*city,*
and*the*abandoned*city
○
Within*the*city*of*today,*we*see*a*set*of*sometimes*overlapping,*but*seemingly*
different*residential*cities:
•
Paralleling*the*divisions*within*the*residential*and*the*economic*cities,*are*
different*concrete*forms*of*the*built*environment
•
Expanding*gentrification
○
Increasing*ghettoization
○
The*intensity*of*turf*allegiance
○
What*is*new*about*these*patterns?•
Chapter*44:
In*Askew's*chapter*8,*he*puts*forth*a*theory*that*the*Sukhumvit's*soi*serves*as*a*prime*
example*of*rampant*urbanization*in*Bangkok's*districts.*In*the*1970's,*with*the*
expansion*of*Bangkok's*tourism*industry,*the*network*of*sois*welcomed*the*
construction*of*condominiums,*hotels,*and*commercial*structures,*without*the*
expense*of*local*industries*and*businesses.*This*intricate*network*made*it*easy*for*
globalization*to*occur*because*of*the*tight*network*and*high*levels*of*communication.*
Is*globalization*making*Bangkok*and*Beijing look*increasingly*similar?*(Does*urban*
planning*matter?)
Has*this*form*of*cultural*globalization*changed*in*a*fundamental*way*in*our*current*
era?
In*Peter*Marcuse's*"Space*in*the*Globalizing*City"*he*notes*the*importance*of*spatial*
patterns*when*discussing*globalization*and*offers*his*own*definition*of*globalization:*
"the*further*strengthening*and*internationalization*of*capital*using*substantial*
advances*in*communications*and*transportation*technology"*(Marcuse*362).
Furthermore,*Marcuse*continues*by*explaining*the*two*components*of*globalization,*
the*social/economic*and*the*technological,*and*suggests*that*the*former*determines*
the*latter.*Marcuse*discusses*whether*it*is*truly*globalization*that*is*the*primary*force*
shaping*these*cities*or*other*long-standing*forces*that*are*embedded*in*our*economic*
and*political*structure.*Marcuse*continues*by*outlining*the*varying**residential* cities*
that*could*make*up*a*larger*city,*which*could*consist*of*luxury,*gentrified,*suburban,*
tenement,*and*abandoned*cities*all*overlapping*and*influencing*each*other.*This*
dichotomy*of*different*socioeconomic*forces*and*environments*coming*together*is*
explained*in*Chapter*16*of*"The*Global*Cities*Reader"*when*Zukin*discusses*landscape*
versus*the*vernacular,*and*the*tendency*for*the*their*clashing*in*global*financial*
centers.*So,*according*to*Zukin,*"just*as*landscape*shows*the*imprint*of*powerful*
business*and*political*institutions*on*both*the*built*environment*and*its*symbolic*
representation,*so*does*vernacular*express*the*resistance,*autonomy*and*originality*
of*the*powerless"*(Zukin*139).*
Unlike*the*unprecedented*demolition*and*construction*in*Beijing*that*we*read*about*
in*last*week's*Campanella*reading,*Askew*discusses*Bangkok*and*gives*the*example*of*
the*Sukhumvit's*soi,*which*serve*as*a*prime*example*of*rampant*urbanization*in*
Bangkok's*districts.*In*the*1970's,*with*the*expansion*of*Bangkok's*tourism*industry,*
the*network*of*sois*welcomed*the*construction*of*condominiums,*hotels,*and*
commercial*structures,*without*the*expense*of*local*industries*and*businesses.*This*
intricate*network*made*it*easy*for*globalization*to*occur*because*of*the*closeness*and*
communication,*whereas*in*other*regions*reaching*such*levels*of*globalizations*have*
incurred*certain*costs.*
Campanella's*discussion*surrounding*the*Olympic*Games*as*the*catalyst*for*China's*
"year*of*miracles*and*all*good*things"*shows*the*importance*of*an*event*of*this*
magnitude*and*what*it*could*mean*for*a*nation*beyond*athletic*success.*However,*the*
preparation*and*astonishing*amount*of*money*invested*into*the*Games*shows*China's*
common*goal*of*using*the*games*as*a*"catalyst*for*leveraging*a*great*range*of*urban*
improvements,*often*with*the*support*of*the*national*government"*(Campanella*123).*
One*takeaway*I*had*from*Campanella's*piece*is*the*tendency*for*cities*to*begin*to*look*
similar,*as*reconstruction*or*remodeling*of*any*aspect*of*a*city*usually*involves*that*
government*bringing*in*skilled*architects*from*all*over*the*world,*resulting*in*a*
collection*of*differing,*but*sometimes*similar,*global*influences.*
Brenner%&%Roger%Keil,%eds. The$Global$City$Reader,%Ch.%16,%
23,%38,%44
Monday,*October*30,*2017
11:13*AM
Vernacular:*the*spaces*of*everyday*life
○
Landscape:*the*spaces*of*power*dominated*by*capital*and*state*
institutions*
○
"The%build%environments%of%global%financial%centers%are%zones%of%intense%
contestation%in%which%the%forces%of%vernacular%and%landscape%continually%
clash"%(137)
○
Exposes%cities%to%the%turbulence%of%global%markets
§
The%basic%question%for%Zulkin%is:%should%the%space%of%the%global%city%be%
organized%to%facilitate%the%everyday%social%reproduction%of%working%
people,%or%should%it%be%reshaped%to%serve%the%demands%of%global%
corporations%and%financial%elites?
