Working title: 'People-perception-place and conservation of cultural capital in the Historic Centre of Mexico City - La Alameda Central'
With over 20 million population, the Metropolitan Area of Mexico City is one of the world's largest cities (INEGI, 2014). The Historic Centre of Mexico City (HCMC) is the biggest in Latin America. The city was founded in 1521 after the Spanish conquest. It was built over the ruins of the Mexica Empire (1325-1521), which was grounded on the lake Texcoco (UNESCO-WHC, 2014).
HCMC combines elements of pre-colonial and colonial period. Currently, the area includes more than 1,600 monuments and historical buildings; this means the biggest concentration of architectural patrimony in Latin America (Mantecon, 2003
…show more content…
Discussions around the appropriation and use have taken place in the area. A historical review and analysis is necessary to understand different uses and practices in the HCMC and La Alameda …show more content…
Some scholars have discussed these cities under the 'transculturation concept, coined by Fernando Ortiz in 1940's. This conceptualisation has examined complex socio-political dynamics that have taken place in Latin America (Hernandez, Millington & Borden, 2008).
Thus, this research considers 'topophilia', as a concept emerged in phenomenology, which allows understanding people's behaviour and perception within La Alameda Central in the HCMC. For this analysis, it will be necessary to recognise the relationship between people, affections, memory, attitudes and values of place; as well as, sustainable urban renewal and planning that are reshaping the urban dynamics in the HCMC.
This study will use phenomenological methods developed in 'topophilia' analysis, to understand the urban phenomenon, social experiences and people's performance in La Alameda Central in the HCMC. It will use empirical methods of observation and registration, such as photography of situation or behaviour of people, tracing paths and movement patterns, surveys and questionnaires, psychological and cognitive maps, and environmental experience groups (Seamon, 1979). It will use contemporary data and methods, such as spatial qualities based on maps, models and
...ligious life of the town of San Miguel and construction of its main temple which from 1872 he was raised to parish. But like everyone, this temple of the Holy Trinity underwent several transformations, for example: in the first decades of the 19th century was built the current altar; and from 1881 to 1897 he received major improvements, like the composure of the entire building, the purchase of pictures, furniture and several sacred ornaments as well as the construction of the chapels of the Tabernacle and Nuestra Señora de la Soledad and the arches of the entrance to the former chapel of the Entombment of Christ and the old sacristy; the most recent improvement was made in the last years of the 20th century, and which involved the National Institute of anthropology and history, the Government of the State and the father Carlos Cabrero, responsible for the parish.
Although the Aztec civilization is a popular subject studied by the scholars, it tends to be one-dimensional: the elite and religion are the hearts of the study. The work here goes beyond that, as it tries to give us a new perspective on the “ordinary people”. The book studied here is titled Aztecs: An Interpretation, by Inga Clendinnen, first published in 1991. It studies the Aztecs people, also known as Mexicas, living in the empire that was Tenochtitlan, in the valley of Mexico. This work tries to be a reconstruction of the pre- colonial kingdom, before the arrival of the Spaniards in August 1521. Clendinnen successfully highlights how religion and sacrifices are perceived among the common people, and how they forge the lives of the inhabitants of Tenochtitlan. Nevertheless, even if she brings fascinating new elements, her lack of multiple sources puts doubt on the truth and accuracy of her statements.
Chavez Ravine was a self-sufficient and tight-knit community, a rare example of small town life within a large urban metropolis, but no matter how much the inhabitants loved thei...
Johns recognizes the architectural dependence of the influential Mexicans constructing Mexico City when he states, “Mexican architecture, on the other hand, was an expression of a city run by a people who were looking to create their own culture while entirely dependent on the industry and ideas of Europe and America” (22). The same construction that the elite felt was a celebration of a newfound dignity in the Mexican people was criticized, by visitors and locals alike, as grandiose and a futile effort to shield the native roots of a circle of imposters. Johns’s argues that the “Mexicans knew little of their adopted European tradition, had acquired even less of its taste, and enjoyed none of its tranquility” (23). While the influence on the Westside led to development, the squalor and lack of authority of the peasants on the Eastside created mesones, or as Johns described them, “.a little more than ‘a bare spot to lie down in, a grass mat, company with (the) vermin that squalor breeds.’” (48).
The stone was found in 1790 by accident in the Plaza Mayor of Mexico City, when workmen who were excavating the earth to pave the plaza. It was discovered facedown, so it only seemed as if it was a large blank stone until it was turned over and the intricate details and deity was finally shown. It was decided to be set on the side on the Catedral Metropolitana, where it was abused and misunderstood for nearly a century. It wasn’t until 1885 and almost a hundred years of abuse by the people of Mexico, it was decided to be placed in the Museo Nacional. Although researchers at the time knew the importance of the Aztec stone, “students of Mexican antiquities, the founders of our archaeology, eagerly urged the successive governments to shelter and protect this significant monument of the pre-Hispanic past from the ignominy that it had suffered. According to chroniclers of the period, when it was displayed, the ignorant masses hurled filth and rotten fruit at the calendrical relief. Even the soldiers who at a certain time occupied the centre of Mexico—because of the constant violent tumult and foreign invasions that characteriz...
