Blogging Social Difference in L.A.: Last Week

This week, I commented on the Shmuel Nosrati's blog. This is his link.

http://shmuelnosrati1.blogspot.com/2012/12/blogging-social-difference-in-la-week-10.html

Hi,

I am Kei, taking the same class of "Cities and Social Differences".
I really enjoy to read your blogs, and through reading I found several interesting points to discuss with classmates.

Firstly, you mentioned that "it is our job to educate our friends and family members on the need to look beyond the neoliberal shell". What do mean to "look beyond the neoliberal shell". It is considered that neo-liberal thoughts are considered as the end of the history, and government-managed economy has been failed several times.

Secondly, when I heard that you argue that "Stuart Hall has suggested, let us examine our own cultural norms and stories, and do away with the vanities of self-centered (i.e. neoliberal) thinking, and replace it with an appreciation and respect for the differences we encounter on a daily basis", I thought that you want to focus more on the cultural equality in the society. If what Stuart Hall said is true that cultural symbols are just "floating signifier", then why do you think that the inequality cannot be easily removed? Furthermore, if we want to seek for the societies without "self-centered" thinking, we have to question the idea of neo-liberalism itself. However, my first argument comes here again that it is considered that the neo-liberalism is the end of the society that nothing new ideas have come up.

Thirdly, as my own opinion, I do not think that society can never achieve equality. However, we can support to deliver more voices of poor to the stage. The first step that we should do, I think, is bringing David Harvey's idea of "environmental justice" more to the spotlight. Although it is difficult to shift from the concept of regular environment management ($>environment) to the ecological view of environment management (environment>$), we have already seen the consequences of regular environment management, such as Hurricane Katrina, Tohoku Earthquake in Japan, etc. Since we have seen the results as the facts, we should notice that environmental equality is the thing that has higher possibility for us to bring into the modern community.

Blogging Social Difference in L.A.: Week 9

This week, I made a comment to VIRGIL, YESHEY WANGMO's blog.

http://yvirgil.blogspot.com/2012/11/social-difference-in-la-week-8.html?showComment=1354342057915#c5586187313084787047

Hi,
I am Kei, taking the same class of "Cities and Social differences". I enjoy to read your blog, and through reading, I found 2 interesting points to further discuss. I would like to share with everyone.

Firstly, I agree to your point that the LA metropolitan city can be considered as "organism" which "faces the challenges of maintaining the 'metabolic equilibrium'". As you mentioned, it can be said that city is like a organism which has cells or "groups", and the functioning process is supported with the activity of each group. In other word, if even one group is lacked, the city faces the risk of "maintaining the 'metabolic equilibrium'".

Secondly, you mentioned capitalist idea as one of the notions that emphasize the point that the environment gets differentiated in many means as the society develops. David Harvey said, in his paper, that poor is concentrated into particular area as if it is purposed, and I think this idea further supports your point that capitalist idea activates the debate of "income disparity, race and environmental justice".

I really like to read your blog!
Thanks.

Blogging Social Difference in LA: Week 8

Happy Late Thanksgiving!!

This week, I went to my friend's place, Irvine, and found several interesting points that I want to share with everyone.

When I went to the beach of the Irvine, I noticed that something was different from the aspects that I saw in the beach side of the Santa Monica.
Firstly, it was not easy to find the homeless people in the area. When I went to the beach side, there were only tourists and families who seem to live near the beach. In other word, the beach looked like not much "commercial" but rather "friendly" to the community and residents.
Secondly, the residential houses are built along the seafront. It made me surprised since I thought that the sea front has only hotels, restaurants or shops from what I saw in Santa Monica.
Thirdly, not so much commercial activities were going on around the seafront area. I could not find this feature in Santa Monica area.
Now, the question is, why this certain "difference" exists in the 2 areas of California even though they are same sea fronts. What kind of notion exists in the geography of Irvine sea front area?

What I realized by doing the field study of this area is that certain affluent people are living in this place. I learned from the interview that the land price of this area is much expensive compared to other areas of California. Some people even said that this area is "the concentration of rich". Surely, I could tell this by looking the houses and the cars that are parked in the housing space. In this sense, David Harvey's idea can be applied to indirectly explain the environment of the area; industrial activity is concentrated in the poverty area as if it is purposed. In other word, it means that there is a space that the affluence is concentrated. However, then what made this "difference"?

