This year, city branding has gone to a whole new level. Apparently, ThisBigCity has begun to form a dictionary of city identities. It has helped certain places attract tourism and do well in economic competition. In order to reinvent themselves to become global destinations for culture, history, and wealth, cities have developed an urban language.
Branding is not a new thing. Until the twenties, Miami was only known by a select few beach dwellers. Then suddenly, the beautiful white sand was discovered, and economic opportunity sought as hotels began popping up. During and after the second world war, Miami evolved an identity with iconic figures such as Jackie Gleason, Art Deco design, Al Pacino in Scarface, and so on. Tourism for the wealthy and a life of luxury was what made Miami distinct. Today, when one says the word Miami, the word itself contains a lot of baggage. It could mean luxury, wealthy Latinos, beautiful people, international gateway, salsa music, house music, NBA champions, and very recently, art.
Other cities in the world have embraced similar branding technique. Now, as urbanism becomes a more popular trend, individual locations must carve a niche for themselves in the world economy by developing positive images that are natural, not just artificially created. ThisBigCity has tried its hand at semiotics this time, finding out that this new dictionary of places tells us a lot about the deeper connotations (positive or pejorative) we give specific cities when we mention them or use them as a part of speech.
Some examples?
Branding is not a new thing. Until the twenties, Miami was only known by a select few beach dwellers. Then suddenly, the beautiful white sand was discovered, and economic opportunity sought as hotels began popping up. During and after the second world war, Miami evolved an identity with iconic figures such as Jackie Gleason, Art Deco design, Al Pacino in Scarface, and so on. Tourism for the wealthy and a life of luxury was what made Miami distinct. Today, when one says the word Miami, the word itself contains a lot of baggage. It could mean luxury, wealthy Latinos, beautiful people, international gateway, salsa music, house music, NBA champions, and very recently, art.
Other cities in the world have embraced similar branding technique. Now, as urbanism becomes a more popular trend, individual locations must carve a niche for themselves in the world economy by developing positive images that are natural, not just artificially created. ThisBigCity has tried its hand at semiotics this time, finding out that this new dictionary of places tells us a lot about the deeper connotations (positive or pejorative) we give specific cities when we mention them or use them as a part of speech.
Some examples?
L.A.: adj.
1. Glitzy, glamorous, opulent
2. Dirty, dangerous, dingy
3. Weird
4. A less-European synonym for cool
1. Glitzy, glamorous, opulent
2. Dirty, dangerous, dingy
3. Weird
4. A less-European synonym for cool
Berlin: adj.
1. A space that melds together elements of high and vernacular culture
2. A space that combines oppositional elements
3. Synonym for cool
1. A space that melds together elements of high and vernacular culture
2. A space that combines oppositional elements
3. Synonym for cool
Brusselise: v.
1. A process of urban densification that lacks planning foresight
2. Maintaining a ‘hands-off’ approach in urban planning
3. Pejorative term for placing buildings in a neighbourhood in which they do not fit
2. Maintaining a ‘hands-off’ approach in urban planning
3. Pejorative term for placing buildings in a neighbourhood in which they do not fit
Vancouverise: v.
1. A process of densifying a neighbourhood in a way that mitigates the negative effects of high-density living
2. Consistent implementation of a tower-and-podium architectural typology
3. Planning a city to take advantage of spectacular natural surroundings
2. Consistent implementation of a tower-and-podium architectural typology
3. Planning a city to take advantage of spectacular natural surroundings
Read in detail: http://thisbigcity.net/reinventing-cities-new-urban-language/
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