An Evolving Civilization

After having presented on the first two chapters of Sampson's Great American City, I feel that it would be better, or at least more interesting for the poor souls forced to read my words, to expound upon his ideas in a more creative way rather than repeating what was said in class. I will do my best to do so, but first I think it is necessary to briefly explain globalization and Sampson's idea of placelessness.


Globalization is the idea that the world over is slowly becoming linked and connected often exemplified by impressive new advances in technology. The internet is the perfect example as it is both analogous to this and one of the greatest tools in furthering globalization. Through the internet people are able to communicate and exchange ideas across the entire globe. This video by Michio Kaku, an Astrophysicist of great note, explains the future of civilizations from a theoretical standpoint:

A type one civilization controls the entire planet, a type two civilization controls the energy output of a star, and a type three controls the energy output of a galaxy. He further states that we are a type zero, which means that we use dead plants to fuel ourselves, however, we aren't exactly zero. In fact, the internet is the beginning of a type one telephone (communication) system.


Further still, Michio Kaku explains how we also see world (or country) wide organizations such as NAFTA or the European union, despite our past differences, how the global language will likely be English due to the current world predominant power (America/Europe), and certain cultural things such as blue jeans and certain fashion styles. This is globalization. Much in the way that Sampson points out that certain things such as strip malls are seen all over.


The importance in clarifying this globalization is necessary in examining a city, because it is unlikely that there are any American (or first world) cities that do not adhere to it and, so long as society keeps advancing, the world over will one day be a single nation and people – this is the end game of globalization, and the birth of a type one civilization.




But we are examining cities and urbanization in our current time, so we will reduce our scope to examining the city. A community is built upon the corporeal and the incorporeal. A city is physically built with buildings; some of these are for economic interests, some of them are for cultural interests, some of them are for living quarters, etc.


The city is built in this physical sense. But there is also the people based aspect, or interest. This can be exemplified by the cultural or perhaps by the fact that (some) people value art or parks rather than what could be more economic space. This is the mental aspect, or psychological aspect, that people can likely not do without – much in the same way that people are “social animals” and need to communicate.


Placelessness is the idea that, because of technology and our modern age, anybody should be able to move anywhere they'd like. Sampson posits that it is because certain people cannot escape their situation, placelessness does not exist as it should, and, therefore, there is discrimination that prevents them from doing so. This is the reason there are certain hot spots for things such as crime, poverty, and immigration.


I feel strongly that it is monetary differences that prevent people from being placeless. The internet and other technology allows for a mental, incorporeal transfer to other places, provided one has access to it, but even then it's simply an “escape” rather than a better situation. As I said in our presentation, it's hard to be elsewhere mentally if you're starving physically.


While I don't personally disagree that there is some racism in the system and in people, it seems to me to be in the same vein as nostalgia and “the good old days” mentality that beguiles people. When asked, people would likely say that racism is worse than ever or certainly not better, but go back to the civil rights acts and it's undeniable better since then, and go back even further to the days of slavery and it's still more undeniably better. Once more, I am not saying it's ideal, but the ongoing trend is definitely a slow progress towards the end of racism.


That is not to say that racism will die off. Racism will probably always be a part of human life, but the distinct racism brought about by the dark history of America should only get better from here.