When we consider about James R. Elliott's arguments, there are certain aspects of differences that become prominent when the disaster happens. Although the Irvine sea front area has had not huge disastrous events, it can be said that they are not much safe places to evade from the disasters since they are closed to ocean. We would like to think about which aspect become more prominent if the disaster happens in this area, class differences or racial differences. Or do they become equally prominent?
When we think about the influence of class differences, we would face with one question; are most of the residents who live in this area high class so how the class difference become prominent? When the similar class people live in the same area, it can be regarded that the class difference debate is useless.
On the other hand, let's think about the racial difference. Elliot said, "“communities of fate” are bound as much by racial experiences and affiliations as by common material resources. This is not to say that class differences are unimportant, but rather that in times of crisis, class differences are likely to shrink and racial differences expand as individuals define, interpret and respond to the situation before them." Considering this, we can say that racial aspect become more prominent in this area since the individual factors become certain key in the area when the disaster happens.

When we think about this, it can be interpreted that not only class factor but also more strongly, racial factors are involved to explain the aspect of  Irvine sea front area.

Blogging Social Difference in LA: Week 7

This week, I made a comment to VINIK, ITAY's blog Los Angeles: L.A Social Difference Part 2.
http://uclageo.blogspot.com/

Hi,I am Kei, taking the same class of "Cities and Social Difference".
I enjoyed to read your blog, and as I am reading through, I found a certain interesting point that can be worth to discuss. Let me share the point with other readers.

As you have mentioned, Beverly Hills shows the clear difference that seem to put this area in some kind of special position. I strongly agree that the part of the reasons that result in differentiating Beverly Hills from other area is a fourth urban revolution. 

It can be said that the one of the explicit aspects of forth urban revolution is that it emphasizes the idea of "core" and "periphery" more strongly. Although these terms are usually used in the global meaning, it can also considered that the terms can be applied to describe the inside of the LA; the Beverly Hills is being classified as "core" while industrial areas are considered as "periphery".

Furthermore, David Harvey's idea that the industrial activity is concentrated in the poverty area as if it is purposed, can also be applied to explain the affluence and environment of Beverly Hills. In other word, it can be regarded that this place is geographically "segregated" from the polluted area.

Your blog is interesting. I am looking forward to see the next blog too!
Thanks.

Blogging Social Difference in L.A.: Week 6

This week, I made a comment to SOULAGES, PATRICK EDWARD's blog Los Angeles: Analysis of Cities and Social DIfferences.

http://patricksoulagesla.blogspot.com/2012/10/blog-post-4-east-los-angeles.html?showComment=1352526788273#c1752006983878519584

Hi Patrick,

I am Kei, taking the same class of "Cities and Differences".
I enjoyed to read your blog, and in the reading I found certain interesting points to discuss. There are two points that I can strongly agree while there is a point that I disagree with what you are trying to say. I would like to share the points that can be considered as important in many means.

Firstly, you mentioned "One Emergence of Postsuburbia: An Introduction" to support the argument about the movement of people in LA. I strongly agree to this since indeed the geography of LA strongly reflects the ideas of multicentered metropolitan region, information capitalism, consumerism, and cosmopolitanism. I also went to Downtown for the field work, I strongly felt these aspects directly from the area.

Secondly, you mentioned that the geography of LA strays away from the Chicago School model that was once so central in the study of cities. I strongly agree to this since the Chicago School Model does not concern about the mobility. Because there are many immigrants including Hispanic, Latino, and Asian in LA, it is significant to clarify a common mistake that people make when they regard LA as the area that applies Chicago School Model.

Thirdly, you said that LA is one of the areas that people can feel the effect of "The Fourth Urban Revolution". When this "Fourth Urban Revolution" is considered in more specific, one may says that "Globalization" goes on in LA regions. However, it is significant for us to notice that "globalization" does not only include the feature of micro means of globalization (ex. inside of area) but also the macro means of globalization (ex. outside of area). When we think about the globalization outside of area, is LA considered as core or periphery? If you consider LA as core, then it should be defined that LA specializes in high value labor. It is question whether LA really specializes in high value labor since certain poverty exists in the town. When you use the word "Fourth Urban Revolution", it can be said that this should be used in more broad sense.

Thank you.

