Comments on: Cities of desire and anxiety: urban impressions from Japan http://www.projectfreerange.com/2010/07/10/cities-of-desire-and-anxiety-urban-impressions-from-japan/ The City, Design, Politics and Pirates Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:53:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dale http://www.projectfreerange.com/2010/07/10/cities-of-desire-and-anxiety-urban-impressions-from-japan/#comment-132 Dale Mon, 12 Jul 2010 10:10:04 +0000 http://www.projectfreerange.com/?p=877#comment-132 Barnaby, that’s a good question… I think that there are aspects of both that have to be taken into account. Personally I believe that all big cities have rather generic attributes that can be seen as commonplace and the reasons for this commonality can be both complicated and far-reaching (i.e. a globalized world economy, shared cultural values et cetera). I think both Kyoto and Osaka are no different in this way - but along with this ‘generic-ness’ are quite specific aspects of its society and culture that play out in its urban forms. My understanding is that Japan has had a long history of ‘service’ culture, which is quite evident when you enter any retail level of any department store or dine at a restaurant (where you’d be greeted without hesitation and your every need is catered for – if they aren’t then there is something seriously wrong) – it is essentially a world of ‘unequivocal anticipation’. Tourism is just another extension of this culture – and just like a lot of other cultures – it has implicit political objectives, which the urban forms of cities are ultimately responsible for through not necessarily facilitating - but rather creating the circumstances. What I find quite interesting though is that the urban forms of cities can inevitably be seen as reflections of quite fundamental human values and qualities (whether intended or not) - such as (but not limited to) desire and anxiety. In a way I think cities perpetuate as unintentional (whether we are conscious of it or not) laboratories of cultural and social incubation - so these cities in particular are in a sense prototypical. However I would also say there are definitive aspects of Japanese culture (as mentioned before) that make the cities quite unique to their set of circumstances, as I believe that the history/collective memory and traditions of any place can never really be erased. So to answer your question, both I think. Barnaby, that’s a good question… I think that there are aspects of both that have to be taken into account.
Personally I believe that all big cities have rather generic attributes that can be seen as commonplace and the reasons for this commonality can be both complicated and far-reaching (i.e. a globalized world economy, shared cultural values et cetera).
I think both Kyoto and Osaka are no different in this way – but along with this ‘generic-ness’ are quite specific aspects of its society and culture that play out in its urban forms.
My understanding is that Japan has had a long history of ‘service’ culture, which is quite evident when you enter any retail level of any department store or dine at a restaurant (where you’d be greeted without hesitation and your every need is catered for – if they aren’t then there is something seriously wrong) – it is essentially a world of ‘unequivocal anticipation’.
Tourism is just another extension of this culture – and just like a lot of other cultures – it has implicit political objectives, which the urban forms of cities are ultimately responsible for through not necessarily facilitating – but rather creating the circumstances.
What I find quite interesting though is that the urban forms of cities can inevitably be seen as reflections of quite fundamental human values and qualities (whether intended or not) – such as (but not limited to) desire and anxiety. In a way I think cities perpetuate as unintentional (whether we are conscious of it or not) laboratories of cultural and social incubation – so these cities in particular are in a sense prototypical.
However I would also say there are definitive aspects of Japanese culture (as mentioned before) that make the cities quite unique to their set of circumstances, as I believe that the history/collective memory and traditions of any place can never really be erased.
So to answer your question, both I think.

]]> By: Barnaby http://www.projectfreerange.com/2010/07/10/cities-of-desire-and-anxiety-urban-impressions-from-japan/#comment-131 Barnaby Mon, 12 Jul 2010 05:30:03 +0000 http://www.projectfreerange.com/?p=877#comment-131 Great writing Dale. In regards to your understanding of these Japanese cities and tourism, do you think the cities are higly developed prototypes for the future of all big cities, or are the manifestations of specific dynamics of japanese culture that make the blueprint unrepeatable? Great writing Dale.

In regards to your understanding of these Japanese cities and tourism, do you think the cities are higly developed prototypes for the future of all big cities, or are the manifestations of specific dynamics of japanese culture that make the blueprint unrepeatable?

]]>