Category: Transportation

George Ritzer explores all the open, apparent and easily discernible facets of American consumerism in “A Disenchanted World.” Although the introductory chapter is written in a neutral form, the book title suggests that Ritzer is not enthused about the shopping mall known as the United States of America.

Most of the “cathedrals of consumption” he explores are not new to me. I have experienced every cathedral he mentions (mega-churches, athletic stadiums, big box superstores, Disney World, and Hard Rock Café to name a few). However, I was startled when he mentioned how universities can now be included in the same consumption category as the Mall of America.

“These days most campuses are dated, stodgy, and ineffective compared to shopping malls, cruise ships, casinos, and fast food restaurants.” (P.21)

Okay, that’s not too hard to agree with. But how many students come to college to be entertained and marketed to?

“To compete, universities are trying to satisfy their students by offering, in addition to state-of-the-art athletic facilities that have many of the characteristics of professional stadiums, ‘themed housing’ – dorms devoted to students with shared special interests.”

This is the statement which was most plain to me. UIC, in its efforts to shed its commuter school image and create a respectable and enjoyable campus life, has introduced both of these “consumption elements.”

I disagree with placing universities alongside all the other cathedrals of consumption Ritzer describes – education is not something merely consumed, or used up. It is greater than that and helps extend our understandings of economic and social phenomena like “excessive consumption” and Disneyification, and prepares us to become the next innovator of a type of American waste or perhaps extend and promote the eco-friendly, anti-consumption movement.

Technorati Tags: america, consumerism, consumption, George Ritzer, book, uic, urban planning

‘The happiest people in the world’:
‘The happiest people in the world’

…live in Copenhagen, Denmark, say the polls. Continuing our series of looking at European cities as resources for cool, here are more things about this Danish city you may not be aware of:
– As stated previously, 62.5% of its employees are in knowledge-based jobs, the highest in Europe.
– 32.5% of its residents have an academic degree, more than 80% speak English (and speak it well!).
– It is known as Europe’s leading biotech and medical research location, with a new Biotech Research Innovation Center expected to compete with MIT.
– The Copenhagen region is far and away Europe’s leader in patents.
– The city is also on top in international studies on competitiveness, quality of life and recreational value.
– It’s reputation in magazines is as a ‘cool, cultural and creative’ ‘trend destination’.
– 90% of its businesses are run by self-employed entrepreneurs.
– It’s gaining international recognition for fashion, film and music.

Not much can be said at this moment that the characteristics exhibited by the city of Copenhagen are cause & effect outcomes. If we added all those things to Chicago (jobs requiring more higher-education, an emphasis on knowledge, business expertise, a bigger creative-class), would Chicago become even happier?

I doubt it. Firstly, those qualities are definitely aspects of our economy which just aren’t there and would take a couple decades to achieve.

1. Our public school system needs major improvement.
2. Our outdoor lives need to be safer and less polluted – by noise, traffic congestion, and poison in our air from fossil fuels.
3. Chicago will need to adopt policies that foster innovative small businesses.

Inevitably, our car culture would need to subside and we’ll need more educated people.

Technorati Tags: chicago, cool cities, copenhagen, denmark, europe, planning