Blogging Social Difference in L.A.: Week 5

This time, I made a comment to RODRIGUEZ, LAIZA CAROL's blog, "Navigating Los Angeles: Cities and Social Differences".

http://uclageography.blogspot.com/2012/10/week-4-not-so-decentralized-la.html

Hi, I am Kei Komuro, taking class of "Cities and Social Difference".
I enjoyed reading your blog, and I found several interesting points to discuss about the geography of Los Angeles.
Firstly, as you have mentioned, Los Angeles County is much like the Chicago School "Concentric Zone Model" and this is what many people think of Los Angels. However, I wonder if "the center organizes periphery" rule can really be applied to explain this area. The reason is simple; it is difficult to determine where is the core of the Los Angeles. As the professor mentioned in the class, the west area can also be seen as the center, and it is question whether the single "core" exists or not.
Secondly, it is question whether the Los Angeles has the feature of Chicago Model, which includes transportation networks as the basis of connecting segregated communities. When I went to downtown for my own blog project, I asked to the local people what way I can use to get there. Surprisingly, most people answered "bus", neither metro nor cab. If the Chicago Model is really applied to explain Los Angeles, it is considered that LA can have more transportation ways that connect the segregated communities. The fact that most local people said "bus" shows that the way to get there is not diverse; this question whether there are certain enough accesses or not.

Blogging Social Difference in L.A.: Week 4

This time, I made a comment to Marina Magana's blog. http://mmaganageog151.blogspot.com/2012/10/week-4-koreatown.html?showComment=1351312844692#c3759727834094375993

Hi, my name is Kei, taking the class of Cities and Differences.
Reading through your blog, I strongly felt that Koreatown has several interesting features. Also, the way you write the blog is attractive, which makes me read your blog more and more.
Regarding your trip to Koreatown, I realized that the town contains the factors that are written in "The Emergence of Postsuburbia: An Introduction" written by Kling , Olin, and Poster.
Firstly, it seems that Koreatown is worked as a part of multicentered town. It functions based on the its people's will and belief.
Secondly, idea of information capitalism exists in the Korean town since there is a difference of wealth, even among the Korean community.
Thirdly, I acknowledged that there is a consumer culture since there is market which includes restaurants, shops, and business activities.
Lastly, cosmopolitanism is clear in this community that there are not only Korean but also Hispanic, Latino, and other Asian commercial activities are going on.

Although it cannot be said that ideas of Kling , Olin, and Poster are completely shown in Koreatown, I felt that their 4 concepts can be applied as one way to explain the culture of the town.
I enjoyed to read your blog a lot. Thanks!!

Blogging Social Difference in L.A.: Week2

This Friday, I went to L.A. Downtown area, and realized that there were many aspects that fit into the characteristics of  Orange County, which were written in the reading  "The Emergence of Postsuburbia: An Introduction" written by Kling , Olin, and Poster.

Firstly, what I felt the concept that the Downtown area is multicentered metropolitan region. In other word, it shows the facet of postsuburban spatial organization. It can be considered that the  Downtown is"organized around many distinct, specialized centers rather than a traditional city center surrounded by industrial and residential areas". I strongly felt that there is no specific "core" in the Downtown. Rather, the town is complicated that it is organized around several types of cores. Take a look at these pictures.

From the photos, it can be acknowledged that the town is "the result of complex and weakly coordinated sets of conscious decisions by private entrepreneurs and many politicians who reflect their interests."

Secondly, I realized that the certain inequality exists in this town. What difference does difference make among people? Although there are several factors, I strongly felt that there is a gap in information. In other word, there is a concept of information capitalism in this town. It can be assumed that this "gives their industries greater leverage than their less technologically sophisticated precursors had". In many areas of Downtown, I see a lots of people who seem to not take advantage from this information capitalism. Take a look at these pictures.

What was a major difference between these people and business men who were coming from the U.S. Bank Tower? One of the answers is simple - difference in the amount of information they have.

Thirdly, certain consumer culture exists in the L.A. Downtown. Take a look at following pictures.

Jewelry shops, McDonalald's, and bus with advertisement of film...I found a lots of signs that represent the consumer culture. It is important to remember that this culture is not 100% originated in L.A. Consumerism has a feature of "far-reaching effects on other parts of the culture". This means that the downtown give and take the the effects of consumer culture.

Lastly, cosmopolitanism stands as a one of the strong concepts in Downtown. I found a lots of billboards that are written in Korean, Chinese,  Japanese, and Thailand. Why? Take a look at following pictures.

