Final

The American people throughout time have learned how to advance within our generation while still finding unique ways of enjoyably living life.  But our American culture is suffering rather harshly in the modern public space.  An individuals social classes use to mean nothing in society, now the American culture focuses more on currency than community.  Howard Kunstler wrote on article speaking on the public realm of the people in America.  He believes that American Culture is more focused on greed rather than the needs of the people in America.   In the past, Americans have been known for having low regards for the public realm because they failed to realize the public realm is the physical manifestation of the common good.  Three New Yorker covers touch on the major changes of social classes and life in New York City overtime.

In the article Charm Sanity and Grace the author speaks about problems of social classes overtime in American culture.  Kunstler explains that the poor lived in a local context with many different social classes, so that many of the problems of the poor in the cities were also the problems of the middle class, and the rich.  To this very day the poor in most American cities are cut off from the other social classes and are only seen or heard on television.  The author does a very good job describing the cycle of thought going through a person from a poor family background, “Since the poor, by definition, can’t participate fully in consumer culture, the predictable result is rage at what appears to be a cruel tease, and this rage is commonly expressed in crime.” He describes how the poor routinely go out looking for chaos and disorder, since there is no evidence that it is possible to live a happy life without wealth.  The American people rely too heavily on money resulting in a socially segregated American Culture.  As The “United” States of America we should be able to put our differences behind us and help one another with the mindset of: money is nothing.  The following three New Yorker covers, established in different time zones, explain the effect of money on the people of America during that specific time.

Kunstler stated in his article that many of the problems of the poor in the cities were also the problems of the middle class, and the rich.  A New Yorker Cover published in 1936 shows an illustration of a black elevator man opening the gates for a huge amount of working class white people.  This cover describes that both classes are working and both classes need each other to successfully move on in life.  Even though the salaries may be different, in order for the middle class to get to work, the lower class must cooperate with letting them leave the crowded area.  In the 1970’s modernizations have been made and the American culture is beginning to be even more focused on making the most money.  The second New Yorker cover takes place in 1970 shows a man walking into a museum surrounded by unique architecture.  In Kunstlers’ article he writes about suburbia kids needing a public realm worthy of respect, such as a library, theater, or museum.  Without this they will lose their infantile state of dependency and be unable to participate in activities alone.  Finally moving into the modern day, the last New Yorker cover shows a tour guide showing a tour of Manhattan.  Everything is black and white except for a little opening with a view of a sailboat and nature.  The illustrator shows that the city is cut off from what is going on outside of the city, and is more focused on the New Yorker mindset.  The dullness of the city relates back to a point Kunstler made in his article when he stated, “Americans do not recognize the benefits of a well-designed public realm and will continue to live in a blinded capitalistic mindset. 

In conclusion, the American Culture may be the most popular around the world but that doesn’t mean our society is striving as one strong community.  We need to put our social differences behind and understand each other to the fullest. A suburban culture compared to the city life is a completely different experience.  Everything in life comes with the good experiences or the bad experiences, you must make the best out of your situation.  

My Three Covers

August 9th and 16th, 2004

July 15, 1996
2nd Cover

August 16th, 1930

Final Paper

As time goes on our generation is moving along with it.  No more running over to your friend’s house and knocking on the door to see if s/he is available.  Now we can get into access with almost anyone in less than a minute.  The consumer cuts down time and effort with just a tap of the screen.  Instead of going out to see your favorite movie in a video store you can now watch almost any movie instantly online in seconds.  Is this convenient? Yes.  Is it ultimately a good thing to be fully absorbed by new technology? No.  82% of Americans own a cell-phone.  This may be one of the reasons America has ranked obesity as the number one health risk.  People may not notice but in the long run technology usually leads to a lack of motive.  People are getting lazier while equipped with technology due to the fact everything can be reached with barely any movement.  But in America you must partake in this capitalist economy due to the huge role that money plays.  As long as the producers successfully make sales of new products will continue to have civilians empty out their pockets for the newest product.  This brings us to The New Yorker.  The New Yorker touches on the issue of technology through meanigful illustrations presented to the  people of New York. It fascinates me how The New Yorker's concepts back in the day changed a lot over time. In the past it seemed like illustrators of The New Yorker focused more on the community of the urban society and presented different way of living. The recent New Yorker's all focus on technology and it's impact on New Yorkers.        

