The Cultures of Cities
WhenLewis Mumfordwrote his now-classicThe Culture of Citiesin 1934, it could safely be assumed that "culture" was an epiphenomenon that  sprung organically from the activities of the people of a city. Zurkin builds upon Mumford's arguments for a late 20th-century reinterpretation, discussing the ways in which cities' cultures are increasingly the product of complex negotiations between ethnic groups, artistic and architectural elites, and multinational purveyors of canned culture. Her chapters dealing with the effects of Disneyland on urban planning, the creation of a "cultural center" in the rural Berkshires, and the nature of shopping in urban settings are particularly intriguing. Her primary concern is how economic elites  gain the upper hand in representation astheculture of a city: in her view, culture is, increasingly, a consciously synthesized mirage optimized for economic gain. Recommended.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.