English Literature|Urban Studies
1) LMU’s Center for the Study of Los Angeles recently completed a major public opinion survey. One major conclusion from the survey is that L.A. residents are generally very optimistic about the future of the metropolitan region (e.g., about 2/3rds believe the region is headed in the “right direction” and about the same number believe the economy is getting better). Based on the regional economy, should the residents be so optimistic? What factors might account for their optimism? Do the “Three T’s” justify the optimism about the LA economy? Do they form a basic economic that insures the future prosperity of the region? Are there other factors that insure the future prosperity of L.A.’s economy?
2) Christopher Hawthorne, the LA Times architecture critic, believes that Los Angeles is now entering a third period of development, what he calls “The Third L.A.” According to Hawthorne, the First L.A. was Los Angeles from the Boom of the 1880s to WWII, the Second L.A. was Los Angeles from WWII to approximately 2000. The “Third L.A.” began approximately 2000 and continues until today. What do you think characterizes each of these L.A.s? What’s different about the recent period? Do you agree that contemporary Los Angeles is entering a new historic period? Why/why not?
3) Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti is rising rapidly as a major figure in a new generation of Democratic leaders and is even being considered as a likely figure to run for the senate and potentially even for president in 2020. There is no question that Mayor Garcetti is relatively young (46), hip, “diverse” (he’s LA’s first Jewish mayor, his grandparents were immigrants, he speaks fluent Spanish, etc.), well-dressed, and good looking—in other words a good fit for stylish LA—but as mayor, he has charted a course for Los Angeles that he describes as “back to basics”—he wants to focus on basic government services. Has his service as mayor created a record of accomplishments that might justify his consideration for higher political office? Can you identify the major accomplishments of his term as mayor? His major failures as mayor? Based on his record, is it realistic for him to be considering a run for president (no mayor has ever been elected president)? Why/why not?
4) Contrary to the popular stereotype, Los Angeles has a long history of government planning. For example, under Mayor Garcetti, the City has embarked on the “Great Streets Initiative” (2015), the “Vision Zero” plan (2015), and the “Westside Mobility Plan” (2016). All of these plans reflect ideas and goals associated with “smart growth” and/or “New Urbanism.” Are they realistic plans for contemporary Los Angeles? Is it realistic to think that Los Angeles can move toward “smart growth” and adopt the policies associated with that perspective on urban development? Are there examples of “smart growth” in contemporary Los Angeles that have been successfully implemented? Have Garcetti’s plans resulted in positive or negative changes in Los Angeles? Why/why not?
5) Los Angeles is increasingly described as the classic example of a “postmodern city.” What does that mean? What makes a city “postmodern?” What are the characteristics of Los Angeles that make it a prototypical example of a postmodern city? How does Los Angeles differ from other cities that apparently aren’t characteristically “postmodern?” Is it reasonable to assume that other cities will become increasingly like Los Angeles as they also become “postmodern?” Or will other cities go in a different direction leaving Los Angeles as a singular “postmodern” metropolis?
6) Déjà vu Question: When you completed the midterm exam earlier this semester, we were in the midst of several destructive wildfires in Southern California (e.g., Canyon Fires 1 and 2). As we end the semester and begin finals, we are again in the midst of several wildfires including the Rye Fire and the Creek Fire. Obviously, wildfires are common in metropolitan Los Angeles; why? What are the natural and human conditions/circumstances that make wildfires in this region so common and destructive? When do they occur? Where? Why?