I’m not the only one who believes this.  In the article Disconnected Urbanism (the author) explains technologies effect on the people in New York City.  The article touches on the cellphone and how it changes the human sense of place more than faxes, computers, and email.  According to the article by using your phone outside of your home you are not in the urban community you once were in.  You may be having a talk with somebody on the other side of the world.  The author argued, “But the cell phone has changed our sense of place more than faxes and computers and e-mail because of its ability to intrude into every moment in every possible place. When you walk along the street and talk on a cell phone, you are not on the street sharing the communal experience of urban life. You are in some other place—someplace at the other end of your phone conversation. You are there, but you are not there.” Basically the author explains how communicating through a cellphone not only makes you less aware of your surroundings, but can make your urban experience less fun.  Every time you answer your phone you put the people around you on hold, and pay all your attention to the person on the other line.   New York City is an urban city with beautiful sites, never-ending events, and the most diverse, why does our community deserve to be disconnected because of technology. 

The New Yorker magazine touches upon technology and how it affects us now even more than the past.  I picked out three New Yorker magazines to analyze: one cover from before 1970, one from before 2000, and one since 2000.  I wanted to notice the New Yorkers modernizations and changes within this time span.  Each cover touched on technology and how it affected people negatively since our nation has been getting a surplus of advanced technology.  The first cover (New Yorker #280) seemed to be very different back in the day.  The 1930's modernization and revolution were a huge impact on human civilization.  People used to more outgoing then they are now with less technology available to them.  Ideas led to inventions, creations, and great discoveries.  In this article the illustrator shows one side of the picture very interactive and joyful while the other side is gloomy and separate.  I believe the author did this to show the jealousy of the people that couldn't participate in the new activities taking place during that time.  He showed how people were much more outgoing then the people of our modern day now. 

The second cover (New Yorker #3600) touches on the advancement of technology and the affect on the people of New York.  In this article it shows the impact of technology upon the youth.  This illustrator predicts the ancient warriors would have been the same if they were influenced to television and junk food like the people in New York City.  This is true because the illustrator points out technology can change any bodies’ lifestyle while forming unwanted new habits. 

Leading to the third cover: (issued July 15^th, 1996) this picture describes the honest truth about tourists and technology.  Without technology tourists mostly participated in the bull runs or took pictures in the vicinity.  Now tourists are hesitant to participate in bull runs when they could get a close up picture of a beautiful bull statue.  Using telephoto lenses, tourists can easily shoot a close up high definition picture from almost a mile away.  It's true so many tourists take pictures of the statues rather than the real thing.  This is usually the case, people focus more on capturing the moment through technological advances rather than taking the time and effort to actually live the moment.

            In conclusion, technology will forever be a part of our lives.  Through in depth research we have found out that technology can affect you and your ability to live.  By becoming more aware of technology and the area we live in.  By reading this article you should be able to notice the pros and cons of technology in an urban society.  

6 Cover Summary

 New Yorker #280

The New Yorker seemed to be very different back in the day.  Around the 1930's modernization and revolution were a huge impact on human civilization.  Ideas led to inventions, creations, and great discoveries.  In this article the illustrator shows one side of the picture very interactive and joyful while the other side is gloomy and separate.  I believe the author did this to show the jealousy of the people that couldn't participate in the new activities taking place during that time.  He showed how people were very happy with these new creations.   


New Yorker #289




Back when this New Yorker was made cigarettes were being promoted within New York City.  As you can see in this picture everyone is smoking there cigarettes in top hats and high class business clothing.  Now people understand that cigarettes are the number one selling killing product on earth.  Due to the amount of nicotine.  The New Yorker is explaining that cigarettes were viewed in a totally different way back when people had little knowledge of them. 








 New Yorker #3600
 In this article it shows the impact of technology upon the youth.  This illustrator predicts if the ancient warriors would have been the same if they were influenced to television and junk food like the people of the modern time.  This is very interesting because the illustrator has a point, technology changes peoples lifestyles and forms new habits.






July 15, 1996


This picture describes the honest truth about tourists and technology.  Without technology tourists mostly participated in the bull runs (happening besides the unaware tourists).  Now tourists are hesitant when they could get a close up picture of a beautiful bull statue.  It's true so many tourists take pictures of the statue rather than the real thing in order to capture the moment for the time being.   