○
Vernacular*vs.*landscape•
The*old,*diversified*urban*center*is*cleaned*up*for*new*offices*and*cultural*
consumption;*in*the*process,*it*becomes*more*expensive.*Not*surprisingly,*
governmental*priorities*shift*from*public*goods*to*private*development*
(138)
○
By*contrast,*each*global*city*has*at*least*one*densely*built,*centrally*
located,*high-rise*district*that*drives*both*property*values*for*the*
metropolitan*region*as*a*whole*and*office*employment*in*financial*
and*other*business*services*(139)
§
While*power*in*modern*times*is*best*abstracted*in*the*skyscraper*outline*
of*a*city's*financial*wealth,*the*vernacular*is*most*intimately*experienced*
in*low-lying*residential*neighborhoods*or*quartiers*outside*the*
commercial*center*(139)
○
"Just%as%landscape%shows%the%imprint%of%powerful%business%and%political%
institutions%on%both%the%built%environment%and%its%symbolic%
representation,%so%does%vernacular%express%the%resistance,%autonomy%
and%originality%of%the%powerless"%(139)
○
Financial*Sectors•
Chapter*16
"Urban*and*other*phenomena*can*only*be*adequately*understood*by*treating*
them*as*part*of*a*larger*world-system,*of*economy,*society,*and*culture,*of*
which*they*are*an*integral*part"*(202)
•
"the*built*environment,*in*all*its*various*conceptualizations,*is*both*a*product*of*
and*a*major*resource*for*understanding*these*global*processes"*(202)
•
Chapter*23:
"Global*urbanism*can*be*regarded*as*a*uniform*or*homogenous*outgrowth*from*
Europe*and*America,*belatedly*affecting*Africa,*Asia*and*South*America"*or*that*
"cities*in*Africa,*Asia*or*South*America*can*be*understood*on*the*model*of*cities*
in*Europe,*Australia*or*the*USA"*(321)
•
Chapter*38:
Began*in*around*1970
○
Globalization:*greater*mobility*of*capital,*greater*mobility*of*labor,*rapid*
development*of*communication*technology,*computerization,*world-wide*
conveyer*belt*in*manufacturing,*shift*from*manufacturing*to*services,*
integration*of*all*economies*in*a*single*market,*permeability*of*borders,*decline*
of*the*nation-state,*homogenization*of*culture,*and*so*on*(361)
•
Two%separate%components%of%globalization,%the%social/economic%and%the%
technological,%and%suggests%that%the%former%determines%the%latter
○
Globalization%is%the%further%strengthening%and%internationalization%of%capital%
using%substantial%advances%in%communications%and%transportation%technology
•
And*I*would*finally*hypothesize*that*the*forces*shaping*contemporary*cities*are*
not*simply*the*products*of*the*current*form*of*globalization,*but*that*they,*like*
really*existing*globalization*itself,*are*the*results*of*more*deeply*embedded*
forces*of*longer*standing*in*our*economies*and*political*structure*(362).
