A) I am particularly interested in the topic relating to San Francisco institutions, especially as it relates to the "painted ladies." These are houses, of the Victorian or Edwardian era, that were largely destroyed by earthquakes or demolished to make way for something new. Those that remain are mostly renewed, having been repainted in the bright colors of the kind intended for such buildings.
B) These houses relate as an institution because they have both been reappropriated by San Franciscans and brought to life through the creative efforts of several people in the 1960's and 70's, and now as an exemplum of gentrification. Once affordable, middle-wage housing, these clustered Victorians are sky-rocketing out of rational affordability.
C) Beyond taking some photographs of these houses, I will also research the distinct neighborhoods, their fluctuating "vibes" (and corresponding real estate prices), and how that relates to Brechin, Solnit, and some of the Beat poets (especially Felinghetti, though he is not really of the Beat movement).
D) The "painted ladies" are a collection of beautiful and historic buildings, yet they are no longer of the approachable, graspable world; they have transcended into the realm of expensive dreamscapes, partially due to the middle-class workers who so lovingly restored them. These houses exemplify the continuing loss of culture in San Francisco, and the ongoing gentrification of a previously free landscape, as explored by Brechin, Solnit, Ferlinghetti, Ginsberg and others.
E) My main concern is that my research might not lead very far - I plan to visit the city tomorrow, and will try to get specific addresses and areas of the houses to connect to a larger context.
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2 comments:
This project sounds really interesting and very relevant to many of the non-fiction and creative works that we've studied in the class. I think 'Hollow City' is clearly a good choice to get some pertinent information to your topic. Maybe some of the not so obvious things you might include are the Snyder essays that deal with evolution of habitats, like his "North Beach" essay. Also, Brautigan has some good pieces about similar themes in 'Springhill Mine Disaster'. Good luck with your work!
Jocelyn,
Very interesting sounding topic...a great opportunity to consolidate some of our course themes and expand on cultural dynamics we've been reading in Solnit, etc. On the surface (or at the time you were composing the proposal) the topic might seem self evident, but there are many, many directions you could take the project. A few thoughts and riffs on what you've got here:
+ What is the history of the "painted ladies"? In what spirit were they constructed, how were they utilized, and under what conditions were they reappropriated?
+ Interesting to think about natural disaster as a catalyst for gentrification... Is there some kind of connection we might notice between natural disasters, money, and culture that leads to movements like gentrification, even in places like SF? Why don't things go back to the way they were, in other words?
+ How have the painted ladies been "restored"? With what attitudes do the restorers do their work? Who are these restorers? Do they pay full attention to the buildings' complexities? Do they pay more attention to preserving a sense of "charm" or a certain Victorian look?
+ Yes, and as has been suggested, feel free to use the literary works to help drive your point - a lot of the general ideas and energies in the Beat writings seem resonant, in conjunction with the more current concerns raised in Solnit.
Good luck, and keep chiseling. Let's chat if you come across questions down the road.
sc
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