Urban Anthropology Blog

10:44 PM |

After reading a few chapters, I realize that Islam plays a critical role in state formation of western African nations. For instance, the book describes that western African nations are established on the notion of Islam. The book articulates that economic activities in sub-Saharan nations facilitate the state formation. The economic opportunities in West Africa generate huge population migration of North Africans because merchants from North Africa see West Africa as a land of economic exploitations and prosperity. Thus, many North Africans settle down in West African nations. As the result, Islamic scholars come to West African nations to educate the merchant children. Hence, western African nations are created through the process of Islam.

Moe Moe

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Tom Burkland

7:28 AM |

This sign is located on the front lawn of the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) and it caught my attention for some reason although I've walked by it countless times in the past without even seeing it. Society's stereotypes say that "Art" is for the bourgeoisie*, and that "street art" is for the people outside of this population. In other words, I feel that the labeling of graffiti as "street art" implies that it is different and "less than" anything considered to be "art." It seems to me that the character depicted in this sticker is making a snooty face that I saw was contrasted to the sign. Street art in public spaces is very susceptible to being removed by the city or tagged over by other writers; whereas, works deemed "art" in the traditional sense are protected for ages in museums or the private collections of wealthy individuals.

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5:17 PM |

In our last class, we discussed about globalization and it’s effect on the local culture and values. At the end of the class, someone said, “After all things get back into local custom.” I really like that statement. I think that globalization has so much influence on humans nowadays. The relation between globalization and local culture is that people in local culture reinterpret global cultures, but in a way that preserve their interests and values. Moreover, global culture is always limited by local cultures, for instance, McDonalds’ in China create different menu than that of western nations. As the result, it generates a combination between global and local culture. Hence, people condemn global cultures that create threats toward their local identity. In short, globalization reinforces local cultures.

Moe Moe

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Global Logistics Infographic

4:07 PM |

global logistics infographic

Heres a cool infographic that shows just how much work goes into allowing the process of global communication to happen. Working for UPS might not be the typical glamorous job that is associated with a globalized economy but, as the infographic shows, there are tons of people employed in these lower status jobs that make global communication possible.

-Hannah Andrew

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Immigrants and September 11th

3:49 PM |

http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-09-11/local/30162444_1_undocumented-immigrants-immigrant-victims-families

This article provides an interesting perspective on 9/11 that i had not often seen explored before. The article points out the fact that over 100 illegal migrant workers were killed during the September 11 attacks. However, as these workers remain on the periphery of New Yorker's consciousness, their needs and even existence was overlooked in the time following the attacks. It was not until the company Asociacin Tepeyac took up the cases for these workers that it was acknowledged that they had been killed. Helping families of these immigrant workers provided unique challenges. Often their families did not have proof that their loved ones had even existed and some employers would not admit to the existence of these workers for fear of being persecuted for employing illegal immigrants. Asociacin Tepeyac also had to figure out ways to send aid to some of these workers families in foreign countries who had lost their main source of support. New Yorkers prided themselves on coming together as a community after 9/11 but the truth is that even after 9/11, these immigrant workers remained separated and invisible, pushed to the periphery through the processes of globalization.

-Hannah Andrew

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1:17 PM | Labels: fun, hana nobel, slide

Just a fun short video that made me think of the idea of urban play we've discussed. This is a new "transfer accelerator" to make it faster and easier for commuters to get to the train at the station, but we can just call it a slide. Maybe our commute could be a little less miserable if the MBTA installed these at all stops.

"HIK Ontwerpers capitalized on the opportunity to provide a unique and playful experience for commuters in their hometown of Utrecht. Part of a complete renovation of the Overvecht railway station the transfer accelerator, the official name given to the slide by ProRail the railway maintenance company, provides a fun and unforgettable way of getting to where you are going. The slide was installed as the final piece of the station renovation and opened earlier this month."