  Mind_field Member Username: Mind_field Post Number: 549 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 209.240.205.61 |
By iconic city, I mean instantly recognizable amongst a majority of Americans for one thing, be it an industry, monument, or event, or maybe some other thing. Cities that are undeniably iconic IMO are: San Francisco LA NYC New Orleans Las Vegas DC What do you think? | ||
Focusonthed Member Username: Focusonthed Post Number: 137 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 24.192.25.47 |
If Las Vegas is, Detroit is. Las Vegas is known for only one thing. Detroit is generally either known as "a dangerous place" or "the motor city" so therefore, I say yes. | ||
Tetsua Member Username: Tetsua Post Number: 579 Registered: 01-2004 Posted From: 68.60.110.67 |
Motown | ||
Xd_brklyn Member Username: Xd_brklyn Post Number: 135 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.88.89.94 |
Most definitely. And depending on the level, you could include a lot more. For starters: Portland, ME for its lobster industry Salem, MA for the witchcraft trials Nantucket, MA for its former whaling industry Also NYC has 4 of its 5 of its boroughs as iconic: The Bronx: the bombers, the cheer, the accent Queens: World's Fair Grounds, Archie Bunker Manhattan: eastside, westside, uptown, downtown Brooklyn: Ralph Kramden, the boys of summer & those WWII movies where that "Common Man" soldier is always from Brooklyn | ||
Broken_main Member Username: Broken_main Post Number: 1083 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 69.222.11.226 |
In an unrelated story, I find it amazing that the Monopoly game will be coming our with a new "Then and Now" version of the game. There is a contest to choose what cities should be represented on the gameboard. i find it hard to believe that Detroit wasn't even listed as a choice. I have submitted a letter to the company expressing my displeasure. Go see for yourself at Monopoly.com | ||
Hysteria Member Username: Hysteria Post Number: 95 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 152.163.100.8 |
Overseas I bet Detroit is one of the most recognized (by name) American cities. | ||
7milekid Member Username: 7milekid Post Number: 2 Registered: 01-2006 Posted From: 164.76.205.164 |
Detroit is definatly represented by on thing, the american auto industry. When talking about things auto related the big 3 are often grouped together and known only as "Detroit". What other city can say that its name single handedly represents an entire industry? | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 1420 Registered: 02-2005 Posted From: 141.213.173.94 |
Yes. Iconic as a place of industry, as the biggest city in Michigan, for cultural regions, for sports, and as an embellishment of typical urban symptoms post WWII. | ||
Darwinism Member Username: Darwinism Post Number: 486 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 69.209.140.165 |
My answer is yes, Detroit would most definitely be considered an iconic city. #1 Detroit is an icon of automobile. #2 Detroit is also an icon of a genre of music. | ||
Andylinn Member Username: Andylinn Post Number: 23 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 68.40.195.233 |
detroit is one of america's MOST iconic cities. Detroit IS (if not in actuality, by name) the automobile center of the world Detroit IS Motown, Techno, Garage Rock... (mostly motown) Detroit is urban decay... (sadly) I think few cities in America are more iconic... namely LA, NYC, WDC | ||
Jiminnm Member Username: Jiminnm Post Number: 471 Registered: 02-2005 Posted From: 68.35.85.184 |
The above two posters hit the nail on its proverbial head. Elsewhere in the US, and in Europe, Detroit is defined as the Motor City, or Motown, or both - cars and music define Detroit for the world. | ||
Gmich99 Member Username: Gmich99 Post Number: 89 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 24.208.240.225 |
While in Europe the all the Germans knew about Detroit and called it the Motor City as did the Japanese tourists I spoke with. Obviously these two countries make up the big 3 of auto producing nations. The six other countries I visited in Europe were hit or miss. Some of the people knew of Detroit some didn't and they didn't seem to know anothing about it being the Motor City, where the Germans and Japanese all seemed to be fully aware that Detroit was the Motor City. | ||
Super_d Member Username: Super_d Post Number: 846 Registered: 08-2005 Posted From: 69.213.81.13 |
To Most Blacks, Detroit is the most recognized 'Black City' in amerikkka. Worldwide, I say that it is iconic, due to the history of the automobile production! 'Motor-City' super d(motordetroit) | ||
Hysteria Member Username: Hysteria Post Number: 96 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 152.163.100.8 |
Gmich99, which city is the 'German' Detroit? The whole Rhine/Ruhr industrial area or is there a specific city? | ||
Gmich99 Member Username: Gmich99 Post Number: 90 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 24.208.240.225 |
I believe Stuggart, Germany is the Motor City of Germany. HQ of Mercedes is located in Stuggart and was the topic of conversation whenever German autos were mentioned. | ||
Iheartthed Member Username: Iheartthed Post Number: 36 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 141.213.66.34 |
Wow @ the Monopoly thing. Detroit is the only major city in the country that didn't make the list. | ||
Iheartthed Member Username: Iheartthed Post Number: 37 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 141.213.66.34 |
Well, except for Pittsburgh and Cincinnati... but Cleveland over Detroit?!?!? Wow. | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1079 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.40.102 |
If the salt mines ever flood, Detroit will be an ionic city. /still working on my SDYPDJ | ||
