Toronto, Montreal and TaipeiIntroduction 2013/9/27

In all that sprawling city, there was everything except an end.

There was everything. But there wasn't an end. What I couldn't see was where all that

came to an end. The end of the world.  

Take a piano. The keys begin, the keys end. You know there are 88 of them and no-

one can tell you differently. They are not infinite, you are infinite. And on those 88 keys the music that you

can make is infinite. I like that. That I can live by.  

But you get me up on that gangway ( 舷梯 ) and roll out a keyboard with millions of keys, and that's the truth, there's no end to them, that keyboard is infinite. But if that keyboard is infinite there's no music you can play.  You're sitting on the wrong bench. That's God's piano. Christ, did you see the streets? There were thousands of them! How do you choose just one? One woman, one house, one piece of land to call your own, one landscape to look at, one way to die. All that world weighing down on you without you knowing where it

ends.  Aren't you scared of just breaking apart just thinking about it, the enormity of living in it?

Intoxicated? Blasé? (Numb,

漠不關心 )

How do we read/view a postmodern city and its music/images—or texts?

1. The reading can be endless and we can have own own. 2. We need to grasp its main concepts and issues and be

sensitive to the possible ways of reading (visually or by walking, conceptually or by living in it)

General Impressions: Questions City: Definitions

◦ 1. Dictionary Definition (and that of Urban Design)◦ 2. Cultural Definition◦ 3. In Historical Perspective: Urbanization, Modern City &

Postmodern City ◦ 4. Examples: Toronto, Montreal and Taipei

How do we read a city? A Cultural Example The Course’s Purposes (See Handout) Assignments for Next Week

What is a city? What makes its cultural productions interesting?

How does a city develop? What are the differences between modern and postmodern cities?

Anything interesting about Toronto, Montreal and Taipei? Any issues they share as postmodern cities?

1. Dictionary (Physical) Definition & in terms of Urban Design

2. Cultural Definition: ◦ Aspects and Contradictions of a City: The visible vs. the

invisible, the planned vs. the lived, the physical vs. the mental. 3. In Historical Perspective:

◦ Modern City ◦ Postmodern City

4. Examples: Toronto, Montreal and Taipei

1. Dictionary (physical) definitions:

A large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts;

Main elements: Population + administrative unit + center of economic and cultural/spiritual activities.

◦ e.g. Athen, Alexandria, Jerusalem, Pergamon (an ancient Greek city, 16 miles inland from the Aegean Sea) Rome, Teotihuacan (in the present Mexico).

Defined in terms of population, function, density and political decisions ( 薛 24)

Related Terms: city vs. town, urbanization, city – traditional vs. modern (城市、都市 ), metropolis （都會） , megacity (over 10 million people, Taipei 2.6 million), megapolis (大都市

帶 including big and small cities)

Urban Design -- Two kinds of city development: organic city and planned city. Video e.g. 1. two kinds (Understanding Cities 18:14 -- LA; cities for

imperial leaders), 2. New York (City Life)

How about Taipei, Montreal and Toronto?Taipei – organic city; Toronto – planned on a grid (ref.)Montreal – grid

common points – old towns by their river

Taipei – organic city◦ 三市街︰ Harbors market

streets: 八里 1) 新莊 2) 艋岬大稻埕 基

隆◦ 1884 －台北城 a Walled

city 城內（中山南路、中華路、愛國西路與忠孝西路所圍的）

Ref: http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%87%BA%E5%8C%97%E5%9F%8E

Taipei – organic city 1895 － Japanese control

1967 – 院轄市； 1994－民選市長

1990’s 忠孝東路 東區

Ref: http://dipper.myweb.hinet.net/index2.htm

Toronto – more a planned city, starting with 10 geometric blocks cleared from the edge of a forest in 1773.

Main street– Yonge St.

Croissant shape – its East and West are actually North and South.

Montreal: an Island city like New York; main street—St. Laurence Blvd

Crystallization of Human Achievements and Contradictions

"Now the people in the city have something to teach me, but the fields and the trees won't teach me anything." (Plato)

e.g. water transportation system (aqueduct), concrete & architecture, road, urban design, fire engine, toilet flush, etc

Video examples: 1. water, 2. Roman’s toilet habit.

