In 1876, an American man stowed on board a Spanish ship under the guise of a common seaman. His name was William Macy “Boss” Tweed, and he was reigned as the “boss” of Tammany Hall, the Democratic Party political machine which held much sway over 19th century New York politics. During his regime, he tripled the city’s bond debt to almost $90 million dollars, paid hundreds of … [Read more...] about Illustrating the Issues
Out of the Closet, Into the Comic
Homosexuality is a common theme in Japanese comics aimed at girls and women. One of the most popular girls' comic genres in Japan is “Boys' Love:” stories about love between men written by and for women. However, a rapidly-growing genre called yuri, or “lily” features romance between girls. Scholarship on queer sexuality in these Japanese comics examines the appeal Boys' … [Read more...] about Out of the Closet, Into the Comic
Urban Inventions: Pop-Up HAWSE
In my recent discussion of the several ways of reappropriating public space in cities (see: The Amazing Urban Race), it seems too apt that a recent winner of an international design competition has been recognized for such efforts in improving the lives and community of people in London. Levitt Bernstein was recently declared the winner of the international HOME competition … [Read more...] about Urban Inventions: Pop-Up HAWSE
Urban Inventions: Ready, Set, Play
Imagine swinging while waiting for your stop on the subway, slam dunking your trash on the street corner, or sliding to catch your train with your briefcase. More and more people and even government organizations are working to infuse more play into city landscapes. For both children and adults, turning cities into unique playgrounds appeals to the kid in all of … [Read more...] about Urban Inventions: Ready, Set, Play
Urban Inventions: The Amazing Urban Race
What could you do with 72 hours? 72 Hour Urban Action aims to push the boundaries of collaboration, innovation, and solution by holding a three-day long architecture competition aimed at solving issues of public space. While most urban development projects are extremely time-consuming and complex, 72HUA encourages citizens to solve problems quickly and creatively. The … [Read more...] about Urban Inventions: The Amazing Urban Race