Atlanta: Gets a bad RAP.WHY?! (Boston, Buckhead: sales, headhunter, neighborhood)

[Alexus]

Originally Posted by WilliamM

You know the wanna-be European thing got me thinking. I noticed over the years that Europeans with astonishing frequency claimed SF to be their favorite of all US cities, apparently even over NY (hard as it is to imagine). Wonder what that's all about. Do they find there their narcissistic mirror image of how they like to see themselves? Or is it they like the flattery of seeing the best Europe imitation American can provide in an effort to impress and out-Europe the Europeans?

Oh well, it's past midnight and I'm starting to get a little too Hegelian here. (Look him up, Alexus. Or better yet, just run down to one of your wonderful little high "substance" used book shops, of which I'm sure you must have plenty within walking distance).

Sounds like you're a bit tongue-tied because of the lack of substance in Atlanta. Not my problem.

[LovinDecatur]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

Atlanta gets a bad rap because it doesn't live up to what it appears to be.

Frankly, I've never known a city that does.

[afonega1]

Originally Posted by Alexus

Sounds like something that would come from one whose city is all marketing and no substance. "wanna-be-European"?, "out liberal'?

Atlanta is older than San Francisco.Atlanta is uniquely American.Flaws and all.It was instrumental in one our countries major wars,provided 2 Nobel Peace prize winners,has been the epicenter for international news media(CNN),held the worlds biggest sporting event ever(Olympics),one of the best sold books and then movie of all time(Gone with the Wind)was written in Atlanta by an Atlantan.I could go on but im sure you sophisticated San Franciscans will have something YOU feel relevant to say.

[neil0311]

Originally Posted by WilliamM

its physical characteristics fly in the face of any classical or traditional conception of the city as an organic expression of human possibilities and a creative harnessing and synergistic taming of the rawest human energies on a colorful stage giving rise to theatrical styles and habits

I grew up in NYC and know what city living is, and to be honest, I have not the slightest understanding of what that sentence means.

Atlanta gets a bad rap because it's a small city and large metro area that primarily grew up out of business and commercial successes. Most of the infrastructure is new (built in the last 30 years...not "Atlanta new"), as are many of the buildings and houses. Atlanta doesn't have the history of the older northeastern cities, along with the ethnic traditions and political associations intrinsic to those areas. There are also some folks who, whether due to political leanings or other persuations, just don't like Atlanta because the suburbs are a large portion of the metro area and population and they tend to "sprawl", and many of the suburban areas are higher income, more conservative, and the means of transport is primarily the automobile.

[WilliamM]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

Atlanta gets a bad rap because it doesn't live up to what it appears to be.

Because it doesn't live up to what it "appears to be"? Now you're really getting my Hegelian dander up.

Do you mean "appear" in reality, or in the proverbial marketing brochures? (Because if it's the latter, I think you've stumbled onto something fascinating.)

[Alexus]

Originally Posted by WilliamM

Ah, so it's a family thing. I see.

Well, your criticism is well taken. Up to a point, that is. All cities boast (where do you think that moniker of "windy city" comes from anyway?) and no city pushes the envelope more than Atlanta, so the criticism is to some extent warranted. Still, I think it's a stretch to say it has no substance at all. I think you just have to know how to tune that marketing mumbo jumbo out and learn how to look at it as though through the spectacles of the anthropologist. (Assuming seeing the things as they really are is what you're after, of course.)

The curious aspect of some of my relatives is the paradox they exhibit. That state that Atlanta has the "best" of everything, yet they provided me with the statement "It's a place that really is all marketing and no substance." Go figure.

Boost the city up only to say it lacks foundation.

[Alexus]

Originally Posted by afonega1

Atlanta is older than San Francisco.Atlanta is uniquely American.Flaws and all.It was instrumental in one our countries major wars,provided 2 Nobel Peace prize winners,has been the epicenter for international news media(CNN),held the worlds biggest sporting event ever(Olympics),one of the best sold books and then movie of all time(Gone with the Wind)was written in Atlanta by an Atlantan.I could go on but im sure you sophisticated San Franciscans will have something YOU feel relevant to say.

Thanks for the response. I respect your perspective. One of these days, I will have to explore the city more deeply.

[LovinDecatur]

Originally Posted by Alexus

Thanks for the response. I respect your perspective. One of these days, I will have to explore the city more deeply.

Good of you to admit your opinion was based on limited experience.

[afonega1]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

Atlanta gets a bad rap because it doesn't live up to what it appears to be.

And what is that?And what city does?I can honestly say that there are very few places no matter how small i hate or dislike that much.Every city is trying to be something there not.When a place wants to be better than it is,that means it has goals.Once a city stops and begins to be complacent it becomes i.e.Detroit,Camden N.J.,New York in the early 90's,Chicago in the 60's through the 90's.or Gary,Indiana.Atlanta has always claimed for bigger and better.My parents always told me if you want something then claiming it is half the battle.

[WilliamM]

Originally Posted by neil0311

I grew up in NYC and know what city living is, and to be honest, I have not the slightest understanding of what that sentence means. .

Well, not that I'm some big expert, but I have some superficial knowledge of the topic from some reading I've done in the field of urban studies. If you're interested, you should read Jane Jacobs and Richard Sennett, for starters, who have written quite a bit about the city as a theatrical stage (you know, the Shakespearean "all the world's a stage ...") where identities morph and become fluid, thus yielding a kind of collective artistic sense of creation.

If you're scratching your head and thinking that's not the NY you remember, I'd say you're in good company. From what I gather, for many city observers like that, that's precisely their point. The contemporary city under the sway of corporatism and consumerism stamps out these anarchic tendencies in favor of a bland sterlization of public space.