Blogging Social Difference in L.A.: Week 7

For this weeks post, I chose to write a response to Amanda Young's post on urban sprawl. Her URL is as follows: http://exploremetro.blogspot.com/2012/11/blogging-social-difference-week-5.html?showComment=1353118646861#c3749311366888797958

Hi Amanda, I thought your article on Redlands was an enjoyable and connected well to a continuing theme of urban sprawl and expansion.

A main theme that is apparent is consumerism, it dictates so much of the development it seems, especially regarding these shopping centers that act as community centers as well. With great suburban growth comes a lot of people who are brought in from various parts of the nation and world with different experiences and cultures. But what seems to bring all people together is shopping and buying stuff. People have different religions so a church or synagogue does not suffice, sports are only an interest of some so a stadium or arena not as much, but a shopping center is open to anyone who can get there. And while it costs money for people to shop there, just to meet and walk around costs nothing.

Going off what a lot of people have said, I think there is something very interesting about the nuclear family component to this as well. Not just random people but families come to spend time together shopping, it replaces so many other opportunities or fills a void many have who cannot relate to one another with other institutions. For all we hate consumerism, a mother and daughter shopping together for clothes can be part of a healthy family relationship as opposed to no time together at all.

Finally, commenting on the first quote of Olin, Kling, and Poster, where they discuss suburbs being "socially varied", areas like Redlands and many others show this at work but not in what I think they mean to say. The impression they give is of areas where races and ethncities and social classes mix in readily whether they like it or not, creating neighborhoods and cities that are extremely diverse. One only needs to look at Redlands to see a city predominantly white, Monterey Park predominantly Asian, and South Gate predominantly Latino. While many people have come in to make these suburbs of a city, they have isolated themselves and kept each other apart. They shop at different places and congregate in different areas, much like what we see in Citrus Plaza.

Great article Amanda, thanks!

-Nick