Portfolio Summary
So this is it. Upon conducting extensive study on the
concept, development, and implementation of suburbia, it seems the next
logical step would be to solve the problem. However, after years of
research and experimentation, suburban utopia continues to elude man.
Solving the problem, however simplistic it may sound, would be a truly
momentous occasion. Since its formal creation at the end of the
eighteenth century, suburbia still remains somewhat ambiguous in nature.
Recently, suburbia has been re-examined due to its increase in popularity
in American culture.
Suburbia is constantly changing; the problems
addressed are
heavily intertwined in nature. Causal, as well as effectual,
relationships are present among different social ailments. They are
complex; yet, through close evaluation, and a lot of common sense, a
simple explanation can be found.
Suburbia was created for the escape of the upper
middle class who
wanted to reap the benefits of industrialized careers while enjoying the
beauties of pastoral country-life. Keeping this in mind, the ideals of
suburbia are not hard to grasp or believe. Suburban notions have always
involved the principles of exclusion and intolerance. Suburbanites,
immersed in their elitist ideals, sought to distinguish themselves by
class, race, gender, and religion. This exclusionary behavior has been
noted as one of the most significant downfalls of suburbia. Although the
suburban realm has expanded significantly to include the working middle
class, the same dismissive tendencies are continuously present.
It is logical how this problem may establish the
underpinnings of
another issue. Suburbia has been noted to perpetuate a certain ignorance
towards social issues. Suburbanites have difficulty dealing with
different social structures. Instead of fostering an attitude of
eagerness to learn of these other cultures, suburbia causes members to
revert back to the fore-mentioned principles of exclusion. They simply
turn their heads and shun diversity.
The Populuxe Era of the 1950s marked the
overwhelming consumption
era. Products were constantly being invented and upgraded; pushed onto
the public as symbols of prosperity, sophistication, and status. And they
bought it--so to speak. Suburbia has retained this materialistic
mentality throughout recent years. Residents have continued to place
faith in the "bigger and better" possessions in life. More importantly,
they have engaged in competition for an illusion--an illusion of
individual supremacy through material possessions. I remember the day
Mrs. Kahala received a brand new sporty convertible from her husband. She
had so delicately taken it for a exhibition ride throughout the
neighborhood, careful not to miss a single street. I remember also, a few
weeks later, Mrs. Marino driving her new convertible--except hers was
cherry-apple red (the newest and prettiest color, in her opinion). Thus,
judgments are made, votes are cast, and suburbia goes on.
One may argue that this competition is healthy and
raises the
standards of living within the community. Even if this were deemed a
positive effect of the Consumption Era, one cannot deny that materialism
led to countless other social problems associated with these communities.
One result characterizes the preoccupation with appearances and illusions
in the community. Lawns, for instance, have been established as an
artifact of American suburbia. In summary, a lush, well-groomed lawn is
the signature of a respectable, dignified suburbanite. Furthermore, it is
ironic how artificial the methods used must be in order to create the
desired UnaturalL suburban environment. The obsession frequently
associated with the constant maintenance of these lawns(Project 1) has led to
excessive water use in some areas. Natural resources, such as water, are
sacrificed in order to achieve a more or less ornamental aspect of
suburban culture.
American suburbia originated with excellent
intentions of
providing an environment for healthy and harmonious living. The family
unit was to be nurtured by providing a peaceful setting for children's
education, clearly defining the gender
roles(Project 2), and promoting
community safety necessary for healthy family development. These are
noble causes; however, modern suburbanites face more challenges each day
to maintain these ideals. In fact, in times of increasing costs, more
than one source of income is typically needed to sustain a suburban
lifestyle. This has greatly reduced the amount of time parents may spend
with children, ironically negating the original suburban intentions.
Over the years, American suburbia seems to have
weaved a blanket
of superficiality with which its residents have veiled their eyes against
social realities of the world. Superficiality has led to the exclusion of
peoples according to outward impressions. These individuals have never
had the chance for individual expression within typical American suburbia.
The same concept of superficiality is used to sustain a suburbanite's
notion of materialistic self-worth, and also to perpetuate ignorance and
intolerance for social diversity. Evidently, these major social ills all
fester in a wound common to most suburban
communities(Project 3). Perhaps, if we
were to begin to dress this wound with increased awareness, education, and
conscious restructuring, many other solutions would follow suit.
According to Shakespeare in his drama Henry V, "All things are
ready if
our mind be so."
Return to Tom's Homepage
Thomas Choi
Honors 159J
Portfolio