-- Marc Blanchard: "the city is in the streets, viewed and experienced through the eyes and the gestures of a passer-by" (qut in Zhang xv-xvi) city visions

-- Zhang [following Robert Park]: "This city . . . more than just a physical structure.  It is, among other things, a state of mind, an order of morality, a pattern of attitudes and ritualized behavior, a network of human connections, and a body of customs and traditions inscribed in certain practices and discourses" (Zhang 3-4).

Sociological View: A city succeeds when it balances needs for sacredness, security, and commerce. (Kotkin)

E.g. Understanding Cities 1

◦ Cities attract people who want a better life; ◦ Cities are the essence of us all; they are the vortex of all

human activities and inventions; ◦ They are unpredictable; they respond to changes and

develop on the basis of their own histories.

What bring people to a city?

For work – the job opportunities provided by industrialism and technological improvements.

special rhythm and pace, convenience, fast flows of information, capital, commodities and people.

What bring people to a city? For work, security and a better life?

A city is filled with contradictions: order chaos (crimes, the unpredictable); civilization barbarous crimesthe organized & systematized the unpredictable

& irregular

UrbanizationIndustrial, Modern and Postmodern City

• More than half of the World’s population live in cities and towns by the end of 2008.

• UN predicted that the urban population will rise to 5 billion by 2030 (source).

Population (million)

Population density

(per/square kilometer)

Urban Population Rate (o/o)

1. 新 加 坡 3.3 6054.8 100

2. 奧 地 利 8.1 96.8 91

3. 澳大利亞 19.4 2.5 91

4. 英 國 60 242.6 90

5. 荷 蘭 16 392.8 90

6. 阿 根 廷 37.5 13.6 88

7. 德 國 82.4 230.5 88

8. 紐 西 蘭 3.9 14.3 86

9. 南 韓 47.7 476.9 83

10. 瑞 典 8.9 19.8 83

11. 巴 西 172.1 20.4 82

12. 日 本 218.5 341.4 79

13. 加 拿 大 Canada 31 3.2 79

14. 中華民國 ROC 22.3 620.5 78

15. 西 班 牙 40.1 79.4 78

16. 美國 286.1 30.4 77

urbanization: 1) concentration of population, 2) percentage of urban population vs. rural population3) spreading and influence of urban culture/technologies (via

Internet and TV) to the countryside, 4) Urbanization of urban migrants Examples:

◦ Taiwan – A Chinese article (2003) --1950-1970 urbanization; 1970-1990 urban growth and minor suburbanization;

1990-2000 –surbanization 2010~ post-urbanization ◦ Canada - post-urbanization identifiable since 1970’s, with urban population maintained by immigrants; decentralization

(or polycentric urban field)

Traditional City (trade, religious or imperial center) Industrial City Modern City (Metropolis) Postmodern (Postcolonial) City

1. Industrialism Rapid urbanization: ◦ e.g. 1850 – 2 "million cities“ (London and Paris,

city whose population exceeds 1 million); 1990 -- 286 "million cities.“ (source)

1) Metropolis: Population – over 100,000 2) Average distribution rate of the year 2000 (%)  Urban RuralChina  32  68 Hong Kong 100  0 Japan  79  21Rwanda 6  94  USA 77  23 Canada  77 23

Taiwan

1985-- 78.6%

Taipei -- 2001/8 -- 2,626,811

The City in three phases since the 19 century:

1st – emergence of industrial city (city with heavy industry) --> serious social problems and environmental problems. (e.g. Dickens’ and Blake’s London)

2nd – Modern city: utopian city, or a split between the spectacular metropolitan centers, declining downtown and spreading suburbs (2 Brasilia)

3rd – Postmodern city: 1. globalization(全球化 ), (globalizing capital) --

increasing fragmentation and assimilation by global culture; Mega city and Inner City (Merger vs. demerger)

2. gentrification(土地增值 ; East Area in Taipei), ghettoization(陋巷區隔 ) discrepancy between the rich and the poor,

3. Pluralism (1) diversification of regions and their functions, manufacturing sites reinvented as tourist destinations (e.g. Taipei?)

diversity vs. unification

Pluralism (2): spectacular and multi-functional sites of consumption, architectural pastiche & restoration (e.g. Berlin’s parliament building;)

