Last Lap: Thoughts, Reflections, Conclusion

My City Dwellings Photo Blog

Well this is the last lap; it’s my 11th and final blog post which shares my thoughts and reflections which discusses the relationship of my core theme to some of my colleagues’ blogs. My photo blog ‘Urban Dwellings’ was intended to showcase the different types of houses located in urban areas of Trinidad. My theme encompassed these main topics of the urban:
• Development
• Homelessness
• Apartment Buildings
• Slums
• Public Housing
• Abandoned Houses
• Luxury Apartments
• Disparities between Rich and Poor
• Single Family Housing
• The Modern City

I must admit to this being possibly the most creative and inspiring Urban Geography (GEOG 2007) assignment. It has truly helped in my understanding of the urban, not only through the research done on my topic but also from all of my classmates’ captivating and insightful blogs which encompassed every and anything to do with the urban. Everyone has a different perception of the city due to its vast diversity and dynamics. It was most fascinating to see the wide variety of themes my peers had as well as the differences and similarities to my blog. My reflection is based on a few of my colleagues’ blogs which were related to mines, in some cases expressing differing or similar perceptions of urban dwellings.

       1) Vanessa Williams Blog : Disparity
      http://wealthycontradiction.blogspot.com/

      I chose Vanessa’s Blog since it was directly related to my post on Disparities between rich and poor Her entire blog expanded on my one blog entry and her photos represented her theme beautifully. In my entry I dealt with the stark differences of wealth in this country displayed through housing. This is similarly seen in Vanessa’s post where dwellings were the most significant part of her overall theme since it’s most obvious through residential structure. In her third and fourth entries she looked at the direct contrast between the rich and poor in terms of housing and inequality of wealth. She analysed residential segregation with regards to the inability to afford housing of better standards and conditions (poor) as well as on the other end of the continuum (rich) in gated communities. Interestingly she dealt with this in two separate entries while I showcased mines in one, to show the thin diving line of wealth.

      2) Tamara Atwaroo’s Blog : I am not homeless 

           http://sincasa-tnt.blogspot.com/ 

      Similarly Tamara’s entire blog expanded on my single blog post on Homelessness: No where to go which dealt with the issue of homelessness in the city, the importance of housing and causes of homelessness. Her writing and personal experiences really intrigued me as I read her blog. She explored many aspects of the homeless in the urban and what exactly it means to be homeless. Her very comical yet insightful blog has really broadened my scope of knowledge about the homeless and provoked my thoughts and actions regarding them in future. I really enjoyed her post “You can dance if you want to”.

      3) Zakita Bethel’s Blog : Architecture and Subversion     

         http://casasubversion.blogspot.com/

      Zakita’s Blog was mainly focused on urban architecture and images of the subversion within the urban of Trinidad and Tobago however there was one post that really stood out to me and related directly to my blog. Her entry "I need me a house to shelter from the rain" had a direct correlation to my post on "Public Housing: A chance for all" In her post she speaks of architecture for housing which tells much about the city, especially its economic status and the level of social welfare given to citizens, whereas I looked at it from a different point of view. The principle of design for beauty and enrichment is too seldom used in the design of housing for low income families because of the poverty of imagination and not the shortage of money. In her same post we shared the similar view of architecture being practical for the user and the design of such buildings play a great role in dictating how people interact with space, as in my post "City of Towers". Her photos were full of meaning and her writing was very captivating and enjoyable, she also filled in where I left out.

I would like to sincerely thank all the people who supported me, visited, critiqued and commented on my blog. I really hope that you all enjoyed my blog and learnt a little more about the urban in my country Trinidad and Tobago. Thanks for the opportunity Dr. K and thank you all for reading! :)

Nirvana