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July 28, 2008

suburb.jpg
In this entry: quotes, warm up questions, discussion questions, resources

VIDEO SUMMARY:

In this video report, correspondent Fred De Sam Lazaro profiles an art exhibit in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which attempts to show how the supposedly uniform suburbs are actually very diverse places with complex demographics.

The exhibit, titled "Worlds Away: New Suburban Landscapes" is a collection of drawings, sculptures, photographs and multimedia platforms about the diverse nature of the suburbs, a perspective that the exhibits curators say is an uncommon one.

The artists discuss the architectural styles found in suburbia as well as the idea of the suburbs as part of the American dream, and how that idea has shaped suburban identity.

QUOTES:

'The idea of the American suburb is constantly changing, although the paradox is that it seems to stay static in most peoples' minds. Most people tend to have a post-World War II, what we call a sitcom suburb image in their head of what constitutes suburbia." - Andrew Blauvelt, curator

"For example, the photograph by Julie Christensen of a big box that's been converted to an office for Head Start, Head Start was initiated as a program for the urban poor. And so what that tells us about suburbia is that now there's poverty in suburbia, and there might always have been, but now somebody's documenting it. Somebody's capturing it." - Tracy Myers, curator

"Behind the uniform architecture, (artist Laura Migliorino) found anything but uniform demographics: same-sex couples, single-parent households, and a diversity of immigrants. She portrays them in their environs with a distinct style and technique." - Fred De Sam Lazaro

WARM UP QUESTIONS:

When you heard the word “suburbs,” what do you think of? Do you live in the suburbs? Who lives in the suburbs and how are they similar or different from people who live in urban or rural areas?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

Which of the works did you like the best?

Do you think that most people think of suburbs as a 1950s ideal neighborhood that never changes? Why do you think that impression exists?

Look up Head Start. Why is it significant that a Head Start office is located in an old retail building in the suburbs?

How do you imagine suburbs will change over the next 10 years? 100 years?

RESOURCES:

Transcript of this report


"Worlds Away: New Suburban Landscapes" on the Web

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Special Report: The New Urbanism

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