You see U.S. flag of Hilton Hotel blowing in the wind. At the same time, you see the billboard reflection of Japanese ramen shop. IT is a cosmopolitan city. In other word, effect of globalization places at everywhere in the downtown. The city is filled with may international firms.

Going back from L.A. Downtown, I considered Robert E. Park's words, "The City is a mosaic of little worlds which touch but do not interpenetrate". I saw multicentered, information capitalism, consumer culture, and cosmopolitanism as the aspects of L.A. Downtown. The town was mosaic of little worlds, but did they interpenetrate? I say, No. There were several types of people in terms of ethnicity, estimated wealth, and estimated information. However, it is hard to say that they interpenetrate each other. Rather, I felt there are certain gaps between people in the Downtown.
Therefore, it can be considered that Robert E. Park's words are right this time.


Reference: City Reader: 399-344 (Ernest W.Burgess: "The Growth of the City"); Kling, Olin, and Poster: "The Emergence of Postsuburbia"

Blogging Social Difference in L.A.: Week 1

"The City is a mosaic of little worlds which touch but do not interpenetrate"
                                                                                       -Robert E. Park

Hi, I am Kei, UCLA junior-exchange student. I am exploring the degree and the ways in which Robert E. Park's statement is true and untrue in L.A. In other words, I am trying to find the answers for "what difference does difference make in the landscapes of the contemporary, metropolitan Los Angeles region". I will look into this challenging question through in-class studies and fieldworks.

My interest in the class, Geography 151: Cities and Social Difference Fall 2012, is how the society functions with the people who have different backgrounds, ideas, and behaviors. I am International Relations major in my home university, and always wonder how the U.S. government or the state governmen manages population which is consisted of various kinds of groups. Especially, the geography of L.A. which is enormously diversed, is what I want to examine more deeply.

Now, let's find out something about LA one by one!!! The first stage is Little Tokyo, which I went to yesterday!!!

 Little Tokyo is a community of Japanese-American, which was established more than 100 years ago.
As I was walking around the town, I noticed that the community is not so big that it does not take 30 minutes to go to all the places.  Interestingly, there were no outstanding differences of trees, cars, and streets between Little Tokyo and outside of the community. However, there were certain differences that make this place diffrent from the other area of LA.

Firstly, take a look at this video which I took on the street.

It may be difficult to listen to the sound, but it is clear that the language they speak is different from what majority of the L.A. speak, English. What they speak is Japanese. Furthermore, not only the verbal language but also written language makes certain difference in the community. The written languages in the following pictures are what made me feel that Little Tokyo is not a part of L.A.

Secondly, there was a difference between the buildings of Little Tokyo and those of other area. Tiled loof, white-plastered wall, the dark wood...there were many aspects of buildings that differentiate this community from the rest of L.A.

Thirdly, it can be considered that the foods that are eaten in Little Tokyo make this area different from other areas. For instance, I saw a lot of restaurants that sell raw fishes, which are not very common in other places in L.A.

Although it is difficult to assume that the people are eating only these kind of foods, it is important to notice that raw fishes are more usually eaten in Little Tokyo rather than other areas in LA. Thus food is also a significant feature that distinguishes this place from the rest of L.A.

Now, when I go back to see the statement "The City is a mosaic of little worlds which touch but do not interpenetrate", and think whether this is true or not, it is not easy to answer since I have seen only Little Tokyo as the part of "little worlds" so far. However, it is able to judge whether this community "penetrates" or not into "The City", L.A.
When I consider  whether the functioning of Little Tokyo is based on mechanical solidarity or organic solidarity, I can say that this place cherishes mechanical solidarity. The reason is that there is an emphasis on the the value of American Japanese group, not an American Japanese individual. This can be understood since they live together in the same community and accept the values of outer area. One might argue that Little Tokyo stresses organic solidarity since they emphasize their community as an "individual" unit of belief or value so that the community is placed a bit far from the center of L.A. downtown. However, take a look at the following pictures;

There are many places that show the concepts of "accepting others" in Little Tokyo. The important thing to mention is that it is not all the blood that makes people work together. Several factors, for example "attachment to the same soil" and "a commonality of habits", enable the co-operation between people, and it makes the city able to interpenetrate.
Therefore, from the fieldwork of Little Tokyo, it can be suggested that Robert E. Park's statement is not so true this time.

Reference;
Emile Durkheim "The Causes [of the Division of Labor]" from The Division of Labor in Society(1893)
"Organic Analogy" from Dictionary of Sociology