Saturday, July 25, 2009

To Bash Or Not To Bash L.A?

There is an interesting debate going on at LAMetBlogs. Lucinda Michele started it with Your Disapproval Has been Noted -- bashing L.A. bashers. But wait, could angelenos be oversensitive to criticism, asks Lulu of the Lotus-Eater in Defending of Los Angeles? Comments in either post offer further insight. Criticizing L.A. with the most tired out clichés -- whether you've ever been to the place or not -- is fashionable in certain (intellectually parochial) circles, but as a reader comments quoting local cop/author Will Beall, L.A.'s "push and pull" will inevitably expose it to criticism. Like any other big city.

6 comments:

hollarback said...

Criticizing LA for what people think it is (most of the critics have never been here, or were, once, for maybe a week and did the typical tourist things) is very fashionable in many places, especially New York. I should know, I am originally from NY. LA isn't perfect or even pretty all the time, but then, neither are most places.

Such critiques are just shallow, hollow posturing. It is exactly the same as non-Americans putting down the US and it's culture in knee-jerk fashion, most having never even been here or at most visiting only Florida or NYC.

It is posturing and basically willful ignorance - just ugly at heart. What is the point of it really?

LA Frog said...

I couldn't agree more. What's the point? A blasé attitude bashers mistake for trendy. No city is perfect, they all have their pros/cons and idiosyncracies. But what astounds me is people who criticize and perpetuate clichés about a place they haven't even bothered to visit, or "experience" as true insiders. L.A. is a favored target, but I get my share of urban legend rehashes about Paris, and I'm sure you get the same about NYC. I call it "urban inteligence:" you have it, or you don't.

hollarback said...

Too true. I guess it's just people who need to put something/someone down for their own ends. Just comes across and ignorant and bitter to the rest of us though.

Ah well, their loss!

LA Frog said...

I was just listening to Alain de Botton's recent TED talk, where he defined snobs as "anybody who takes a small part of you (person or place) and cues that to come to a complete vision of who you are." Says it all. (The talk was about defining success from a personal perspective & can be found at http://tr.im/uvcK)

hollarback said...

That is brilliant! Thank you :)

LA Frog said...

"Brilliant?" Thanks for the compliment! I'm sure Alain de Botton will appreciate. Are you British by any chance? I lived in England for 10 years, and everybody used the term "brilliant." Yet whenever I use it in this (West Coast US) part of the world, people look at me funny...