Is Urban Loneliness a Myth?
While searching the internet for good reads on this topic I am exploring, I stumbled upon this interesting article. Although Jennifer Senior writes about urban loneliness more in the context of New York City, the theme is extremely relevant with Chicago's Strangers. If my study interests you at all, I definitely recommend you to take a moment and read at least the first page. Jennifer Senior does a very good job of elaborating on the theme of people living as if they were their own islands in a city full of other islands... (but with better metaphors than mine)! Backed up with research, her article is very thought-provoking. The idea that the type of isolation many willingly live in actually forms a bigger picture of community unity and togetherness is contradictory. Yet, I can see how that many be true. Then again, could this mean something more, something else? If true, could it mean we have simply normalized the lifestyle (the behavior) to the point where we are becoming nearly unaware of it as an issue? Is isolation an issue?
Although not something I will be exploring in my study, I definitely think that the idea of the Internet as something that is making people lonelier (or not) is also worth a mention. I'd bet that many of you reading this blog have at some point heard remarks made about how technology and social media drive us apart. I know I have, mainly from older people... mainly from my parents! But what is this idea of loneliness? Is it a product of society or is it a personal choice? Feel free to comment and share what you think!
Once again, I really, really, think you should take a look at the article: Is Urban Loneliness a Myth?
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Sunday, September 28, 2014
The Why's to this Blog
Hi,
My name is Camila and I am a senior at Francis W. Parker School.
Many of you are probably wondering what Chicago's Strangers is about and whether it is worth your time. Hopefully this satisfies your curiosity a bit:
This blog stems from an idea I had my junior year for an independent study. Actually, this blog is the live stream of consciousness that results from my interactions and experiences throughout this study. I intend to focus on the behaviors of random pedestrians and CTA passengers as I try to explore the overall response the people of Chicago have when approached by a stranger. Why? Mostly because I'm interested in the why’s of people's impassivity and of the preconceived notions that city-dwellers have when it comes to meeting new people.
I became interested in this topic while riding the CTA brown line one warm fall day last year. As I rode from the Sedgwick stop to the Kimball stop, I wondered, "how can one sit next to another person and not acknowledge their presence?" With my earphones plugged in and my bag occupying the seat next to me, I came to the realization that I myself was an unknowing participant of this frigid city culture. I wondered how many others unknowingly shut the world out when they went out and about. I can't even begin to speculate how many do so knowingly...
Through this study, I hope to gain a better perspective of the diversity that inhabits our city and maybe (although I highly doubt it) end up with answers to all my questions.
My name is Camila and I am a senior at Francis W. Parker School.
Many of you are probably wondering what Chicago's Strangers is about and whether it is worth your time. Hopefully this satisfies your curiosity a bit:
This blog stems from an idea I had my junior year for an independent study. Actually, this blog is the live stream of consciousness that results from my interactions and experiences throughout this study. I intend to focus on the behaviors of random pedestrians and CTA passengers as I try to explore the overall response the people of Chicago have when approached by a stranger. Why? Mostly because I'm interested in the why’s of people's impassivity and of the preconceived notions that city-dwellers have when it comes to meeting new people.
I became interested in this topic while riding the CTA brown line one warm fall day last year. As I rode from the Sedgwick stop to the Kimball stop, I wondered, "how can one sit next to another person and not acknowledge their presence?" With my earphones plugged in and my bag occupying the seat next to me, I came to the realization that I myself was an unknowing participant of this frigid city culture. I wondered how many others unknowingly shut the world out when they went out and about. I can't even begin to speculate how many do so knowingly...
Through this study, I hope to gain a better perspective of the diversity that inhabits our city and maybe (although I highly doubt it) end up with answers to all my questions.
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