‘Polishing the Apple’: The Systematic Eradication of ‘Otherness’ from the New York Crowd
This article recognises Manhattan’s current precarious state as it seeks to evict ‘outsiders’ from its shores via a combined process of surveillance and gentrification. This ongoing filtering process will have a direct impact on the multiplicity of its crowds, as the presence and history of the ‘out...
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| Pubblicato in: | URI:https://journals.openedition.org/cm, |
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| Autore principale: | |
| Natura: | Article ou chapitre numérique |
| Lingua: | Anglais |
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Conserveries mémorielles
2010
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| Accesso online: | Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM |
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openedition-oai:revues.org:cm_686 |
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openedition |
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openedition-oai:revues.org:cm_686 en https://journals.openedition.org/cm/686 2010-09-25T02:00:00Z info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess article info:eu-repo/semantics/article urn:handle:20.500.13089/e49x https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/ ‘Polishing the Apple’: The Systematic Eradication of ‘Otherness’ from the New York Crowd Conserveries mémorielles IHTP - Institut d'Histoire du Temps Présent CELAT info:eu-repo/semantics/reference/issn/1718-5556 URI:https://journals.openedition.org/cm Carlaw, Darren Richard déplacement foule citoyen destruction identité gentrification place difference crowd citizen destruction identity change gentrification New York USA This article recognises Manhattan’s current precarious state as it seeks to evict ‘outsiders’ from its shores via a combined process of surveillance and gentrification. This ongoing filtering process will have a direct impact on the multiplicity of its crowds, as the presence and history of the ‘outsider’ is rapidly eradicated. Manhattan has been a partitioned space since its early beginnings as a metropolis. The rigid grid system was an attempt to impose order on a disorderly space. I examine the manner in which a potential for disorder has always been inherent within the grid, and how the current efforts to stem all forms of disorder at street level threatens Manhattan’s existence as a creative centre. I further examine the street as a performance space. The city’s density and complex network of social boundaries dictate a definite sense of place, in terms of insider and outsidership. In such a space, the performance of identity becomes an essential survival method for the walker when passing through multiple urban divides. I seek to critically reassess how strategies of social transgression employed by Manhattan’s community of excluded ‘outsiders’, such as ‘passing’, border crossing and flânerie have been appropriated and/or utilised by the State. As pedestrians come under increasingly heavy surveillance, I consider the manner in which the city’s nomads have taken refuge beneath the streets. My analysis of current trends portends the creation of an obedient, sterile cityspace where ‘outsidership’ itself is no more than a mere performance. Cet article prend acte de l’état précaire de Manhattan alors que les autorités s’efforcent d’évacuer ses « outsiders » par un processus combiné de surveillance et de gentrification. Ce processus continuel de filtrage a un effet direct sur la multiplicité des foules newyorkaises alors que la présence et l’héritage historique des « outsiders » se voit rapidement éradiquée. Manhattan a constitué un espace partitionné depuis les premières heures de son histoire et son système rigide de quadrillage des artères était déjà au départ un effort d’ordonnancement d’un espace de désordre. Cet article examine cependant de quelle manière ce système de quadrillage a toujours recelé un potentiel de contestation, alors que les tentatives actuelles pour contrer toute forme de désordre au niveau des rues menace le caractère de Manhattan comme centre de créativité. Cet article examinera par la suite la rue comme espace de performance. Le tissu dense et complexe des frontières sociales à New York dicte un sens du lieu qui définit les appartenances sociales pour se distinguer des « outsiders ». Dans un tel contexte, la performance de l’identité sociale devient une méthode de survie pour le passant qui traverse une multitude de niches urbaines. Cet article propose de revoir comment des stratégies de transgression sociale employées par la communauté des « exclus » de Manhattan ont été réappropriées et/ou utilisées par l’État. Alors que les piétons sont soumis à de plus en plus de surveillance, les nomades urbains trouvent refuge sous les rues de la ville. L’analyse des tendances actuelles dans la gestion de l’espace newyorkais tend ainsi vers la création d’une ville obéissante et stérile où l’» outsidership » n’est plus qu’une simple performance. |
| collection |
OpenEdition Journal |
| language |
Anglais |
| format |
Article ou chapitre numérique |
| building |
0/Bibliothèque numérique/ 1/Bibliothèque numérique/OpenEdition Journals/ |
| topic |
déplacement foule citoyen destruction identité gentrification place difference crowd citizen destruction identity change gentrification |
| spellingShingle |
déplacement foule citoyen destruction identité gentrification place difference crowd citizen destruction identity change gentrification Carlaw, Darren Richard ‘Polishing the Apple’: The Systematic Eradication of ‘Otherness’ from the New York Crowd |
| description |
This article recognises Manhattan’s current precarious state as it seeks to evict ‘outsiders’ from its shores via a combined process of surveillance and gentrification. This ongoing filtering process will have a direct impact on the multiplicity of its crowds, as the presence and history of the ‘outsider’ is rapidly eradicated. Manhattan has been a partitioned space since its early beginnings as a metropolis. The rigid grid system was an attempt to impose order on a disorderly space. I examine the manner in which a potential for disorder has always been inherent within the grid, and how the current efforts to stem all forms of disorder at street level threatens Manhattan’s existence as a creative centre. I further examine the street as a performance space. The city’s density and complex network of social boundaries dictate a definite sense of place, in terms of insider and outsidership. In such a space, the performance of identity becomes an essential survival method for the walker when passing through multiple urban divides. I seek to critically reassess how strategies of social transgression employed by Manhattan’s community of excluded ‘outsiders’, such as ‘passing’, border crossing and flânerie have been appropriated and/or utilised by the State. As pedestrians come under increasingly heavy surveillance, I consider the manner in which the city’s nomads have taken refuge beneath the streets. My analysis of current trends portends the creation of an obedient, sterile cityspace where ‘outsidership’ itself is no more than a mere performance. |
| author |
Carlaw, Darren Richard |
| author_facet |
Carlaw, Darren Richard |
| author_sort |
Carlaw, Darren Richard |
| title |
‘Polishing the Apple’: The Systematic Eradication of ‘Otherness’ from the New York Crowd |
| title_short |
‘Polishing the Apple’: The Systematic Eradication of ‘Otherness’ from the New York Crowd |
| title_full |
‘Polishing the Apple’: The Systematic Eradication of ‘Otherness’ from the New York Crowd |
| title_fullStr |
‘Polishing the Apple’: The Systematic Eradication of ‘Otherness’ from the New York Crowd |
| title_full_unstemmed |
‘Polishing the Apple’: The Systematic Eradication of ‘Otherness’ from the New York Crowd |
| title_sort |
‘polishing the apple’: the systematic eradication of ‘otherness’ from the new york crowd |
| publisher |
Conserveries mémorielles |
| publishDate |
2010 |
| container_title |
URI:https://journals.openedition.org/cm |
| url |
https://ezproxy.univ-orleans.fr/login?url=https://journals.openedition.org/cm/686 |
| _version_ |
1877244200242642944 |