noreply@blogger.com (Frank A. Mills) — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 16:06:00 +0000

During these last couple days two comments in the news have caught my attention. The first from Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin who commenting on complaints directed at her, said, "This is Barack Obama's time right now, and this is an historic moment in our nation and this can be a shining moment for America and our history, and look what we're talking about. Again, we're talking about my shoes and belts and skirts. It's ridiculous."

The other made by President-Elect Barack Obama who, following a news conference on the economy, ended his comment on the type of dog he would like to get for his daughters with, "Mutts like me."

No matter our opinion of Sarah Palin, her gracious comment is right on, and she needs to be credited for it. This is indeed a historic moment in the history of our nation, one that speaks to the world of "America Way with a most powerful statement. Not only is it Barack Obama's time right now— it is America's time.

For the first time in our history, we Americans have recognized that in the same way Barack Obama is a mutt, so is America. During a time when in a few years whites will no longer be in the majority it is about time that we recognize that America is not white, black, brown, yellow, or any other color, but a mixture – a mutt, if you will – and that this is what makes America great. To my mind, the fact that we as Americans can openly praise our "muttness" speaks louder than even the election of America's first black President.

Our "muttness" is no more obvious anywhere else than in our cities. As Obama campaigned, he promised billions of dollars for the revitalization of our decaying urban cores, not just for infrastructure and development, but also to address root issues. Barack Obama began his rise in politics as an urban activist. There is no question that his campaign was driven by activists, many with strong urban roots. I think we will see a rise of activism in our urban cities at levels unseen since the 60's (see previous post).

I am excited for many reasons, not the least being the potential for Urban Paradoxes: E-Zine. We are on the threshold of an "urban momentum," not experienced for decades, if ever. Urban Paradoxes: E-Zine intends to be an integral part of the movement.

This can not happen without you. We need correspondents from around the globe, we need your articles and reviews, we need you to read and share the zine, we even need advertisers; nevertheless, none of what we write in the pages of the Urban Paradoxes will make any difference unless you act upon it in the neighborhoods where you live, work, and play.

e-zine — This past week we have been asking, "What is it that we really want Urban Paradoxes to be?" Followed with, "Does 'magazine' best reflect that?"

Fact is, "zine" is more descriptive of our mission than "magazine." Zines have been published from the birth of printing press. Thomas Paine published an exceptionally popular pamphlet titled "Common Sense;" a zine that in no small part contributed to the American Revolution. The hallmarks of a true zine is that it far enough out of the mainstream – read that status quo – to be included among the more traditional media where most urban magazines find themselves.

Technologically , Urban Paradoxes will not function (or be formatted) as a traditional digital magazine, nor will it philosophically. It will, of course, contain traditional content, but Urban Paradoxes will primarily challenge our pre-perceived and accepted ideologies about the urban experience. Urban Paradoxes will be hard-hitting, as well as entertaining. In this sense it is a continuation of the old Urban Paradoxes' Flâneur blog.

Urban Paradoxes has received a number of emails asking about what we will be looking for in the way of content. We will be looking for well-written, well-thought out essays that revolve around six themes:

The Cultured City
The 24-hour City
The Fun City
The Connected City
The Healthy City
The Spiritual City.

As you think about what you might submit, please keep in mind that Urban Paradoxes both documents and challenges the urban experience. We will consider any creative media that addresses these themes in unique ways. Please query us with your ideas no matter how far-out or off-the-wall they are. We plan on being adventurous and risk-taking.

We will also be looking for correspondents who can update on a regular basis, blog-like, what's happening in cities around the world. If you are interested, let us know.

If you are a performer, band, or an event, Urban Paradoxes will include reviews, as well as info on significant urban events.

noreply@blogger.com (Frank A. Mills) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:50:00 +0000

"The City as an Act of Will"

This morning in the local paper I read an article where residents of Cleveland had their say about what was wrong with the city. While reading the article I was reminded of Edmund Bacon's opening words to his excellent Design of Cities. In the third sentence Bacon writes, "The form [of the city]," Bacon writes, " "is determined by the multiplicity of decisions made by the people who live in it."

I think we can also say with confidence that the converse is true as well: The form of the city is determined by the multiplicity of decisions not made by the people who live in it.

To do nothing, to not make decisions, by default allows others to make those decisions. One thing we do well in Cleveland is to hand over, without question, decision making powers to others. If we fail to take ownership into our own hands, and allow others to make the decisions, we have no right to complain about the state of our city.

When we are willing to -- no, there has to be more -- when we actively reclaim the decision process at the grassroots level then we have the right to complain about direction, because now we are in the position to to do something about it. Otherwise, as Bacon writes, "We are in danger of one of the most important concepts of mankind, the future is what we make it[italics added].

Flâneur

Have you noticed the new layout for Flâneur? While still the "musings of a flâneur" we wanted to make it something more, something that would prompt you, the reader, to become involved with us. In the right-hand column there is a list of some of our new projects. Please check them out, perhaps there is something there that you will want to become involved with. On the first of each month there will be a new essay that explores the urban experience posted on Flâneur. Likewise, we will be posting new reviews and photo essays on a monthly basis.

Urban Paradoxes: The Magazine

We are excited about the direction we are going. In 2009 we plan to introduce a cutting-edge, interactive urban magazine that will enfold into it all of the best of Urban Paradoxes, and so much more too. Urban Paradoxes, in conjunction with the magazine, be begin presenting Urban Puncture, urban art experiences that are totally off-the-wall mind-bending events that puncture how our preconceived conceptions of the urban experience. Watch for them; better yet, get involved! We will be looking for urban artists of all stripes who have innate, visionary creativeness. Check out the Projects page to see what we need for both Urban Paradoxes: The Magazine and Urban Puncture.

New Book Reviews

Cities Back From The Edge: new life for downtown, Roberta Gratz with Norman Mintz (New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1998) paper, 361 pages with index, $32,00, ISBN: 0471361240.

Creative Time: The Book, Creative Time (Ruth A. Peltan, editor) (New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2006) hardbound, 290 pages, $60.00, ISBN: 978-1-56898-696.

Click here to read reviews.

Notebook

"Notebook" is the page you are now on. It is here that you will find updates on all new postings throughout the website as well as news and information about Urban Paradoxes events and projects. All of the old individual feeds have been disabled. "Notebook" is available via RRS Feed or subscription links in the right column. (Urban Paradoxes does not share email addresses with others.)

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