Weird City

by Long, Joshua

• ISBN13: 9780292722064
• ISBN10: 0292722060
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-05-01
• Publisher: Univ of Texas Pr

Summary

Austin, Texas, at the beginning of the twenty-first century, is experiencing one of the most dynamic periods in its history. Wedged between homogenizing growth and a long tradition of rebellious nonconformity, many Austinites feel that they are in the midst of a battle for the city's soul. From this struggle, a movement has emerged as a form of resistance to the rapid urban transformation brought about in recent years: "Keep Austin Weird" originated in 2000 as a grassroots expression of place attachment and anti-commercialization. Its popularity has led to its use as a rallying cry for local business, as a rhetorical tool by city governance, and now as the unofficial civic motto for a city experiencing rapid growth and transformation. By using "Keep Austin Weird" as a central focus, Joshua Long explores the links between sense of place, consumption patterns, sustainable development, and urban politics in Austin. Research on this phenomenon considers the strong influence of the "Creative Class" thesis on Smart Growth strategies, gentrification, income inequality, and social polarization made popular by the works of Richard Florida. This study is highly applicable to several emerging "Creative Cities," but holds special significance for the city considered the greatest creative success story, Austin.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. ix
Acknowledgements	p. xi
Introduction	p. 1
Welcome Home	p. 13
Why Weird?	p. 15
A Little Background Music	p. 22
Austin Emerging	p. 43
Lofts Ascending	p. 63
Aliens, Affluence, and Abnormality	p. 67
Keeping It Weird	p. 92
The King and Queen of Weird Austin	p. 123
Sense of Place, Conflict, and Creative Resistance	p. 125
Postscript: For the theoretically inclined	p. 152
Annotated Glossary of Terms	p. 175
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 179
Map of Interview Locations	p. 183
Notes	p. 185
Bibliography	p. 197
Index	p. 205
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