TO WHAT END

AN ANALYSIS

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GENTRIFICATION, an INFESTATION set out twelve weeks ago with the intention to "use the deep reading method to survey the material and physical properties of our environments, in pair with studying our social surroundings in order to begin to better understand the inequities and conditions created by collectives within the world around us in ways that will make us more conscious of our societal footprint."  

 

BUT, TO WHAT END?

I don't think there is one...  ever.  What I have realized after having culminated all of this research is the value of being observant.  I digress:

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Writers are, by nature, excellent observers.  So too are architects, urban planners, actors, dancers, and psychologists, among other fields and classifications of people.  In some cases, it is the role and responsibility for these people to be strong observers.  In others, it is the willingness for each individual, interested in certain things, to have a desire for the deeper read of their surroundings or of other ephemeral or persisting situations.  

 

To be able to close read situations of the current, past, and future as an observer is becoming more necessary as society continues to progress in the ways that it has.  Shame-ably, being a strong observer might possibly help in self-defense from the horrible, yet repeating attacks on humanity in America, such as mass shootings or sexual violence.  At the same time; however, being able to strongly identify the conditions of your location helps you to be a more knowledgable and democratic member of your community.

 

In general, AWARENESS is pertinent in terms of moving forward with our social condition.  If we can't be aware, we can't make change. 

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GENTRIFICATION, an INFESTATION first turned to fashion in order to spill some information about the gentrification process in Brooklyn.  We quickly learned that fashion is a dangerously powerful method of appropriation.  This is because the fashion industry has become globalized.  We have industrialized and commodified the markets for the things that we chose to wear on our bodies.  It gets dangerous when we make decisions about what we buy or wear without considering the implications of our actions.   If we exploit the dress of people of color, of low economic status, or of another religion, for example, and if we pay more for the industrialized version, we are doing society a disfavor.  All to say that... we can't expect society to stop purchasing or wearing clothing that they like or that makes them feel confident.  Rather, we need to encourage people to be aware of the implications of their consumption habits and have belief in humanity that a good set of morals will help us to move in the right direction. 

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Next, we looked into the correlation of buildings/ landscape development and gentrification in Brooklyn.  The first challenge was to identify whether one comes first before the other, the new buildings or the gentrifying masses.  It seems, though, that they reinforce one another; that they make a presence simultaneously and that each needs the support of the other in order to exist.  Also, not always, do wealthy people live in or hangout at wealthy looking establishments.  In fact, sometimes the opposite holds more truth.  Therefore, identifying shiny new domestic and public developments only gets us so far, as much of the wealth chooses not to occupy those locations.  Also, because of this, locations are designed to sometimes look un-gentrified since gentrifiers aspire for the grungy- aesthetic of the old Brooklyn.  Just like we saw in fashion, new is masked to look old.  What do we do then, as citizens of these developing spaces?  Beg for awareness.  No one person alone can pump the breaks on development as quick paced as this.  Rather, ask for people to consider their choices of occupation...

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After that, we looked at bikes to see if their presence within the city could legitimize some of the money that hides behind the aged walls of Brooklyn.  This tries to rebuttal some of the issues brought up in the buildings section of this project... calling upon the fault of the facade and how it sometimes fails to talk about the wealth that lives behind or within it.  Here, the bike is used as an exterior indicator.  This research point faces its own set of constraints, but adds to our understanding of how wealth manifests in order to tell stories of change within Brooklyn.  Furthermore, bikes do a good job at combatting the issues of the wealth-mask that are faced with clothing and buildings as a manifestation of money.  For example, some, including myself, choose to ride old framed bicycles; however, you can spot money in the care of the mechanics, pedals, handlebars, and so on.  Other people choose to ride nice bikes, making the identification of that wealth slightly easier.  If you read even further into it, the formality of the locking system tells another layer of information about the wealth of its owner.  If we let all of these details cumulate, we begin to understand another tell-tale of where wealth tends towards within Brooklyn.  

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Ultimately, we've learned here that gentrification is LOADED.  We need to collaborate information across multiple fields to begin to understand its origins, indicators, and repercussions, just as we've done here in the project.  Essentially, though, this project could go on for forever.  It gives us no solution and only goes as far as to hint at some conclusions.  Therefore, just as is true with most political/social/ economical crises' in America, to measure success in answers is an insufficient test.

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In all, there seems to be no end in sight in when it comes to Gentrification of our booming, desired, metropolitan locations.  So to work towards some sort of end isn't exactly realistic.  Rather, we work towards a higher level of understanding and a stronger connection of people to their conditions and locations.  We encourage each other to challenge our common assumptions about ourselves, others, our surroundings, and our state as a society.  

 

The first step to great change is a thick knowledge of origins built through the layering of information.  Baby steps, America.  I promise, change is on its way. 

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