Back to the Future

 

One of the reasons why I chose the City: Intersection of Text and Place as my English class this semester is that have always had a liking for cities and the dynamism that comes through them. I decided to share with all of you a poem that I wrote in grade 8 about my dream of living in the city of New York, which is still accurate to this day:

Capturing a Memory: New York

From miles away the glittering lights                                                                                                      

The aroma of steamed hotdogs

A girl squeals when seeing her busband

Exiting Tiffany & Co.,

Holding the trademark blue bag

So small surrounded by tall buildings,

Stretching to the sky

The hopes and dreams of millions,

Driven to succeed

This will be home some day.

Poem and text by Stephanie Giannuzzo

Photo by Merrianne Couture

Urban Labyrinth

Vancouver Labyrinth on Spanish Banks -- Summer 2011 -- photo by Merrianne Couture

Walking a labyrinth is its own pleasure but has ancient origins. A contemplative state may be reached while following the maze on the path. The urban background in this instance mixes the old with the new. Change is inevitable and turbulent.The city highlights this complexity in its daily traffic of ideas and vehicles.

Bridges

Burrard Bridge View from Granville Island.

Vancouver, BC -- photo by Merrianne Couture

Coastal cities need links.

Island cities, such as Montreal, need links too.

Bridges need repair.

Words are infrastructure as well, and  hold millions and millions. The weight is metaphoric, though.

Graffiti Art

This is a photo by my sister who took a summer photography course at Dawson College.  On one day, the class was assigned a project to photograph different areas within the city of Montreal.  I thought it would be a good idea to upload one of her photos to the blog.  This photo is my favorite out of the thousands she took that day.  In the photo, we can see the graffiti done on the side of the buildings.  The angle at which she captured the photo creates a very interesting, and very artful look to the photograph.  The lighting makes the graffiti's vibrant colour tones and the old faded colors of the buildings look like they're on the same level of intensity and have the same amount of brightness.  Graffiti on a roof top like this photo would normally give me a very ghetto feeling to a city at first glance but looking at this picture again I couldn't help but admire its beauty.  She captured something so dark and grungy and turned it into a masterpiece.  This is why I admire this photo so much.
 Photo credit: Carina D'AllevaBlog Entry:  Anthony D'Alleva

Rain Town

A short film on the theme of towns and survival.

Rain Town: Student Film by Hiroyasu Ishida

Submitted for The City Course by Farwa Syed.


"The best or the coolest thing about this small animated video is that it has no talking involved. Its intensity and power surpasses all countries and cultures and allows everyone to understand. This extraordinary piece of work is absolutely fantastic."

The Soft City

Cities are an integral part of life in the 21st Century. 80% of Canadians live in an urban area.

The continued development of bustling cities requires attention to sustainability.

Cities are creative hubs and are as complex as the people who inhabit them.

Photos and Art: Soft City Collective (Toronto- based)

Drama in the City Sky

Vancouver View Spring 2011 Photo by Merrianne Couture

This is a lesson in contrast: no colour needed.

Montreal Signs Combine

Montreal Neighborhood Mile End
Summer 2010
Photo by Merrianne Couture

A familiar site.

Reading signs.