WELCOME to the blog that I have set up for this course, Sociology 230, Urban Sociology. We will be using this blog for a variety of activities this semester, which would include the following:
(1) For what I call "activities and exercises" in the course syllabus, such as the one described below. I may ask you to comment on some video program I may show in class, or on something in the assigned reading, etc.. Among these activities and exercises, you will be called upon to contribute some questions for both the midterm and final exams, which will be posted on this blog. I may also use this blog to post descriptions of some of the short essays you'll be writing during the semester.
(2) I may use this blog, on occasion, to post lecture notes, if I get behind in class. Frequently, I will use this blog to follow-up on a class lecture or discussion to clarify or elaborate on a point I made in class. (BUT PLEASE DO NOT EXPECT THAT I WILL BE POSTING EVERYTHING I COVER IN CLASS ON THIS BLOG.)
(3) There may also be some extra credit opportunities for which I will ask you to post a comment on some outside lecture, film or article that is pertinent to the class.
(4) Finally, you, of course are welcome to use this blog to comment on or ask questions on anything we cover in class.
When I do post an exercise I will always be sure to mention it in class and ask you to check the blog, but I would also suggest that you get in the habit of checking this blog once or twice a week even if I don't call you attention to it in class. This blog will be an important source that you will need to consult for both the midterm and final exams, not to mention the short essays and paper you'll also be doing.
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FIRST EXERCISE: URBAN IMPRESSIONS
I want each of you to post a one or two-paragraph comment on your impressions of visiting or living in a large city (roughly 250,000 or more). General impressions are fine, but also include at least one particular experience you had which you believe is indicative of urban life in America today. This exercise is worth 5 activity points, and I'd like you to post your comment by WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 15TH.
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A few years back, my family and I went on one of our bi-annual trips to Baltimore, Maryland to visit our family. Of course, Baltimore being such a big city, there were many positive aspects to the trips such as the shopping and city street vendors that we are not use to down here in the rural south. However, on this particular visit there was a negative aspect that has unfortunately stuck with me. When in my uncle's apartment, we happened to look out of the window down onto to the street where we all saw a man trying to break into our rental car. Of course, my family and I were instantly upset and afraid, but my uncle simply yelled out the window for the man to move and the man simply shrugged his shoulders and strolled away. To me, this is a pure example of the commonality of crime in larger, highly populated cities. Needless to say, I haven't been back to visit my uncle since this incident.
I traveled to New York City once with my family a few years ago. I do live in Atlanta which is an urban place, but NYC was much different than Atlanta. In NYC I remember how big and crowded it was. There were people, taxis, and cabs everywhere. Compared to atlanta, hardly anyone walks to get places and the taxis and cab drive very slow on the highways rather than fast in NYC. The public transportation in New York City is a lot nicer than the one in Atlanta. Everyday people ride the one in NYC and in atlanta most people drive. The one instance that I believe is indicative to urban life today was all the apartments and living areas. There are nicer and and not so nice living spaces in every city. In NYC I saw the beat up apartments all the way to the really nice lavish apartments that were overlooking the city on the top floor.
We were going east from Islington on the Bloor-Danforth line, when she stepped into the subway car. A woman dressed in dingy, dark clothing was yelling and sometimes pausing to mumble to herself. At times it was unintelligible and she alternated between an angry deeper voice, as if repeating a man, and other shrill voices, “B--- popped that nasty sh-- on her neck in the bathroom. What the f--- is that…” Most of the passengers ignored her and acted as if she wasn’t pacing and muttering to herself near the back of the car; those sitting near her, were especially quiet. Two stops later, my friend leaned over, “Want to get off here?” and, a little uneasy, we jumped out and waited for the next eastbound train.
This experience, although not indicative of all urban life, certainly reflects a certain detachment found amongst arguably all city dwellers. While civil inattention is a functional element of city life, the homeless, particularly those who seem under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or struggling with mental illness are often treated as non-entities. Most of us, I myself am also guilty, act as if they are not there. Perhaps we avoid eye contact because we are frightened of the possibility of confrontation, or maybe at some point we simply have to “turn off” and desensitize ourselves because encountering such poverty and misfortune becomes too overwhelming.
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