  Udmphikapbob Member Username: Udmphikapbob Post Number: 598 Registered: 07-2004 |
America and China: The Eagle and the Dragon Part two: Requiem for a dream Once symbolic of optimism and certainty, America's credit-crunched suburbs may be facing a decline as dramatic as that of Detroit, itself once a beacon of industry. Mick Brown and the photographer Alec Soth continue their investigation into the contrasting fortunes of the US and China http://www.telegraph.co.uk/por tal/main.jhtml?xml=/portal/200 8/07/05/sm_america05.xml Lots to digest in this article; I need to read part one too, I guess. Didn't see it discussed here yet. | ||
Philbert Member Username: Philbert Post Number: 384 Registered: 10-2003 |
its the British press. I wouldn't pay any attention to them. They have an unhealthy fascination with anything American and love to write how bad it is. | ||
Lilpup Member Username: Lilpup Post Number: 4594 Registered: 06-2004 |
They must not have read the reports of the knife-wielding killer in China yesterday. A growing wage gap is causing problems there are violence is on the rise. Seriously - 5 cops killed by a lone guy with a knife? | ||
Udmphikapbob Member Username: Udmphikapbob Post Number: 599 Registered: 07-2004 |
Look, it's not just another, "OMG Detriot suxx" diatribe by someone who has never been here, I think this is a well-written piece about the bigger picture of manufacturing decline, sprawl, and issues faced by all American cities. The four-part series uses the rise of China as the foil. "...not only a synonym for urban decay, but a repository of all of America's most intractable problems: the decline of manufacturing and the threat of competition from overseas; racial tensions; a housing market decimated by the subprime mortgage crisis." Part one was about life in Virginia and W. Va., where jobs are gone, and military recruitment is seen as the way out. It's at times a rambling piece, I think, and I'm hoping parts 3 and 4 tie in the China issue like the theme promises. | ||
Detroitplanner Member Username: Detroitplanner Post Number: 1705 Registered: 04-2006 |
Rambling? It was pretty darned long, I thought it was odd how they did not tie it up at the end, its like it is missing a conclusion. | ||
Flyingj Member Username: Flyingj Post Number: 246 Registered: 08-2006 |
It's an old-and ridiculous piece-I can say that since my neighbor has to deal with the Tent City they go off on, but painting that to their readers(slipping in a pointless Reagan-bashing? If they went to the History Museum a mere 3 miles West of there they'd see Ronnie's Solid Gold Iron!) as "This Is America" is more like "England's Dreaming" to me | ||
Planner_727 Member Username: Planner_727 Post Number: 142 Registered: 07-2006 |
I thought this was a fascinating article with many truths, interesting to read from his perspective. Obviously not the full picture of detroit, but certainly an interesting discussion of surburbia. | ||
Mpow Member Username: Mpow Post Number: 298 Registered: 11-2003 |
I like alec soth's work though, I wonder how in charge he was of the editorial choice of images. Though the images may just fit in the standard romanticization or hackneyed portrayal of Detroit ruins, they somehow pull through with their amazing formality and choice of scenes... (Message edited by mpow on July 02, 2008) | ||
Mpow Member Username: Mpow Post Number: 299 Registered: 11-2003 |
here is the photographer's website. http://www.alecsoth.com he has a great series and book covering the mississippi and niagra falls. | ||
Barnesfoto Member Username: Barnesfoto Post Number: 5229 Registered: 10-2003 |
thanks Mpow...I've been thinking lately that Detroit is the proverbial Canary in the coal mine for the decline of American Civilization, and the shrinking of the middle class; this story strengthens that idea. |
