I have never had Indian food, so today was to be a new adventure on many levels. I have mentioned before that each area has its own heart beat. I met these two sociologists from New York, one was the professor from Columbia, whose lecture I had attended on inequalities in education in the UK and US and the other was his partner who had worked both in academia and in the public sector policy making. The restaurant was in west London. I haven't been to west London, but I did know it's the theater district of the city. The area was the busiest I have seen in London. There were endless crowd of people in all directions. The scene painted by conversations in multiple languages, cigarette smoke, the roar of fancy cars, and people ducking in and out of doors. There are restaurants, theaters, historic national landmarks, like Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery, and statues of English heroes sprinkled over the area. The business section of the city looms in the distant. It feels big and alive and looking at distance it seems like its expanding. Soaking it all in, I thought of Herman Melville's Moby Dick. There’s an imperialist edge to this area of the city. It flaunts its money, power, influence. It’s a touristy, distinctly upper class area, and filled with what’s considered high culture (read theater). There’s an air of entitlement and privilege to the people. I saw them bump into others with no pleasantries, and ignored those who needed help. On the stairs leading out of the station, there was an elderly woman struggling with a bag. No one stop to help. They pushed past her slightly bumping shoulders. Eventually, I helped her, but was the only one who attempted. uEach part looks identical. Around every corner, there are theaters , TGIFridays, Five Guys burgers, and Angus Steakhouses. The cycle of business repeats every few blocks and it paints a future of sameness. I see people experiencing homelessness everywhere. It is by far the most that I have seen. They provide a stark contrast to the area and provide a visual divide between rich and poor; have and have nots; living a future and living to survive. These people were largely ignored and stepped over. They merely served as the backdrop for social inequality. Because of their position in society they also serve as a symbolic Ismael. Telling a story, of a London, that wants to create a upper and middle class. I felt more disconnected to this section more than any of the others. It feels London is growing and changing. Like Captain Ahab, the West End represents dominance and imperialism. This is what London wants to be. The white whale represents the poor and traditional ethnic minority areas that are using the spear of gentrified.
2 Comments
Pete Carver
6/4/2016 10:51:36 am
(read theatre)?!?!? C'mon, man! :)
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Myron
6/5/2016 03:29:16 pm
lol I know
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Myron Strong
professor. learner. traveler. emerging artist Archives
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