Louis Wirth’s definition of ‘the city’ fundamentally relies on three characteristics; a dense population, heterogeneity, and a large, permanent settlement. I think that this is an accurate, although simple, way to describe a city. If you only wish to understand the physical presence of a city (how large it should be or foe example) and distinguish it from a rural area, this is an adequate description. However, in order to truly comprehend the splendour of a modern city like Chicago, you need to consider many more levels within the city itself.
Wirth fails to demonstrate the economical diversity of the city that can be seen when one compares the affluent neighbourhood of the Gold Coast to that of the less wealthy Cabrini-Green. The mere fact that such assorted neighbourhoods exist along-side one another is not mentioned in Louis Wirth’s work, and such a distinctive aspect of the city wants some mention in any definition of it. He also neglects to mention the actual physicality of living within the city, with little (if any) mention of congestion, pollution, the encountering of hundreds of people on the street or the availability of goods literally minutes away (with 7-Elevens and Starbucks on almost every block).
The most interesting point that Wirth makes with reference to the urban way of life is his mention of how city dwellers experience “(weakened) bonds of kinship”(21) compared to residents in a rural community, even though frequently a city dweller may know dozens more people than a rural resident. This made me think a lot, and made me realise just how lost someone can feel when they know that many people, but may not be able to call all of them ‘friends’.
I know that I find myself lost, especially amongst so many cultures that are not my own, and particularly when I think just how LARGE the city is. You could even argue that a city like Chicago isn’t just one city at all, but dozens of small towns or cities enclosed in the same geographical area. The neighbourhoods are so diverse that sometimes it is difficult to comprehend that you are in the same place!
Wirth’s article was a very enjoyable read, but it I think it is stuck in the time of its publication. It reveals the fundamentals of urban life and what makes up the skeleton of a city, but misses a lot of what makes a modern city truly unique in nature.
Excellent post, Jenny. I particularly like your point about how a metropolis like Chicago isn't really one city at all but many different (overlapping and adjacent) smaller cities. In fact, we'll be focusing on all the different social worlds contained by Chicago when we turn to Zorbaugh's book The Gold Coast and the Slum.
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