For many people around the world, New York City is an exciting and adventurous place, full of many experiences and opportunities. Traveling to New York City or even living in New York City is considered to be a dream to many. Many people come as tourists to explore what New York City has to offer. However, people often forget that New York City is considered home for many and not just a tourist site. The difference between those who live here and those who come as tourists, is that after living here for a long time the excitement for New York City begins to fade away. Joan Didion experienced this first hand and explains the change from being a newcomer to becoming a resident of New York in her essay Goodbye For all That. On the other hand, …show more content…
I definitely agree with Joan because after living in any place for a long time, eventually the excitement starts to wear off. Even though New York City has A LOT to offer, it still becomes boring after a while. The media, especially movies, try to portray New York City as the “dream” city to live in. It’s portrayed as a city full of exciting adventures, new opportunities, and overall a fun place to live. Yes, the fact that they call it the fun and exciting can be true if you live somewhere like Manhattan, particularly around Times Square or Broadway, where all the fun and adventurous things happen. However, after doing all the entertaining and exciting things New York City has to offer, it starts to become boring and just like any other place in the world. Reality also starts to hit you when you realize that everything in New York City costs a fortune! Therefore it makes sense that those who have been raised in New York City don’t appreciate it as much as those from the South or West, because there are also many cons to living in New York that people might not think about. Besides it being expensive, New York is also very crowded, smelly, and the weather isn’t that great either. Perhaps, the people who aren’t from the East Coast get their knowledge of New York City from the media and therefore have high hopes for New York City. In reality, those that lived or do live on the East Coast understand that the excitement wears off after a while and it no longer becomes fun and exciting. I have honestly always thought exactly what Joan Didion said. I always think that if I didn’t live in New York, it would probably be one of the main places I would want to travel too. But then I remember that I already do live in New York, and sometimes I take it for granted
essence of New York and all its nuances in the form of terse observations. Whether
New Yorkers are stereotypically known as a crass and rude group, devoid of compassion. Having visited other places in the world I can frankly attest that I have never experienced apathy so widely spread throughout a populace as I have felt living in New York. The "New York attitude" isn't unique to lower class individuals who are down on their luck; it transcends class, gender, and race. It's evident in the Wall Street white collar, the ghetto rogue, the chubby mothers of three-and me. It's a compelling force. I've been trained, conditioned like one of Dr. Pavlov's dogs, to behave this way; to bark on demand, to push as I'm being shoved, to hate when hated.
Colson Whitehead ponders the essence of New York in his collection of essays titled, The Colossus of New York. Throughout the entire collection of essaysWhitehead inquires about what New York stands for based on the journey’s of its inhabitants and visitors. By establishing a sense of authenticity and creating an intimate relationship between him and the reader, Whitehead effectively provides his readers with a genuine account of New York. This genuineness found in Whitehad’s writing has not been met without criticism. Wyatt Mason’s critique of Whitehead’s essays reiterates throughout the review that Whitehead’s account go New York isn’t unique to New York and that the essayist isn’t particularly attentive to detail. While I agree with the
“It got to be easy to look at New Yorkers as animals, especially looking down from some place like a balcony at Grand Central at the rush hour Friday afternoon.” (Tom Wolfe). “O Rotten Gotham” argues that New Yorkers are in a state of behavioral sink. It would not be long before a “population collapse” or a “massive die off”.
New York City’s population is a little over 8.3 million people. 8.3 million people are spread out among five boroughs and each have their own set routine. Each one of those 8.3 million see New York in a different way becuase “You start building your private New York the first time you lay eyes on it” (“City Limits” 4). Some people are like Colson Whitehead who “was born here and thus ruined for anywhere else” (“City Limits” 3). Others may have “moved here a couple years ago for a job. Maybe [they] came here for school” (“City Limits” 3). Different reasons have brought these people together. They are grouped as New Yorkers, but many times, living in New York is their only bond. With on going changes and never ending commotion, it is hard to define New York and its inhabitants in simple terms.
Dumenil, Lynn, ed. "New York City." The Oxford Encyclopedia of American Social History. N.p.: Oxford UP, 2012. Oxford Reference. Web. 8 Apr. 2013.
