Ground Zero-Visions Instead Of Ruins Summary

857 Words2 Pages

Vesna Petrešin’s journal article titled Ground Zero- Visions Instead of Ruins delineates society’s reaction to traumatic events through urbanism. As the title suggests, the article celebrates the idea of moving forward; the ability of the cities to integrate negative emotions into the environment (109). Petrešin embodies the concept of allowing fear and uncertainty as fundamentals of the built environment. She deliberates on the daunting terrorist attack in New York City that resulted in the collapse of the World Trade Center (Twin Towers). The article is striking in a way because Petrešin epitomized the ability of trauma to shape the environment of a city in grief. Though, Petrešin caught my attention through the style of her writing; persuasive …show more content…

For example, she had divided the article into four consecutive groups. The first group or topic introduced us to the importance of the Great World Center. The second and third topics acknowledged the sensitivity of the city; the fear and grief that is now a collected memory. Lastly, the fourth topic embodied how negative emotions could be integrated into the environment; how traumatic events could shape urban living. Petrešin was able to convince the reader more and more each topic; by the fourth topic, I had already agreed with the outlook of her concepts. She was able to do this because she created a sense of momentum throughout the article; as if each topic was a step closer to a climax. In other words, Petrešin did not provide all of her arguments all at once, but instead, she provided hints. At first, I asked to myself, “How could she think fear could shape an urban living?”, my question was then answered on the next topic, then another question arose, which was then answered in the next. This became a cycle which later resulted in subconsciously agreeing with Petrešin’s

Open Document