Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Times Square
I am sorry that I was unable to post by monday night. I was away observing Yom Kippur with my family.
I really dislike Times Square. Just being there makes me uncomfortable. It is one of the busiest and most commercialized areas in New York. Everywhere you go, someone is trying to sell you something. For me, this means that I always must be skeptical.
Times Square is most definitely a mixed-use area, at least when considering business. All types of business are present, from the wealthy business man to the overly enthusiastic saw-playing lady.
It is not very residential, and I doubt many people would like to live there. It is both accessible and inaccesible. To someone like me, it is inaccessible, as I get anxious just walking through. The constant pressure to keep moving is insane. This area can also be seen as accessible because it is sucha major tourist attraction. The stores, theaters, and bright lights draw people from all over to this confusing area.
Times Square is very ambiguous. It is both open and exclsuive in that anyone can go there, but you pretty much have to have money to spend (unless you want to view the free 15 minute Scientology film).
Though the vendors of smut of the old Times Square are mainly gone from the area, the new Times Square includes vendors of comedy and theatrical shows, and what is deemed as more appropriate entertainment. In this way, we can see that people are trying to reclaim the area from the big businesses.
The clash of diversity is enormous, as always. While there may be fewer prostitutes and drug dealers, there are still just as many tourists and passerbys, as well as a host of other people such as the business people and movie stars. Times Square may be a lot safer than it once was, but it's still Times Square. In fact, there was just a shooting there the other day! I agree with McNamara that there is a clash of diversity, but I disgree where he states that in Times Square people meet "face-to-face". How often do you actually stop and talk to one of the many strangers you walk by? I never do.
I find Times Square to be one of my least favorite parts of the city. I will not go there unless I have to. To me, it shows some of the least attractive qualities of both human nature and our culture. To be fair, I suppose it serves a purpose. I just wish you could walk through without being constantly reminded of that purpose.
I really dislike Times Square. Just being there makes me uncomfortable. It is one of the busiest and most commercialized areas in New York. Everywhere you go, someone is trying to sell you something. For me, this means that I always must be skeptical.
Times Square is most definitely a mixed-use area, at least when considering business. All types of business are present, from the wealthy business man to the overly enthusiastic saw-playing lady.
It is not very residential, and I doubt many people would like to live there. It is both accessible and inaccesible. To someone like me, it is inaccessible, as I get anxious just walking through. The constant pressure to keep moving is insane. This area can also be seen as accessible because it is sucha major tourist attraction. The stores, theaters, and bright lights draw people from all over to this confusing area.Times Square is very ambiguous. It is both open and exclsuive in that anyone can go there, but you pretty much have to have money to spend (unless you want to view the free 15 minute Scientology film).
Though the vendors of smut of the old Times Square are mainly gone from the area, the new Times Square includes vendors of comedy and theatrical shows, and what is deemed as more appropriate entertainment. In this way, we can see that people are trying to reclaim the area from the big businesses. The clash of diversity is enormous, as always. While there may be fewer prostitutes and drug dealers, there are still just as many tourists and passerbys, as well as a host of other people such as the business people and movie stars. Times Square may be a lot safer than it once was, but it's still Times Square. In fact, there was just a shooting there the other day! I agree with McNamara that there is a clash of diversity, but I disgree where he states that in Times Square people meet "face-to-face". How often do you actually stop and talk to one of the many strangers you walk by? I never do.
I find Times Square to be one of my least favorite parts of the city. I will not go there unless I have to. To me, it shows some of the least attractive qualities of both human nature and our culture. To be fair, I suppose it serves a purpose. I just wish you could walk through without being constantly reminded of that purpose.
# posted by Josh @ 2:07 PM 
