The present work is about urbanism and about how it is typifying the turn-of-the-century American way of life.
The first chapter of this term paper contains a plot synopsis on the novel Strong Motion by Jonathan Franzen depicting the main characters. The second chapter is about Post-modernism. It describes what the term means in fact. A main feature of our post-modern times are cities or urban regions. In the second chapter you will find an interpretation of their meaning and importance in relation to Post-modernism. After this rather general insight in the present urban spirit of the age I will proceed by pointing out passages from the novel Strong Motion that document facts about urbanism and Post-modernism, about certain features of Boston, the Boston area and about the way people live in these places. The topics are going to be gentrification, the quaternary sector, the widening gap between rich and poor, fast occurring changes, heterogeneity and cars. The conclusion will give an outlook on what we may have to expect in the future from urban regions in a globalized world.
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
1 PLOT SYNOPSIS
2 URBANISM AND POST-MODERNISM – DEFINING OUR TIMES
2.1 Defining Post-modernism
2.2 Urbanism during Post-modernism
3 LIFE IN THE CONTEMPORARY BOSTON AREA AS OUTLINED IN THE NOVEL STRONG MOTION
3.1 Gentrification and Decentralization
3.2 Cognitariat, Paraclass and the Quaternary Sector
3.3 The Widening Gap Between Rich and Poor
3.4 Fast Changes and Heterogeneity of Urban Population
3.5 The Significance of Cars
CONCLUSION
Objectives & Research Topics
This paper examines how urbanism characterizes the American way of life at the turn of the 21st century by analyzing Jonathan Franzen’s novel Strong Motion. It investigates the intersection of post-modern theory and urban development to determine how contemporary societal shifts, such as gentrification and economic disparities, are manifested in the narrative's urban setting.
- The influence of post-modernism on urban architecture and lifestyle.
- Gentrification and decentralization processes within the Boston metropolitan area.
- Economic and social stratification, specifically the emergence of the "cognitariat" and "paraclass."
- The pervasive cultural and practical significance of the private automobile in urban planning.
Excerpt from the Book
3.5 The Significance of Cars
An urban region cannot be pictured without the presence of cars. They are so essential that Franzen uses shoes as a metaphor for cars, for the reason that everybody has shoes. We are looking at the streets of Somerville and at the City Hall parking lot:
There were salt-stained Hush Puppies and scuffed two-tone pumps in unfortunate colors parked near the doors of the Irish and Italian middle class, well-worn Adidases in the driveways of single women; bovver boots and Salvation Army specials near the spaces of those who found the town perversely chic; laceless Keds up on blocks in the back yards of the waning counterculture; wide untapering leisure shoes with soft crinkly uppers and soles of rubber foam marking the homes of realtors and retirees; battered student Wallabees under the eaves of battered student houses; a few tasseled Gucci loafers in the City Hall parking lot [...]. (22, 23)
Additionally, one also gets a nice overview on the car owners: Their heterogeneity is remarkable.
Summary of Chapters
INTRODUCTION: Outlines the paper's scope regarding urbanism and the post-modern American way of life, introducing the core themes to be explored through the novel Strong Motion.
1 PLOT SYNOPSIS: Provides a summary of Jonathan Franzen's Strong Motion, detailing the main characters and the primary conflicts within the plot.
2 URBANISM AND POST-MODERNISM – DEFINING OUR TIMES: Explores theoretical definitions of post-modernism and its specific impact on the development and structure of contemporary urban regions.
3 LIFE IN THE CONTEMPORARY BOSTON AREA AS OUTLINED IN THE NOVEL STRONG MOTION: Connects literary passages from the novel to real-world sociological phenomena, documenting aspects like gentrification and class divisions.
CONCLUSION: Offers a final outlook on the future trajectory of urban regions within a globalized society, emphasizing themes of regeneration and transformation.
Keywords
Urbanism, Post-modernism, Jonathan Franzen, Strong Motion, Boston, Gentrification, Cognitariat, Paraclass, Quaternary Sector, Social Stratification, Urban Population, Private Transportation, Globalization, Heterogeneity, Urban Planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper explores how contemporary urbanism shapes the American way of life, using the narrative framework of Jonathan Franzen's novel Strong Motion to illustrate these societal trends.
Which thematic areas are primarily discussed?
Key areas include the impact of post-modernism on urban spaces, gentrification, the evolution of class structures, and the functional necessity of cars in American cities.
What is the main research objective?
The goal is to analyze the intersection between theoretical post-modern urban concepts and the practical, lived experiences of characters in the Boston area as depicted in the novel.
What research methodology is applied?
The author employs a literary and sociological analysis, contrasting academic theories of post-modern urbanism with specific narrative passages from Strong Motion.
What is covered in the main section of the paper?
The main section investigates specific urban phenomena: gentrification, the rise of the "cognitariat" and "paraclass," economic gaps between social classes, population heterogeneity, and the role of vehicles.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Urbanism, post-modernism, gentrification, Boston, and the cognitariat are among the most essential terms used to define the scope of the study.
How does the author define the "cognitariat" and "paraclass"?
The author references Jencks' definition, describing the "cognitariat" as a group that creates and handles information, while the "paraclass" consists of white-collar workers who fall between the traditional working and middle classes.
What role do cars play in the urban setting of the novel?
Cars are depicted as fundamental to American urban life, often acting as a measure of social status, and their prevalence is highlighted through the author's observation of the city's crowded infrastructure.
- Quote paper
- Christiana Halsdorfer (Author), 2008, Urbanism Typifying the Turn-of-the-Century American Way of Life in Franzen's "Strong Motion", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/146951
