Through this experience I am taking you through, I'm beginning to realise that entertainment is not the only thing we are offered in Newtown but the symbolism of this geographic place in the city.
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| ABOVE: a flyer advertising an event that took place early this year. the event was organised by workers who work at a clothing store,'ritual' in NEWTOWN,JOHANNESBURG. |
Ever wondered why are certain places developed in the City,why are certain sites built. Is this just for tourist attrraction or entertainment purposes? Well what most people don't realise is that the city is doing so much for it's people and there's something symbolic about that.
FROM THE BLOGGER, THESE ARE MY QUESTIONS:
- Is Johannesburg becoming a 24 hour city?
- Is confidence in the inner city improving?
- Is the inner city property market improving?
- Are rentals stabilising in the inner city?
- To what extent has business turnover increased in the inner city?
THIS IS WHAT I FOUND OUT:
Johannesburg’s policy makers and city planners have adopted much of the rhetoric and language of world city discourse. It is also policies is clearly two-fold; firstly as an attempt to rejuvenate the inner city’s economy through the use of these industries; and secondly on a more symbolic level to create a new African identity. As demonstrated, within world city discourse and in much of the national Department of Arts and Culture’s policy, there is an emphasis on the power of the arts to re-establish and upgrade the country the city’s international image and reputation.
NEWTOWN BEING SYMBOLIC
One of the most symbolic projects undertaken by the city of Johannesburg to this end has
been the latest Newtown development project. This initiative, the most recent in a long history
of such projects, is clearly in line with world city discourse in regards to the creation of a
cultural quarter and the support of the culture industries. Newtown has also become
a flashpoint for opposing policy views; specifically when it comes to issues of urban renewal,
exclusion, and spatial development.
Some of these realities have also impacted on the perceived success or failure of the Newtown project.The Newtown Development project is modeled on the various cultural quarter projects that have taken place in Western cities. At the heart of the project is the understanding that through supporting certain, strategic culture industries within a specific geographic area, the seeds for economic and urban renewal can be planted. This understanding has been specifically stated within national Arts and Culture policy, and in the various white papers commissioned by the Department of Tourism.
www.departmentoftourism.co.za
You've asked very profound questions! But if there's one thing I'd like to bring to the fore, it has to be way in which JHB has become so unsecure! entertainment is okay but I personally think we should also address that issue!
ReplyDeletei think south africa is trying to hard to renovate cities that are devoloped instead of focusing on rural areas that need devolepment
ReplyDeleteSAFETY WILL ALWAYS BE A PROBLEM IN THE CITY,ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. UNFORTUNATELY SUCH SITUATIONS WE CANNOT CONTROL.
ReplyDeleteOur government is doing its best to make cities ,areas look better but there are some thing that cannot be changed.safety and security are things that we cannot be able to change because of over population in cities.
ReplyDeleteAmongst Afrfican nations one would argue that South Africa is at the top of them all but an upgarde would really help the country in also craeting jobs for the unemployed.
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