Spitty Member Username: Spitty Post Number: 463 Registered: 07-2004 Posted From: 69.213.206.54 |
This from shopadidas.com, a description of their "Detroit" Shoe: Detroit A style straight from "8 Mile", this is a sleeker, more comfortable take on classic adidas running shoes. The Detroit is for the serious sneaker fan who's all about keepin' it real. Another Description from Urban Outfitters: Detroit A stylish take on classic running shoe styling with some indoor soccer details as well, the Detroit, like its namesake city, is no joke. Super soft suede upper is countered by bold bright striping on the sides and matching logo printing toward the heel, plus a textured tab at the heel...  Detroit has a shoe named after it, and based on these descriptions I'd say that Detroit is iconic for being no joke, real, and maybe the bad ass capital of the world? | ||
Hysteria Member Username: Hysteria Post Number: 100 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 152.163.100.8 |
IMO, people consider Detroit to be a 'real' American city with real problems, a tough, no nonsense city ... to quote a line from a famous movie of the past ... "I'm nobody's fool ... least of all yours." George Sanders, 'All About Eve' 1950. Keepin' it real. | ||
Dougw Member Username: Dougw Post Number: 1095 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.248.42.122 |
Yes, iconic. | ||
Deputy_mayor_2026 Member Username: Deputy_mayor_2026 Post Number: 19 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 64.12.116.204 |
In a GQ article that listed the great things about America, Detroit was #21. I don't recall NYC even showing up. The "Paris of the Midwest" was featured because of its influential effect on music. | ||
Kilgore_south Member Username: Kilgore_south Post Number: 36 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 12.191.225.130 |
Not sure about the German Detroit, but during the recent Olympics they were calling Turin the "Detroit of Italy." I don't think they meant it charitably. | ||
Kilgore_south Member Username: Kilgore_south Post Number: 37 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 12.191.225.130 |
Just checked out the Monopoly thing. Kind of disappointing, but what nationally famous landmarks do we have? That's what they want you to vote on. Detroit is iconic without a doubt but more for its industry, a state of mind, music etc. | ||
Hysteria Member Username: Hysteria Post Number: 102 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 152.163.100.8 |
I believe NBC and others said that because Italy's largest auto company, Fiat, has their HQ in Turin. Fiat is also the majority owner of Ferrari of which (I believe) Maserati is part of. Alfa Romeo is also a division of Fiat ... Therefore, I don't think it's too far fetched to call Turin the Detroit of Italy. | ||
Rberlin Member Username: Rberlin Post Number: 526 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 68.76.54.108 |
I think Porsche is based in Stuttgart along with Daimler-Chrysler. I would think where ever VW was located would be more Detroit like than Stuttgart though. Does Detroit have a German sister city? Toyota City makes sense. | ||
Thecarl Member Username: Thecarl Post Number: 726 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 69.14.30.175 |
i asked a woman from china what people in her homeland think of when they think of detroit. she said usually, the pistons; then, the motor city. when i asked her if any cities in the u.s. had a reputation for crime, she said probably, chicago. also, i saw a comedian from new york who said his notion of detroit, before coming here, was that the city was full of smart people who knew how to engineer and build cars, highly intelligent people who knew how to design and manufacture things and assemble all sorts of complicated machinery to run the factories. since he was from new york, he probably had a baseline expectation that big cities have crime, so he looked beyond that - in the same way that new york has crime, but people typically think of the statue of liberty, the empire state building, the brooklyn bridge, metropolitan museum of art, st. patrick's cathedral, the yankees, etc., when they picture new york. and speaking of new york - one thing i always liked about the locals when i traveled there - as soon as i told folks i was from detroit, quite often the first thing that would happen is they'd go down the roll call of detroit sports greats - joe louis, sugar ray robinson, gordie howe, sid abel, ty cobb, hal newhouser, bob lanier, etc., and they'd peal off all the championship clubs, like the '68 tigers. i always thought that the average new yorker knew more about detroit sports than a lot of detroiters themselves! | ||
Jasoncw Member Username: Jasoncw Post Number: 150 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 148.61.248.170 |
Of course Detroit is iconic! | ||
Chitaku Member Username: Chitaku Post Number: 190 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 68.43.107.72 |
i agree it's the badass capitol. Defenitly get street cred being from Detroit when you're in other towns | ||
Ray Member Username: Ray Post Number: 682 Registered: 06-2004 Posted From: 68.42.220.37 |
Totally iconic. Remember the song "Chicago, New York, Detroit it's all the same place." | ||
Pdtpuck Member Username: Pdtpuck Post Number: 14 Registered: 01-2006 Posted From: 208.251.168.194 |
/\ someone earlier said (paraphrasing) "becasue of tangible things, not state of mind, music, etc." I would think they chose Cleveland because of what...Drew Carey?!?!? Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame? What Detroit has given to the world in auto man. ALONE outpaces anything friggin' Cleveland has to offer! (Of course, I'm forgetting the rock n' roll along with the "cruising" scene, aren't I?!?) |
