Yoona Jang
Dec. 01. 2016
B E 200
Reflection – Global City
Cities are moving towards globalization because they do not want to become forgotten
or fall behind. The competitive globalization has resulted in standardized cities by
homogenization. “The cultural strategies of competitive globalization produce an instantly
recognizable corporate zone with cultural amenities for the discerning ‘global eye’ of the
transnational corporate class while gradually creating a new edge city” (Zukin 31). Without
unique landmarks, there is no difference between cities any more (lecture). From the Alaskan-
Yukon Pacific Exposition in 1909 to the upcoming Amazon headquarters in 2021, Seattle is
taking steps to become a part of a global network and gateway in which its residents will be
borderless business-class global citizens. South Lake Union is a great reflection of how Seattle
has been working to become a global city on a global map. By constructing the Space Needle
for the world’s fair in 1962, Seattle already showed the futuristic aspect of the city. All the
headquarters, skyscrapers, and foundations show how modernized the city is. I strongly believe
if a city is to be called a true global city, it should be futuristic and modern yet welcoming and
human-like. However, while walking around the South Lake union, I found it lacked the
welcoming and human-like aspect.
Before this walk was assigned, the only place I knew in the South Lake Union area
was the Space Needle. I didn’t even know the Space Needle was considered part of the South
Lake Union area or that I could see tall corporate buildings if I walked a few blocks away from
it. The Space Needle is probably the most known landmark of Seattle. This iconic tower was
built for the world’s fair in 1962 to represent the event’s futuristic theme (walk guide). Now, it
This study source was downloaded by 100000850872992 from CourseHero.com on 02-11-2023 23:56:50 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/24480156/Global-City-Reflectionpdf/
Dec. 01. 2016
B E 200
Reflection – Global City
Cities are moving towards globalization because they do not want to become forgotten
or fall behind. The competitive globalization has resulted in standardized cities by
homogenization. “The cultural strategies of competitive globalization produce an instantly
recognizable corporate zone with cultural amenities for the discerning ‘global eye’ of the
transnational corporate class while gradually creating a new edge city” (Zukin 31). Without
unique landmarks, there is no difference between cities any more (lecture). From the Alaskan-
Yukon Pacific Exposition in 1909 to the upcoming Amazon headquarters in 2021, Seattle is
taking steps to become a part of a global network and gateway in which its residents will be
borderless business-class global citizens. South Lake Union is a great reflection of how Seattle
has been working to become a global city on a global map. By constructing the Space Needle
for the world’s fair in 1962, Seattle already showed the futuristic aspect of the city. All the
headquarters, skyscrapers, and foundations show how modernized the city is. I strongly believe
if a city is to be called a true global city, it should be futuristic and modern yet welcoming and
human-like. However, while walking around the South Lake union, I found it lacked the
welcoming and human-like aspect.
Before this walk was assigned, the only place I knew in the South Lake Union area
was the Space Needle. I didn’t even know the Space Needle was considered part of the South
Lake Union area or that I could see tall corporate buildings if I walked a few blocks away from
it. The Space Needle is probably the most known landmark of Seattle. This iconic tower was
built for the world’s fair in 1962 to represent the event’s futuristic theme (walk guide). Now, it
This study source was downloaded by 100000850872992 from CourseHero.com on 02-11-2023 23:56:50 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/24480156/Global-City-Reflectionpdf/