Mexican civilization is very much affected due its contact. with France, New Orleans of the USA.”Design, style and gastronomy are expressions that show the vibe of Yucatan, sentiment relevance more than its personal kingdom.”(4).
Octavio Paz’s “Identical Time” and Ray Bradbury’s “The Pedestrian” have, in common, a theme of aliveness. They each feature certain individuals as particularly alive in their cities: the old man is alive in the busy dawn of Paz’s Mexico City, and Mr. Mead is alive in the silent night of a future Los Angeles envisioned by Bradbury. The individuals’ aliveness manifests as stillness in “Identical Time” and motion in “The Pedestrian” against the urban backgrounds - signifying, in both, living a human life freely, in the present and nature. Furthermore, in portraying the urban backgrounds as, in contrast to the individuals, dull and lifeless, the two pieces speak together to how cities may diminish and hinder our aliveness and humanity. In “Identical Time,” aliveness is attributed to a state of stillness against the backdrop of constant movement that is Mexico City.
Architecture, like many things, can also be made for the use of or inspired by the symbols people believe in. Therefore, art and architecture in Ancient Mesoamerica can be stated to be made for the use of religious symbols. Making architecture and art forms takes effort, dedication, and patience. Architecture can take years to make, as was s...
Mexico is a Latin American country just south of the USA. Mexico is a country that has tremendous influence on the USA. This is mostly due to the fact that it is so close. Another reason is that a large number of Mexicans live in the USA, both legally and illegally. Many Mexicans come to the USA to find work and send money back to their family still living in Mexico. Because of this close relationship Mexican culture has made a great impact on the USA. In this brief paper about Mexico I will discuss its history, geography, cultural contribution to the USA, a few items about the negative side of the country, and end with a few concluding remarks.
Of the many problems affecting urban communities, both locally and abroad, there is one issue in particular, that has been victimizing the impoverished within urban communities for nearly a century; that would be the problem of gentrification. Gentrification is a word used to describe the process by which urban communities are coerced into adopting improvements respective to housing, businesses, and general presentation. Usually hidden behind less abrasive, or less stigmatized terms such as; “urban renewal” or “community revitalization” what the process of gentrification attempts to do, is remove all undesirable elements from a particular community or neighborhood, in favor of commercial and residential enhancements designed to improve both the function and aesthetic appeal of that particular community. The purpose of this paper is to make the reader aware about the significance of process of gentrification and its underlying impact over the community and the community participation.
It will also illustrate how capitalism has flourished because of the prevalent 19th century Laissez Faire ideology. It will describe how the free market prevailed and expanded Los Angeles outward, while cultivating new public institutions and private enterprises. Finally, this paper will explore the “end product” that exists today through the works of the various authors outlined in this course and explain how Los Angeles has survived many decades of evolution, breaking new ground and serving as the catalyst for an urban metropolis. Los Angeles is unique in that it captures the essence of a multi-ecological setting, bringing the ocean, the skyscraper, and the happiest place on earth under one rooftop. Its deep-rooted culture engulfs the city’s character and overwhelms the spirit of L.A. Los Angeles has encompassed the circle of the Mexican pueblo that began in 1848 and has returned over two hundred fifty years later.
Mexico City was built above the Aztec City. Which was built above a lake, an actual lake, and after the many years it’s slowly starting to sink. During its time, the Aztec empire ruled over that area, until one day Spanish explorer Hernan Contes made it clear he was there to conquer the area. The Aztec emperor, when he first heard the news did nothing as he feared Cortez was a god and even offered him gift despite Cortez being there to take over. Mexico City is home to many beautiful museums, in fact it’s among one of the cities with the most museums in the world, which some are free in the weekends.
Again, this section will give a working definition of the “urban question’. To fully compare the political economy and ecological perspectives a description of the “urban question” allows the reader to better understand the divergent schools of thought. For Social Science scholars, from a variety of disciplines, the “urban question” asks how space and the urban or city are related (The City Reader, 2009). The perspective that guides the ecological and the social spatial-dialect schools of thought asks the “urban question” in separate distinct terminology. Respected scholars from the ecological mode of thinking, like Burgess, Wirth and others view society and space from the rationale that geographical scope determines society (The City Reader, 2009). The “urban question” that results from the ecological paradigm sees the relationship between the city (space) as influencing the behaviors of individuals or society in the city. On the other hand...
5. MacLachlan, Colin. “History of Mexico”. Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia. Computer Software. Microsoft , 2000. CD ROM.
In the “Metropolis and the Mental Life”, Georg Simmel aims to explicate the confines and conventions of modern life. Simmel accomplishes this as he compares modern life in a metropolis with that of the countryside, noting the behaviours and characteristics of people in response to external factors. Simmel explains this by explicitly detailing how social structures affect certain personal connections. Several prominent themes of urban living are investigated and considered by Simmel in his article, the main points, harshness of the metropolis, modernity and subjective and objective cultures, are discussed in this essay.