Pluralism (3): The new underclasses (immigrants) in the urban centers

The future of cities? De-centralization? Part of service industries move to the outskirts; a mega mall (cultural, entertainment and shopping center) (ref. Kotkin)◦ Ref. Panoramic view of Berlin from the Parliament

Renaissance-Style Exterior, with a new dome and modern-style interior

Similarities: Experience colonization; issue of national identity; subway;

Differences: density of population; different types of plurality, … (next page)

Nation/City

面積sq.km

人口( 百萬人 )

人口密度( 人 / 平方公里 )

都市人口比率 %

中華民國 22.3 620.5 78

加拿大 31 3.2 79

台北 271 2.6 96792007

(source)

多倫多(Greater Toronto Area )

632 2.4/5 in GTA

39392001

(source)

蒙特婁 /(Metropolitan Montreal Community)

185 1/3.6 in MMC

55902001

(source)

Source: http://www.moi.gov.tw/W3/stat/home.asp 內政部統計資訊網

As Global Cities1) center of world finance and trade flows(Global Financial Centers Index--12 points: London,

New York, Paris, Tokyo source)◦ Toronto – 9 points ◦ Taipei – 6 points ◦ Montreal – 5 points

2) Globalization indexes: "Economy," "Research & Development," "Cultural Interaction," "Livability,“ "Environment" and "Accessibility" and scores (source)

Their Postmodern

Features

During the Wars -- (Toronto the Good and the Grey) --[小鎮 ]平靜整齊

Modern period -- 1950’s 至 60’s年間，多倫多快速成長為加拿大第一個城市，居民遽增一倍（由 125萬到將近 300萬），城市建築規劃採現代模式（規律、國際式、反歷史），並建造大型公寓區（如 St. Jamestown, Regent Park和 Alexandra Park）將都市郊區化（ Caulfield 5-60; Callaghan Introd.）。同一時期，加勒比海移民有限度移入，以女僕和學生為主，出現在 Bloor 、 Bathust等街和多倫多

    大學校區。 Postmodern period-- 1970’s 至 1980’s間，多倫多在城市改革者（ urban reformists）、投資者、中產階級居民以及一些邊緣團體（如藝術家、同性戀團體和華裔團體）影響下，發展為一個多元的後現代大都會 。

1 ． Service Industry: 經濟上，去工業化，由服務業和商店取代 ﹔

２ · Architectural Pluralism: 建築上，保留並維修古老建築（包括舊市街如 Yonge街、華埠、羅馬式建築的 Richardsonian Romanesque舊市政府及許多維多利亞式的住屋）﹔新型建築物仿古（如許多購物中心仿傳統市場或維多利亞式建築），或與古蹟在形式和建材上銜接（如 Eaton Center 與 Church of Holy Trinity Caulfield 97-123﹔ ） ﹔

３ ·De-gentrification: 在人口上，大量中產階級由郊區住回市區（或稱 gentrification ）。 (e.g. College St.—a very colorful area)

mais une metropole qui a une personnalite bien a elle 每個大都會都有自己的獨特個性… c’est rome la ville eternelle, 羅馬，永恆的城市 , alger la blanche 阿爾及爾，白色城市 , paris la ville lumineuse, 巴黎，閃耀的城市 , newyork et ses gratte-ciel, 紐約，摩天樓 et montreal, c’est la ville aux 2 visages 蒙特婁，雙面城市 la cite parle 整座城市說著話 la cite travaille et s’amuse 整座城市工作，娛樂 la cite s’allume et s’eteint en 2 langues 整座城市以兩種語言活躍或是沈寂

1759 -- the battle of Quebec 1774 -- 英國為了勸誘法語區不要加入美國獨立革

命，賦與英屬法語區若干民政權及宗教權。 1840 -- 境內百分之六十為法語人口，但加拿大聯

邦以英語為唯一官方語言。 1960 -- Quiet Revolution 1967 – World Expo. 1988 -- 178 Act 強制境內商業招牌一律使用法文

(to ride over a Supreme Court ruling) Referendum: (since 1980 40% yes) recently in

1993; 1995 –(51% no and 49% yes)

0

20

40

60

80

100

1990s

CanadaTorontoMontrealVancouverMiamiNew York

statistics

加拿大

多倫多 蒙

邁阿密

溫哥華 紐

約

In 1996 immigrants represented 17.4% of Canada’s population.

