September:"Cents and Sensibilities – Money makes the place go round!"
“Cents and Sensibilities - Money makes the place go round!”Money, finance and the strive for prosperity are essential parts of urban life anywhere in the world. Which role does the need to make ends meet play in my city? How do different income levels define our social lives, the way we live individually, the way our city is put together? Is money really the ultimate factor for a happy life?
Diving headfirst into this month's theme, Ben Fajzullin in Berlin is quick to make one thing clear: "Sure! Money makes things easier." However, he immediately adds that he never wanted to become a money-driven person, and that his goal is to be content. As a former Sydneysider, Ben points out that life is still comparatively cheap in Berlin. In fact, he says about rent prices: "What I paid in Sydney a week is what I pay a month in Berlin!" The people in the German capital are described as down-to-earth, which, according to Ben, makes life a lot simpler. On the other hand, Ben acknowledges that unemployment in Berlin remains "stubbornly high" except in the thriving tourism industry.
Jennifer Lush lives in the aforementioned city of Sydney, which is depicted in tourist brochures as a paradise-like collection of waterfront homes, yachts, expensive sunglasses and beautiful beaches. However, Jennifer chooses to create an audio piece about the reality of "normal life" in the world's seventh-most expensive city. While she was able rent a room and support herself during her stay in Paris, she explains that due to the financial pressure in Sydney, she has to move back to her parents' house – like many other young people. Towards the end of her audio piece, Jennifer sighs and sums up the topic in one word: "Frustrating."
In a series of interviews, Kristina Kamp asks people of different age groups in Istanbul whether money does make people happy. The answers range from "Yes of course!" via "Health is more important." to "No, money doesn't make you happy." But Kristina doesn't stop there. She also asks whether the interviewees see a difference between rich and poor people. The tenor seems to be that you cannot judge people according to their financial situation. Some say they don't see any difference at all: "Some have money, others do not. But in the end they are all human beings."
Michaela Danelova puts the focus on the luxurious side of things, displaying a series of Orient-Express photos. The train passes through Prague and ticket prices are certainly geared towards the wealthy end of society. Michaela's images show all the glossy imagery one would expect, including champagne, shiny chrome handles, spotless uniforms, and big smiles. But looking at the passenger in the last photo of the series, one is inclined to ask: 'She may well be wealthy, but does she look happy?"
Lim Thian Leong reports about the history of migrant workers in Malaysia. As Lim recalls his own grandfather saying, they generally expected no more than a decent wage and a brighter future for their children in the new country. But while Malaysians currently tend to grow into the middle class, foreign workers have become the lower-income earners in Kuala Lumpur. This leads to social tensions and prejudice as foreign workers end up sharing low-cost flats around the city. In the meantime, shopping malls, commercial buildings and wealthy residential areas are increasingly turning into status symbols, drawing a clear line between rich and poor.
In Auckland, Jonathan Brooking and Sahar Lone collaborate for a story about finances and how they shape the everyday lives in what is considered a lower socio-economic region in the city. Using photographs as well as text, the two bloggers document a stroll through the neighbourhood, talking to shop assistants, loan creditors, volunteers offering support for newly-arrived immigrants, and community workers. In the end, they get information about financial support systems from government initiatives, coming to the conclusion that "New Zealand is strongly social in many aspects".
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Please note that these six examples may serve to give you a rough idea of what is to be found in the CityScapes Blog, but bear in mind that all other entries are just as great, so definitely go and explore the blog as a whole!
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