I found this cover of The New Yorker online. It definitely shows New York City from a local's point of view. Note the "No Tourist" signs on the sidewalk and bus and the cynical comments in place of the usual Times Square and Broadway signs. It made me think of the idea of "blase" that Simmel discussed. Obviously these New Yorkers are no longer affected by sensory overload here in Times Square-one of the most overwhelming places in the city, and instead are just annoyed by the foot and car traffic of the tourists. It seems that if it was up to New Yorkers, that tourists would be contained so that residents could go about their daily business uninterrupted, an allusion to Simmel's discussion of fast-paced life in the metropolis.
They are also no longer impressed by the surrounding restaurants and stores, which have been replaced with signs such as "Junk" "Eat Fat" and "Spend More!" Even the Broadway shows, world renowned productions, are unimpressive to these locals. Signs advertising the plays have been replaced with more cynical comments including one that screams, "BORING!" The artist of this cover is trying to portray that at some point, these city dwellers have become so used to these surroundings that they are no longer special or exciting-precisely what Simmel was attempting to convey in his discussion of blase.
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