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Which has more of an identity? By that, I mean people across America, or even the world, have a good idea about the culture of the city and a general idea of what the people in the city may be like (whether that is based on stereotype or not). When people think of New York, for example, they may think of rude and pushy people, fashionistas, or mobsters.
In this comparison, I ask that particular focus be given to the Maryland suburbs in addition to the District itself.
Not really. Boston is known for an accent. But the DC area is known for...
Chuck Brown
Mumbo Sauce
Half Smokes
Hardcore Punk
This is DC culture that flows into Montgomery County.
Yeah, but that is isolated to a small part of the population in the D.C. area. Most of the people in Boston have the accent. Kind of like, most people in Mississippi have a southern accent. It's not close to as widespread in D.C.
Outside of the federal government, theres nothing really identifiable to DC to the average person. You'd have to try real hard. I know of things, but 90% of people would just equate the DC region to the Feds.
Not really. Boston is known for an accent. But the DC area is known for...
Chuck Brown
Mumbo Sauce
Half Smokes
Hardcore Punk
This is DC culture that flows into Montgomery County.
Uh...DC was known in the early 80s for the Dischord scene, especially Minor Threat and SOA (Rollins) and the best but little-known DC HC band, Void. By the mid-80s, it was no longer and has not since been known for hardcore. In fact, it's been pretty weak in that area. By '84, it self-labelled the first "emo" bands in Rites of Spring, Embrace and others. 1985 is known as "Revolution Summer" due to the launch of emo in DC, which certainly doesn't sound the same today as it did then, but regardless...Rites of Spring and Minor Threat then came together to form the biggest emo band and DC scene representative for many years, Fugazi.
You see, even those (like you) who claim DC is "known" for hardcore actually don't know the history of the music scene there, let alone its current "identity."
Chuck Brown and go-go are quite noteable and quite local, which is cool and unique; however, most people haven't even heard of go-go, not to mention actually hearing Trouble Funk and so forth.
Boston by one of the biggest cityVcity margins I can remember.
Outside of the federal government, theres nothing really identifiable to DC to the average person. You'd have to try real hard. I know of things, but 90% of people would just equate the DC region to the Feds.
Yes, I think that really sums it up. I think DC is one of the extreme examples of a VERY heavy transplant city not being able to identify with an existing local culture, with its own long-standing traditions, vernacular, etc.
I will add, though, that being the seat of the federal government environment does actually create a very unique social culture in DC unto itself, and all of the types of people that attracts.
Let's just say that no one would ever accuse Washingtonians of having low self-esteem or being too modest.
Boston hands down. D.C. suffers from three things that makes it have a weak identity on a national and international level.
#1. It's right on the border of north and south, it can come off as generic or General American.
#2. The media only portrays "Washington", and not D.C.
#3. The city is way too transient and transplanted.
Another thing is that the local culture is mainly dominated by African Americans and black people from DC could pass for anywhere in the mid-atlantic, even the country south depending on who you talk to or where you go.
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