October 17th

Response to “How Hipsters Ruined Paris”, “Gentrification in Johannesburg Isn’t good for everyone”, “Heart of darkness: Nostalgic Tokyo disappearing amid construction boom”, & “Do We Have a Right to the City?”

Prior to reading these articles, I was blissfully unaware of the gentrification that is occurring internationally. In “How Hipsters Ruined Paris” Williams discusses the emergence of gentrification in Pigalle an area in Paris that once encompassed the city’s culture for generations is now disappearing due to the emergence of new comers in the area. The displacement of culture due to gentrification is not just happening in New York Cit, but also in areas in Paris. In “Gentrification in Johannesburg Isn’t good for everyone” the problem of displacement of working lower class people being pushed out due to wealthier new comers is prominent. Similar to what occurred in the United States with redlining and “white flight”, black people moved into Johannesburg’s inner city, as white people moved to the suburbs. This led to the city to be neglected, and not taken care of due to its black inhabitants. Similarly to what is occurring now in Brooklyn and Harlem, the image of Johannesburg is changing and it is attracting new kinds of people. It is all to similar what is happening in the inner city of Johannesburg and Harlem, and or Brooklyn. In ‘Do We Have the Right to the City?” the lingering question in discourse on gentrification is addressed, does the old or current inhabitants of a city have a right to the city? This question is addressed as the article discusses the financial disparity in Mexico City, and how that affects its inhabitants. After reading these articles I’m left to wonder if there is really a solution to gentrification, since its an issue that has so many different aspects and layers to it. Is there an end? Is there a solution?