Urban Form and Culture

Quote Source: (Stevenson, 2009)
Edited by: S. Nanda
(click to enlarge)

Each urban area across the globe consists of unique sub cultures which are exposed and share among the different groups in societies. Urban culture would vary from city to city and may change over specific periods due to the addiction or the subtraction of one or more subcultures. In Trinidad and Tobago our urban culture is unique as it is home to various groups of individuals with different racial and socio-economic backgrounds. The groups with the power in society, the government and those with economic weight (eg business people), influence the plans, functions and policies that affect urban areas. Said groups are also responsible for implementations of various activities which would influence the beliefs, norms and values of the cities’ population. Urban form and culture influences the mind-set of the local population on specific views or issues. In Trinidad and Tobago there is a prejudiced attitude towards individuals with disabilities in which they are viewed as objects of charity stated by Sharda Ramlakhan in a previous post and of having no real function in society. The physical layouts of cities do not adequately incorporate individuals with disabilities. These both stem from traditional and conventional ways of thinking and doing things and as a result an urban culture of negative attitudinal behaviours which translates into the urban form which does not consider individuals with disabilities in their design or policies fully is created. Consequently, individuals with disabilities feel as though they are not valued and are further ostracised and marginalised which forms an atmosphere of social exclusion.

The above photographs illustrate several key issues throughout urban areas in Trinidad and Tobago.

Reference

Stevenson, D. (2009). Urban Culture. Retrieved April 03, 2015, from http://www.sage-ereference.com/view/urbanstudies/n301.xml