The Metropolitan Man

The Metropolitan Man

In Georg Simmel’s essay, “The Metropolis and Mental Life” he states, “the psychological foundation, upon which the metropolitan individuality is erected, is the intensification of emotional life due to the swift and continuous shift and external and internal stimuli” (Highmore 41). In essence Simmel is suggesting that the continuous activity of the metropolis creates a shield protecting him from outer stimuli that would exhaust his emotions. But in doing so, his sense of emotional expression becomes unresponsive. Upon examining the metropolitan man Simmel deduces that “metropolitan life, thus, underlies a heightened awareness and a predominance of intelligence” (Simmel 2). But also leaves the individual less responsive to his or her own emotions. He is so often trying to protect himself from the environment of the city that his emotions become very distraught and out of place.

In today’s fast-paced society, the metropolitan man is expected to have a keen knowledge of the world around him. Intellectual conversation is not only common, but also expected in the upper rungs of society. The media provides an outlet in which an individual can receive up to date news around the globe. Although helpful in increasing an individual’s global conscience, the media has assisted in deadening the senses of the metropolitan individual. On a daily basis the news is littered with images of war, hate and violence, the newscasters report these horrific instances with such a calm air and apathetic tone that they portray no emotions at all. Mass society is teaching the common man that emotions are not needed in reacting to devastating events that do not directly affect the person. Emotion becomes deadened by th...

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...ne to comfort him. He knows he can find this sanctuary in a stripper.

Georg Simmel created his theories on the metropolitan man by observing him in his habitat. Everyday individuals are comforted with the reality that life is inevitable. It is often hard for people to step back and examine their lives for what they are. By pointing out the psychological effects of the city on the man other we able to look at the metropolitan life in a way outside the norms of society.

Works Cited

- Highmore, Ben. Everyday Life and Cultural Theory. Routledge publishing. New York,

New York. Copyright 2002.

- Simmel, Georg. The Conflict in Modern Culture and other Essays. Teachers College

press. New York, New York. Copyright 1968.

- Simmel, Georg. The Metropolis and Mental Life. Free Press. New York, New York.

Copyright 1950.