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Show ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY Alexander, Thomas G. and Allen, James B. Mormons and Gentiles: A History of Salt Lake City 1984. Key Words: History, Cultural & Societal Div., Reciprocity in Church & City Govt. Salt Lake City expresses many similarities and differences of other Western American cities. The grid was the basis for the planned community, repeating the model of Philadelphia. Departing the norm, the city was designed to be one of ' garden plots' rather than one supported by peripheral agriculture. It was a fortification from Indians and later a fortification from itself with Fort Douglas. Most importantly, the city was organized by the LDS church as a spiritual and religious center, an influence that still finds force today. The author asserts that though the church's influence in civic affairs has been historically beneficial and reciprocal, individual social and cultural influences are often divisive. Societal and cultural divisions are typical in any city, yet these divisions may be more poignant in Salt Lake City due to ' Mormon' and ' non- Mormon' subcultures. Lately there seems to be a polarization of ideologies in Salt Lake especially regarding environmental issues such as the Legacy Highway, Trax, Urban Sprawl, and Conservation initiatives. I suspect the general connection of the church with conservative ideologies translates into an evolving disregard for the environment as espoused by current Republican leadership. The author explains that barriers to progress " may be compounded by a generally conservative attitude presently held by many of the LDS Church. Often it appears they perceive conservative political signals emanating from some church leaders as justification for opposing almost all change" ( 310). This book has helped me understand specific societal and cultural divisions in our city which may heighten differentiating views on the environment ( including water conservation). I appreciate the author's explanation of the three bases for community which may help to mend these cultural and social breaks: Love and attachment to place, a shared historical memory ( Ex of Triad Ctr. Opening), and shared ideals ( the American Civil Religion). Evidence shows the leadership of the church is deeply concerned about the environment. Church members, however, often fail to selectively divorce their conservative political allegiance on environmental issues. Salt Lake City's environment seems to suffer because a general disregard for nature is politically pork- barreled together with predominant conservative moral views. Politically and environmentally speaking, the meaning of ' conserve' becomes ironic as ' conservative' becomes the antithesis to ' conservation'. Cohen, Maurie J. 2000. Risk in the Modern Age. St Martin's Press, Inc. New York, New York. Chapter 10: Taming Risks through Dialogues: the Rationality and Functionality of Discursive Institutions in Risk Society. Key Words: Discourse, Negotiation, Environmental Risk Education Discourse in this text refers to the " problem of how to communicate rationally about risks in modern society" ( 225). Discourse is spatial in nature ( as in Arthur's round table) and refers to a social relationship. Dialogue may be used as a description to emphasize its process orientation. According to the author, discourse is both a rational and functional " device for addressing the collective risks generated by modem societies" and is specifically suited for solving environmental problems ( 225). Departing from the expanding horizontality of government decision making in today's complex contemporary society, Discourse allows self referential reflexivity ( 229). The author explains that " to enable decisionmaking to move forward, the procedural environment becomes the object of social reflection. Goals are no longer seen as part of an established value system or an ontological order; rather they become part of a social process within which goals are defined and redefined .. . based on values" ( 229). This reading targets my desire to bring together individuals of competing societal and cultural influences to a place of internal discourse. A connection to nature beyond the city's edge confronts the individual with the beautiful yet harsh reality of aridity. References to past settler's ingenious management of water will also engender an internal reconnection with place. Discovery of water risks and shortages presented will promote internalizing of risk promoting behavioral change. Visible research on the site will show a continuation of past ingenuity, and research findings coupled with public opinion will presumably model civic behavior. Interestingly, Salt Lake City has a long history of discourse as a controlling factor in public policy. It is a practice that has, however, faded since the regular cross- pollinated meetings between David O. McKay, Gus Backman, and John Gallivan ( representing the LDS Church, the business community, and the press) ended in 1969. Ellin, Nan 1996. Postmodern Urbanism, Princeton Architectural Press, New York. Chapter 5: Themes of Postmodern Urbanism Key Words: Contexturalism, Postmodern Urbanism, ' Attempting' Social Engineering The author claims postmodern urbanism fails in its attempt to connect with the human side. Although postmodernists reject universalism in favor of regional contexturalism, most architectural expressions are shallow. Any meaningful dialog between design intention and built expression is frequently lost in a sea of ambiguity; as typical architectural typologies are often used, regional past is often misinterpreted and its expression is always out of context. Even more importantly, by failing to acknowledge or respond to current life patterns, the socially engineered pedestrian paths and public spaces are often empty and unused. Although postmodernists have moved away from the cold and lifeless environments of modernism, their departure has exceeded the mark. Postmodern urbanism often exacts a divorce of the participant from his own contemporality, and seeks to evoke a connection with a past that never existed. This displacement of unfamiliar time and space in postmodernism will contribute to its prolonged disconnection with the human soul. Architectural form in postmodern urbanism is described as resulting from Fiction, Fear, Finesse, and Finance. Fictional form is derived from failing to " acknowledge the irreversible changes wrought by the industrial revolution;" a fault which is evidenced in the " rise of industrial archaeology" and a proliferation of adaptive reuse projects ill- suited for today's society ( 135- 41). Fear- based form seeks to overcome the impotence of place- lessness by " planning spontaneity, inventing traditions," and designing the vernacular ( 153). Finesse alludes to a proliferation of indulgence in architectural individualism which " disregards or denies context entirely" ( 155). Finance- dictated design places the architect in a mere facilitator role, " allowing the dominant economic tendencies to become the final arbiter" of design ( 158). My topic of water conservation is very sensitive its regional significance. Through this reading I have gained an understanding of the difficulty of successfully integrating context in design. I also appreciate the author's criticism of not engaging the human side in architecture. The author's suggestion to focus on the future rather than a misinterpreted past has also helped me in refining my design approach ... to look to the future of conservation research while seeking to connect with the past and historical ingenuity. 24 |