When comparing Western New York to New York City there are significant cultural differences that come to mind, but also some similarities. New York City is considered the most populous city in the United States. According to the 2014 census the population of the metropolitan region of the city reached to about twenty three million residents. Because of the rapidly growing population it has been named the cultural and financial capital of the world. The city is known for its big impact on finance, art, fashion, education, and entertainment. On the other hand, Western New York is more known for its scenic attractions, agriculture, award winning wineries, and classic style of living. The census bureau in 2014 also stated that if Western New York was counted as one single area the population would be significantly smaller than the cities, just topping over two and a half million. Because of all the farmland and less populated areas in Western New York, it leaves room tons of room for agriculture. A lot of western New Yorkers stick to the basic means of living like operating a family farm, owning your own business, and supplying your family however possible. For example, in the
Washington D.C: Our Nation’s Capital Although the entire world is familiar with the City of Washington as the United State’s capital, the city was nonexistent when we became a nation in 1789. Thanks to the brilliant design of the French born engineer, Pierre Charles L’Enfant and his assistants Benjamin Banneker and Andrew Ellicot, our capital city that was once a swamp now is beautiful with many different parks, gardens trees, tall buildings and wide avenues. Washington, District of Columbia named after Christopher Columbus, has played a unique role in the wars of our nation and has been dramatically affected by their awesome events.
I've loved this city since I was knee-high everything about it sprung out at me, the bright bold lights of times square, the hustle and bustle of Greenwich village and China Town and the serenity of central park. Everything about this city made me feel at home. I stepped out off the corner of pearl street and skipped into the Starbucks coffee shop on the other side of the street. The coffee shop
Why are outsiders so fascinated with New York Is it the way that our city is portrayed by producers & directors? To the typical native New Yorker there is nothing special about the location in which we live it’s just average. the common notion to outsiders it that new York is this great city surrounded by fashion, gilts and glamour, normally they think of Manhattan which includes one world trade, the empire state building, central park, etc. people who aren’t from our city don’t know what it’s like to live here, they don’t understand what it takes out of someone to constantly put up with the stench, the noise, the exorbitant prices of everything & the long unending winters.
When you associate anything with New York City it is usually the extraordinary buildings that pierce the sky or the congested sidewalks with people desperate to shop in the famous stores in which celebrities dwell. Even with my short visit there I found myself lost within the Big Apple. The voices of the never-ending attractions call out and envelop you in their awe. The streets are filled with an atmosphere that is like a young child on a shopping spree in a candy store. Although your feet swelter from the continuous walking, you find yourself pressing on with the yearning to discover the 'New York Experience'.
It is easy to fall into the trap of believing that Times Square has always been the magical place that it is today. This however is far from the reality, and truth of Times Square’s unique history. Makagon (2004) writes in his book, that city officials became increasingly aware of the importance of enriching the general atmosphere of Times Square. (p. 51). City officials wanted Times Square to be seen more than solely a place of crime, and a city full of porno theatres (Makagon, 2004, p. 51). How did Times Square go from a trashy city, to one of the most popular borough’s in the country? This incredible change is characterized by the term, “Disneyfication” (Makagon, 2004, p.50). Disneyfication turned Times Square from a “seedy porno district”, into a place where entertainment is described as, “family friendly” (Makagon, 2004, p.51). It appears this systematic change did wonders for the “city that never sleeps”. The city known for its Broadway shows, amazing restaurants, and the dazzling lights was once irrelevant in the country which is a under looked aspect to Times Square
Without a doubt, Times Square in New York City is a unique experience, but the image created by TV and movies does not show the gloominess that accompanies the euphoria of being in the Big Apple. The atmosphere is so exhilarating and exciting, you don’t even know what to do for a few minutes, but it is tinged with the bitter reality that sadness and melancholy also trail closely behind the positive. With most, if not all, of your senses being stimulated – sometimes all at once – Times Square creates a memory that will surely be cherished, and haunt you for the rest of your life.
Generally speaking, life in the city is more hectic and clamorous. While a vast majority of Americans pack themselves into our major cities, there are still millions who live outside of the cities. Certainly, there are a lot more activities in the city: shopping malls and restaurants galore, thrift stores, libraries, and concert...
I think we all have a beautiful place in our mind. I have a wonderful place that made me happy a lot of times, years ago. But sometimes I think that I am the only person who likes this place and I'm asking myself if this place will be as beautiful as I thought when I will go back to visit it again. Perhaps I made it beautiful in my mind.