2 Articles Supporting Cellphone Agreement

The New York Times Article
Title: Your Brain On Computers; Hooked on Gadgets and Paying a Mental Price
Author: Matt Ritchel

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/07/technology/07brain.html?scp=1&sq=your%20brain%20on%20computers%20hooked%20on%20gadgets%20and%20paying%20a%20mental%20price&st=cse

The New York Times Article
Title:Internet Use Affects Memory, Study Finds
Author: Particia Cohen
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/15/health/15memory.html?_r=1&ref=memory

Disconnected Urbanism Summary

    

In this article the author is proving a very interesting point. People using a cellphone in public or any type of technology are inclined to ignore others and talk to the individual on the other side of the phone rather than focus on what's going around them. Paul Golderberger states, "When you walk along the street and talk on a cell phone, you are not on the street sharing the communal experience of urban life. You are in some other place—someplace at the other end of your phone conversation. You are there, but you are not there." He believes that because of how easy and accessible technology can be it blinds you from the people, architecture, and even sounds around you.

I agree with most of what this author is proving. I believe that because of how easy technology makes life it is used by mostly everyone in our new generation. The author is correct when he says, "You are there, but you are not there" because you are there physically, but mentally you are with the other person on the other side of the phone. You are completely unaware of your surroundings when on a phone or listening to music. You cannot hear the birds chirping and you can't even notice the unique architecture on the other side of the street. Many things are blocked off when engaged with technology. Unfortunately this author was weak to state that most people out and about in the city are usually focused on getting somewhere and do not need distractions. Technology can be of use in this situation. It "speeds" up time since you are less focused on the time and more focused on the text you received (or the song being played).  After reading this article I understand that the less we use our phones the more we can appreciate the environment around us. 

Paper 2 1st Draft

Omar Ba

10-22-11

Paper 2

 Two bed bugs are seen tucked in bed smoking a cigarette into the night breeze.  A pretty normal action, but not at all a normal pair of characters. This New Yorker cover art work symbolizes the common New Yorker and the bed bugs represent them. Many things about this picture leaving me feeling distraught. Not only the bothersome bed bugs and addictive cigarettes, but the amount of people seeing these covers and what they look forward to reading.  The New Yorker hits the reader as clever, humorous, even entertaining, but the New Yorker targets rich upper-class men who may focus on more implicit meanings inside the cover. 

The illustrator carries his unique style with him into other photos as well.  Looking at his New Yorker cover in May 2009, he shows two former primary electives in bed together.  The illustrator seems to put more focus on each character once staged in a bed.  They seem friendly, but argumentative all at that same time.  Both primary electives are known for debating against one another.  The bed bugs are somewhat confused debating if they are just bugs in a society full of men or if the society full of men are just bugs.  This brings out the brilliant mindset behind the illustrator, for he chooses to symbolize the Kafka theory as an everyday lifestyle for a New Yorker.  The Kafka theory represents complete change of oneself externally, but still alive internally. For instance, one day your regular habits of a normal workingman were completely wiped out, and you were left as a helpless bug.  Your struggle for survival is so much more at risk from the time in which you were a man. 

The illustrator is also trying to relate bed bugs to the stress of a fast-paced New Yorker who never sleeps.  The amount of stress bed bugs have created within New York City has caused so much chaos.  Families are getting poisoned from overusing the bed bug spray. People try to get rid of these pests quickly, so they excessively use it on their sheets then sleep in it that same night, resulting in worse conditions than actually getting bitten by a bed bug. The cigarettes play a big role in this theme. By the illustrator choosing the bed bug to be smoking a cigarette, he implies the common New Yorker smoke cigarettes and are judged for it. Just as a man is quick to judge a disgusting bed bug.  People also usually smoke cigarettes because they are addicted to the nicotine or attempting to fit in.  This symbolizes the media and people’s addiction towards the thought of cigarettes being “cool”.

Every cover, whether it’s a magazine or newspaper, is trying to send a message out to its readers or enact some sort of behavior from them.  In this particular issue, The New Yorker’s cover makes you wonder what audience did the illustrator tend to target and who is he trying to persuade.  By looking at the ads (ex. Louis Vuitton, a 2010 Cadillac, Chase credit cards, and American Express), you can assume the reader may be from a higher class, possibly earning an income of more than $30,000 a year. The content of The New Yorker is geared towards older men who are interested in politics and can afford to spend money on the luxurious products the magazine advertises.

The IBM (International Business Machines Corp.) advertisement in The New Yorker stands out to me the most. The IBM advertisement promotes their site and describes ways of keeping the city safe and clean.  The ad shows a three-dimensional utopian city that looks unbelievably clean and unrealistically safe.  This ad relates to the cover because both are in relevance of the city setting.  IBM is all about business and becoming successful through smart business decisions.  This cover shows two bed bugs (hardworking men) in a Manhattan apartment.  Comparing the two you may notice the similar facts.