This Blog seeks to show how entertainment in
all its different forms affects the urban landscape. It focuses on Trinidad and
Tobago which has a diverse and cosmopolitan society with a rich cultural
heritage. Port of Spain the main city of
Trinidad like most urban centers represents a concentration of activities
associated with urbanization such as commerce, retail, shipping, administration
and politics to name a few, however as expressed by Mumford (1938) the city is also a
social construct that records the attitude of a culture and an epoch to the
fundamental facts of its existence.
Simply put, the city is a place that will be influenced by the
interactions of the people who utilize it.
Trinidadian society is one that is always seeking some
sort of enjoyment or relief from the riggers and stress of everyday life. Just
as the city is a point of concentration for human activity it similarly also
seeks to provide a multitude of avenues for leisure and entertainment. From the
large concerts featuring international artists, to the many night clubs, to
restaurants and eateries catering to a wide and diverse tastes, to centers of art
and culture, to the many representation of street entertainment , to peaceful
areas of relaxation or for social gatherings you name it the city has it.
The urban landscape caters for a wide spectrum of needs
from the macro to the micro scale using a diverse system of physical structures
some permanently dedicated to this, while others are utilized seasonally for
example the Paddock at the Queens Park Savannah during Carnival. Urban
entertainment systems are not isolated and are interrelated to other elements such
as transportation and mobility, security, socioeconomic and political factors.
So we will examine how entertainment in the urban areas are represented. We will consider entertainment in terms of.
So we will examine how entertainment in the urban areas are represented. We will consider entertainment in terms of.
-Time (differences in activities between Day and night, weekday and weekend periods, through various seasons Carnival, Easter, August, Christmas etc. and also changes in activities over time).
-Space (examine physical areas in the urban environment where entertainment activities take place) where they are in relation to other activities and why have they evolved in these areas.
-Place (this goes beyond just the physical area with boundaries but how social and human interactions have affected and shaped the character of the urban landscape) how the utilization of a specific space for entertainment activities has changed the character of the city.
-Situation
(what is the relation of entertainment activities to its surrounding
environment) and a comparison to other cities
Consideration
will also be given to:
How
the seven triggers of urbanization have affected entertainment choices in the
urban environment.
The effects of Globalization on entertainment
culture.
At the end hopefully you will have a clearer understanding of how the different areas of entertainment in the city of Port of Spain, their pattern on the landscape and how it is linked to the physical infrastructure and the social interactions within these boundaries that define the people who live within and around its sphere of influence.
References:
Mumford, Lewis. "The Culture of Cities." 1938.
At the end hopefully you will have a clearer understanding of how the different areas of entertainment in the city of Port of Spain, their pattern on the landscape and how it is linked to the physical infrastructure and the social interactions within these boundaries that define the people who live within and around its sphere of influence.
References:
Mumford, Lewis. "The Culture of Cities." 1938.