how we shape cities, and cities shape us
American cities have not been too kind to minorities because (most) American cities have not been, well, cities. They are not dense, not walkable, don't allow people to rely on public transport, don't create enough opportunity (or necessity) to interact with people from different socio-economic brackets.
Dror Poleg • Did Cities Fail Us?

You can be lonely anywhere, but there is a particular flavour to the loneliness that comes from living in a city, surrounded by millions of people.
Olivia Laing • The Lonely City: Adventures in the Art of Being Alone
Instagram and TikTok have facilitated easy, superficial connections that placate the human need to truly connect to people, art, and ideas. Comparing ourselves to strangers' highlight reels flattens our self-worth.
Consuming content about cultural events gave the impression of relational connection, when in reality, I'd just watched a 15-second... See more
Consuming content about cultural events gave the impression of relational connection, when in reality, I'd just watched a 15-second... See more
we’re going to look back at how we designed the world around computers with the same regret that we look at how we’ve designed cities around cars
Maxim Leyzerovichx.comAccording to Putnam, the more we prioritize our private bubbles over public life, the more we disconnect from our local surroundings. This has weakened American democracy. Fewer people are engaged in politics, and those who do are often at the political poles. With less social capital, our neighborhoods are connected by fewer informal, reciprocal... See more
The West Village Girl is probably the best example of this sort of zombie formalism, deeply self-obsessed moment. West Village is an NYC neighborhood that serves as a production set for an optimized lifestyle. You can live your entire life within a five-block radius: Pilates, three-drinker dinners, charm bars, espresso martinis, run clubs,... See more