•
Cities*today*are*more*like*"quartered"*cities*and*not*"dual"•
The*luxury*city,*the*gentrified*city,*the*suburban*city,*the*tenement*city,*
and*the*abandoned*city
○
Within*the*city*of*today,*we*see*a*set*of*sometimes*overlapping,*but*seemingly*
different*residential*cities:
•
Paralleling*the*divisions*within*the*residential*and*the*economic*cities,*are*
different*concrete*forms*of*the*built*environment
•
Expanding*gentrification
○
Increasing*ghettoization
○
The*intensity*of*turf*allegiance
○
What*is*new*about*these*patterns?•
Chapter*44:
In*Askew's*chapter*8,*he*puts*forth*a*theory*that*the*Sukhumvit's*soi*serves*as*a*prime*
example*of*rampant*urbanization*in*Bangkok's*districts.*In*the*1970's,*with*the*
expansion*of*Bangkok's*tourism*industry,*the*network*of*sois*welcomed*the*
construction*of*condominiums,*hotels,*and*commercial*structures,*without*the*
expense*of*local*industries*and*businesses.*This*intricate*network*made*it*easy*for*
globalization*to*occur*because*of*the*tight*network*and*high*levels*of*communication.*
Is*globalization*making*Bangkok*and*Beijing look*increasingly*similar?*(Does*urban*
planning*matter?)
Has*this*form*of*cultural*globalization*changed*in*a*fundamental*way*in*our*current*
era?
In*Peter*Marcuse's*"Space*in*the*Globalizing*City"*he*notes*the*importance*of*spatial*
patterns*when*discussing*globalization*and*offers*his*own*definition*of*globalization:*
"the*further*strengthening*and*internationalization*of*capital*using*substantial*
advances*in*communications*and*transportation*technology"*(Marcuse*362).
Furthermore,*Marcuse*continues*by*explaining*the*two*components*of*globalization,*
the*social/economic*and*the*technological,*and*suggests*that*the*former*determines*
the*latter.*Marcuse*discusses*whether*it*is*truly*globalization*that*is*the*primary*force*
shaping*these*cities*or*other*long-standing*forces*that*are*embedded*in*our*economic*
and*political*structure.*Marcuse*continues*by*outlining*the*varying**residential* cities*
that*could*make*up*a*larger*city,*which*could*consist*of*luxury,*gentrified,*suburban,*
tenement,*and*abandoned*cities*all*overlapping*and*influencing*each*other.*This*
dichotomy*of*different*socioeconomic*forces*and*environments*coming*together*is*
explained*in*Chapter*16*of*"The*Global*Cities*Reader"*when*Zukin*discusses*landscape*
versus*the*vernacular,*and*the*tendency*for*the*their*clashing*in*global*financial*
centers.*So,*according*to*Zukin,*"just*as*landscape*shows*the*imprint*of*powerful*
business*and*political*institutions*on*both*the*built*environment*and*its*symbolic*
representation,*so*does*vernacular*express*the*resistance,*autonomy*and*originality*
of*the*powerless"*(Zukin*139).*
Unlike*the*unprecedented*demolition*and*construction*in*Beijing*that*we*read*about*
in*last*week's*Campanella*reading,*Askew*discusses*Bangkok*and*gives*the*example*of*
the*Sukhumvit's*soi,*which*serve*as*a*prime*example*of*rampant*urbanization*in*
Bangkok's*districts.*In*the*1970's,*with*the*expansion*of*Bangkok's*tourism*industry,*
the*network*of*sois*welcomed*the*construction*of*condominiums,*hotels,*and*
commercial*structures,*without*the*expense*of*local*industries*and*businesses.*This*
intricate*network*made*it*easy*for*globalization*to*occur*because*of*the*closeness*and*
communication,*whereas*in*other*regions*reaching*such*levels*of*globalizations*have*
incurred*certain*costs.*
Campanella's*discussion*surrounding*the*Olympic*Games*as*the*catalyst*for*China's*
"year*of*miracles*and*all*good*things"*shows*the*importance*of*an*event*of*this*
magnitude*and*what*it*could*mean*for*a*nation*beyond*athletic*success.*However,*the*
preparation*and*astonishing*amount*of*money*invested*into*the*Games*shows*China's*
common*goal*of*using*the*games*as*a*"catalyst*for*leveraging*a*great*range*of*urban*
improvements,*often*with*the*support*of*the*national*government"*(Campanella*123).*
One*takeaway*I*had*from*Campanella's*piece*is*the*tendency*for*cities*to*begin*to*look*
similar,*as*reconstruction*or*remodeling*of*any*aspect*of*a*city*usually*involves*that*
government*bringing*in*skilled*architects*from*all*over*the*world,*resulting*in*a*
collection*of*differing,*but*sometimes*similar,*global*influences.*
Brenner%&%Roger%Keil,%eds. The$Global$City$Reader,%Ch.%16,%
23,%38,%44
Monday,*October*30,*2017 11:13*AM
