NOTES:
- Way too many people
- Absurd amount of babysitters
- Shake Shack
- Benches, Chairs, Tables and unnecessary sand
- Very “Nature-y”
- Not quiet, but very pleasant
A few hours ago, I decided to voyage on an adventure through Madison Square Park when the weather wasn’t as dreadful as it has been for the past days. First off, I would like to point out, I have never stepped foot in Madison Square Park to this very day despite the fact Baruch is close to 3 blocks away. Now that we have the general stuff out of the way, it’s time for an interpretation. Lewis Mumford describes a city as “theater” packed with “significant collective drama.” Going into busy parts of New York I can see how it can be described as a “theater of social action,” being that people are constantly conversing and approaching one another in various of ways. Same ties with collective drama, through the connections and interactions with various people. But, why a park? And why, more specifically, Madison Square Park? I wouldn’t expect a small little area to be so dramatize and portrayed as a “theater.” Guess I was wrong.
I sat in the little chairs with a round table in the middle of the still-damp sand. There I looked around from every angle and every point of view possible. I would take a glimpse at the Shake Shack and then at the people under the umbrellas, then the babysitters rocking their baby’s chair. It was a world of action and no pause. You couldn’t just slow down one thing because something else would happen just as fast. But then I saw it, a “theater of social action.” It didn’t have to be the fact that there was a Shake Shack around or uncomfortable benches, people found a way to communicate without those factors. Ideally, a burger would be a nice way to engage in a conversation but it wasn’t the whole. The people from every aspect were in a way communicating. Not one second of silence was present and not one second of rest was either. It was either, we’re on the move or, we’re talking. Babysitters would communicate with other babysitters. Men would hit on women way out of their league and dogs, well, they just did dog things. There was no specific task in the park, no real attraction or purpose for being in their immediately. People just choose to spend their time there and engage in social conduct.
Same goes with the term “significant collective drama.” At first, my interpretation of drama is negative, thinking of people bad mouthing others, but in the park, there was a different form of “drama.” A social drama. Where people sat around and continued to speak of real life events and/or their surroundings. “The weather is horrible”, “Is that your kid, where is he from?”, “Can this day be any longer?” are only a few of the nosey things my ears happen to hear while sitting around. These communications and interactions tie along with Mumford’s conception of the city as something more than just people and/or buildings. It shows that the city is an area of freedom. You have the freedom to walk around these parks and make your next step. Although not advised, you can approach someone and begin a conversation or even just go along your day and take a brisk walk throughout this “concrete jungle” that we’re so fortunate to live in.
Being that I have the ultimate privilege of being so close to Madison Square Park 4 days of the week, I’m going to begin to take more of an advantage when it comes to spending my time in between classes at the park. I graciously enjoyed my time in the park and you’ll probably catch me there wearing my hat backwards and probably listening to my music more often than before. It’s a pleasant place to just sit down and clear your mind and I thank the IDC class for this opportunity that I had no clue about. Overall, amazing time!
-Kevin Hasa
Hey Kevin! Just want to point out that I don’t think “Nature-y” is a word but it was definitely understood when you mentioned it haha! I enjoyed the imagery you place the reader in from the second paragraph when you begin describing the park as a whole. From the round table to the damp sand to even the baby in there chair. I felt every piece of that imagery and couldn’t agree more. Personally, my experience was less of a strict look into every detail and more of a relaxing mellow journey across the park. Regardless, your interpretation is spot on! Great blog!
I’d have to agree with you that there were a crazy amount of babysitters, I noted that in my post as well. I guess they come there to take part in the social drama of Madison Square Park, I’d imagine it’s probably a retreat for them coming from being in an apartment all day. I think these nannies really signify the interaction that takes place in a “theater of social action”, like you said.
I think that your idea about not being able to slow down enough to focus on one thing is really insightful. That is so true about New York City. Everything happens so fast and everyone always have somewhere other than where they are at the moment that they have to be. But, the fact that in all of that hustle, people still find the time to have a conversation and hang out with their friends even if it on uncomfortable benches.