Quoted Passage & Reminder

The first long passage I quoted yesterday (10/7) was an important overall critical comment on Louis Wirth, which I believe goes to the heart of a weakness in much of the classical urban sociology we covered:

"Wirth's mistake, and that of other classic theorists, was to allow the most visible aspects of city life, its PUBLIC demeanor, to become the basis of his theory about urban living in general. Although, following Park, he did acknowledge the neighborhood element in city life, he tended to focus his attention on 'street behavior.' Wirth saw, of course, the hustling, competing, apparently lonely crowd. By not examining more closely the PRIVATE lives of the city's citizens, he inadvertently distorted urban life into a stereotype of impersonality."
"We are led, then, to the conclusion that the early study of both rural and urban places suffered from what might be called a 'misplaced concreteness.'...There is an important difference between the statement that one commonly sees more strangers in cities and the statement that cities are impersonal. In some ways they are; in other ways they most certainly are not."

Then, in making a quick transition to the urban political economy perspective, I quoted the authors of the text saying the following:
"The new urban sociology which has emerged in the wake of the classical urbanists' failing theories, sees the city as existing in a complex historical, cultural, and economic setting. All these elements play a role in how the city operates, and all must be carefully examined by systematic research."
But, as I went on to stress, the urban political economy perspective especially emphasizes politics and economics, of course, above all other institutions.


REMINDER: Tomorrow (Thurs. 10/9) I will quickly wrap up the urban political economy view, and then move right into Heat Wave. You should be well into that book by now. Tomorrow, I will also give the families a little time to brainstorm some midterm exam questions (and some time next Tuesday). Finally, don't forget that your first essay is due next Tuesday 10/14.