Across the Toronto CMA (Census Metropolitan Area), immigrants comprised 42% of the population, while in the amalgamated City of Toronto 47.6% were foreign-born.

The Vancouver CMA -- 35% are immigrants Montreal CMA -- 18% immigrants in the States

◦Miami 33.6% ◦New York 19.7% (Siemiatycki 75)

1977 -- Twelve Major Constructions started. 1984 -- the investment of MacDonald's 1987 -- the lifting of Martial Law (7/15)  1994 -- 年恢復市長民選 West-Gate – a mixture of Local, American and

Japanese cultures. (Originally a residential area of the Japanese during the Japanese rule.)

Increasing differences and features in different areas such as the East area, the West area, etc.

Taiwan: 92/3 年統計，外僑人數56246; 全國 91 年取得國籍 1533

2002, 12.5% newborn babies were by foreign brides.

Taipei (2003—1728 brides), the third highest no. of foreign brides.

Cultural representation of cities (films, photography, songs, literature) + our own observation

Documentaries on one of the world cities;(e.g.《城市的遠見》 , City Cabs, Six Degrees, Chasing Time in a City, etc.)

Lived vs. Concept City Urban landscape: Multiple layers, multiple signs of an

urban space. (e.g. The elements of a city: paths, edges, districts, nodes, and landmarks + people + architecture and spatial decorations)

Formation of Urban Space: The social phenomena of a region we observe(e.g. of youngsters’ consumption habits at West-Gate; changes of the East Area of Taipei)

No overall design

Ambiguous gender

identities

Mutual Gaze of the Controlled and Controlling

1. (In analyzing urban planning and a cultural representation of a city or urban spaces) -- what does "the producer" try to say and 'how'? Is there a way to disobey authorities’ orders without being punished?

-- Do cultural representations change the cities’ “realities”?

2. (In analyzing less organized texts such as what we observed and the documentaries)

-- What are the characteristics of your chosen city? How is it different from Taipei? (Do not just generalize; give concrete examples.)

-- What types of city dwellers have you seen? Do you expect to meet the same people here in Taipei?

-- What are the major factors of the environment which shape the life styles of the city dwellers you have seen/observed: history, power relations, capitalism, etc.?

History -- Read how it is influenced by history or oblivious of history (e.g. 超級大國民 )

Concept City vs. Lived City Postmodern features: -- globalization, ghetto-ization, gentrification; -- electronic network and flows (e.g. 《台北四非 》 Polygraph 1, 2, 16 Happy Together 1, 2);

-- commodification of space; chance encounters and interconnectedness (example: “When the Day Break”)

《進出台北》 enTAIPEItrance -- traffic flows, flows of changes, urban nomads (vs. the unchanged)

《穿透台北》 traTAIPEIverse – surveillance camera’s penetrating the city and urban dwellers’ privacy

《附著台北》 adTAIPEIhere – images of (psychological) attachment forming a magic forest (or labyrinth) 《遠離台北》 exTAIPEIit – fragmentary words and images of migrants about their identities and their leaving (or wanting to leave) Taipei attached to images of global cities

Gender difference Chance encounter and accidents The pig’s responses:

◦ Sympathize by trying to imagine the chicken’s history;◦ Escape; ◦ Re-connected with society How are we connected in a city?

Recurrent images:cells, eating, lemon, lines (veins, water pipes, drainage, electric wires, subway tunnels, radio/TV antenna, hole) , darkness and brightness.

Read “Metropolis: The City As Text” (James Donald)(1)

Watch "Taipei, Taipei" --Jay Shih Ref. 都市設計的台北經驗 (2)

Leave a message about either ‘The Taipei I know,’ “The Montreal I know’ or “The Toronto I know.’

Discovery Programs: Understanding Cities; City Life Zhang, Yingjin.  The City in Modern Chinese Literature and

Film.  Standord, CA: Standford UP, 1996. "Toronto Key Facts."

http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/ourcity/keyfacts.htm

"T`ai-pei t`u-ti jen-k`ou kai-k`uang [The Land and Population of Taipei: General Introduction]." http://www.dbas.taipei.gov.tw/stat/express/

《城市的歷史》 ． 喬爾 .克特金 (Joel Kotkin) ． 謝佩妏 譯台北 : 左岸文化， 2006.

《都市地理學》 ．薛益忠．三民書局， 2006.