Time creates change, which in turn creates history. Over the years the United States went through different phases of change that significantly impacts society, such as the Industrial Revolution which started the time of technology. Each person has their own view these changes that have occurred and may disagree with such terms of change. In Michael Katz’s “What is an American City?,” he describes the different views of cities during different periods in time. Most of these perspectives involve metaphors that focus on different aspects of a city, such as economic or racial profiles of the city, to define what an American City is. Katz appears to find certain details in these variety of opinions that make him disagree with the provided definition of what an American City is; however,  is it not obvious that focusing on certain aspects to define a city will lack definition on what an American City is as a whole?

Katz mentions that during the transition of centuries, terms began to take on new meaning due to the new forms of urbanization. He mentions how an emerging industrial civilization created the “industrial city” in the transition from 19th century to the 20th century. Theories of how to define this term took on different aspects of the changes in society. ‘One model based its theory on immigration, social geography, and interaction of industrial change.’ By basing only on these three aspects, the theory fails to address other changes, such as economic changes. Even though the theory does not provide a  well rounded definition of an “industrial city,” the focus of the theory should provide enough reasoning as to why the city was named so. However, from this Katz concluded that there need to be new answers on the question of what an American city is.

Katz states that there should be new answers to what an American city is, as so much time has passed and many information about the past is available. I do not believe this is the case. With more information available, there should be updated definitions that derive from new answers. People who have define a city of the past without actually experiencing it would be able to see other points that may define the city. However, it seems to lack realism. People who wrote about the city having experienced it first hand would know observe first hand the significant changes that had the most impact on their life. Although Katz is correct that there should be new answers, these answers should not replace or overshadow others’ answers.

Throughout his article, Katz mentions how metaphors are paired with different terms of cities. For example, the term “inner city” is a metaphor representing a variety of problems, some of which are crime, drugs, and poverty, as well as symbolizing poor and black. Also, the term “postindustrial” is another metaphor solely focused on urban manufacturing. These two metaphors fail to expand on their meanings, which Katz believes should include other areas not mentioned. However, by broadening out the meanings, won’t the metaphor and term itself lose meaning of what the city was during that time period? Although it is good to expand the perspective, I believe that the true representation of the term lies in the meaning provided by people with first hand experience.

Although Katz believes that there should be new answers to his prompted question, he does not provide his own meaning of what an American city is. From the article though, it seems to imply that he is looking for a well rounded definition that covers all aspects of the city, especially since the question incites a “cacophony of definitions.” Even with a variety of definitions, he states that “it is unlikely to be as buoyant as their past,” which seems to imply that previous meanings were excellent but just not enough. In this case, I would agree with Katz, but disagree that there should be new answers to replace old ones.

E.B. White writes about New York as a person who is visiting New York, but is not a tourist. The way White describes New York as a traveler is intriguing, as he is able to vividly compare and paint New York’s key aspects that make it the city of diversity and adventure. White captures the daily activities that make New York the city it is; for instance, the three types of New Yorks, such as the commuter, and the durability of its existence. Also, his comparison to New York and a poem made me realize how New York is not just a city, but is like an art. White enlightened me about the city I grew up and lived in my whole life.

When White mentions the three types of New Yorkers, I especially agree with him on “the New York of the commuter.” After commuting to and from Baruch College, I saw a lot of “the commuter.” Growing up I rarely took the trains and did not realize how many people come from New Jersey or upstate New York, but after entering college and becoming a commuter I am amazed that there are so many people who wake up extremely early to work in Manhattan. White hits the mark with his description of commuters: “tidal restlessness.” My first time in Penn station was during rush hour at night; there were swarms of people waiting for their train constantly looking at their watch or time schedule, or people rushing about to catch their train. Thinking back, as I loitered in the station, it really did feel like the commuter of New York was “spat out each night,” especially since people waiting for the trains, looking rather impatient, did not bother to walk around the station and take a look at their surroundings. Even though White is a visiting traveler, I completely agree with his portrayal of commuters.

Learning about the important events in history, some which took place in New York, I never really thought much about how strong New York is until White mentions that “by rights New York should have destroyed itself long ago.” (32) He mentions all the dangers that could have brought New York down, such as plagues and starvation, yet here we are today standing tall and bustling about the streets. Although I did not see for myself the moments where New York could have fallen and break, the moments in my life where I witnessed New York’s potential destruction made me realize now that the city and its people are strong. We were able to withstand 9/11 by moving forward, as well as restart our lives after hurricane Sandy. Being part of the city that overcame so many hazards, I can understand the “sense of belonging to something unique” as White describes.

Growing up and living in New York, I knew that there were many different race and kinds of people. When I read White’s comparison of New York to a poem, his words really struck me: “the poem whose magic is comprehensible to millions of permanent residents but whose full meaning will always remain elusive.” (29) If I were asked to describe New York, my response would probably be ‘a city full of diversity.’ White’s description delves deeper. He not only describes the diversity, but the lives of the people in New York. He summarizes the perspectives of the people living in New York, which is that even though we know why people come to this city as tourists, we as New Yorkers do not know everything about other New Yorkers. White mentions different places, which leads me to believe that he is implying New Yorkers could be living in a neighborhood for many years and not know much about a place three blocks down from where they live. Thus, I was able to soak in his ingenious simile.

After reading E.B. White’s “Here Is New York,” I feel enlightened about the place I thought I knew and understood. His style of writing makes it feel like I was being told a tale of the city I grew up in. The commuter that makes New York the busy city it is. The strength to overcome that made the city survive so long and iconic. The poem it is that holds many definitions. His illustrations of New York made me feel guilty when I realized White did not live in New York and could describe the city better than myself.