Comments on: The Globlurban Spread http://www.airoots.org/2010/10/the-globlurban-continuum/ A blog by Rahul Srivastava and Matias Echanove on adventitious roots, urban forests and villages, natural cities, lost tribes, new nomads and everything in between and under... Tue, 13 Aug 2013 03:30:59 +0200 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Nancy Thompson http://www.airoots.org/2010/10/the-globlurban-continuum/comment-page-1/#comment-4222 Nancy Thompson Sun, 03 Oct 2010 23:55:27 +0000 http://www.airoots.org/?p=999#comment-4222 As an artistic concept, the photography has a strange, abstract beauty. However, as the writer says, all cities, whether mega- or mini-, are comprised of neighborhoods, and those in turn dissolve into individual vistas at the level of the individual pedestrian. For many reasons, nonetheless, it does matter whether a city is a megacity or not. Size is important in whether an individual has the capacity to effect change and feels that one's own actions matter. Size and the compactness of the urban form directly influence air and noise pollution, the difficulties of arranging for suitable disposal of solid and human wastes, the potential for epidemics and mass terrorist acts, and the human health impacts of the stress of transportation and making the social connections necessary to make a living. Megacities provide plenty of the inefficiencies that lead to innovation in cities, but we think that in the case of these extremely large urban areas, breakdown is at least as likely as bursts of creativity. Just a few thoughts on the urban studies implications of what we realize is an art exhibition and commentary. As an artistic concept, the photography has a strange, abstract beauty. However, as the writer says, all cities, whether mega- or mini-, are comprised of neighborhoods, and those in turn dissolve into individual vistas at the level of the individual pedestrian.

For many reasons, nonetheless, it does matter whether a city is a megacity or not. Size is important in whether an individual has the capacity to effect change and feels that one’s own actions matter. Size and the compactness of the urban form directly influence air and noise pollution, the difficulties of arranging for suitable disposal of solid and human wastes, the potential for epidemics and mass terrorist acts, and the human health impacts of the stress of transportation and making the social connections necessary to make a living.

Megacities provide plenty of the inefficiencies that lead to innovation in cities, but we think that in the case of these extremely large urban areas, breakdown is at least as likely as bursts of creativity.

Just a few thoughts on the urban studies implications of what we realize is an art exhibition and commentary.

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