Response to Marina Magana: Blog Post Week 5

 I was not able to post my comment directly to Marina's blog post, but the here is the link to her  post http://mmaganageog151.blogspot.com/2012/10/week-4-koreatown.html?showComment=1351312844692#c3759727834094375993 and the following is my response.

-Hey Marina, my name is Patrick and I am a fellow student in Geography 151. As I read through your blog I really enjoyed the personal voice you used and photo’s you took to construct your post. I myself have driven that stretch of Wilshire to Korea town and recognized much of what you talked about.

            A thing I found to be interesting about the location you visited was the drastic change in architecture and consumer choices. In a matter of minutes you were driving through multi-million dollar skyscrapers filled with high-end businesses and modern apartments. Next, you passed through the residential areas in Beverly Hill’s with quiet streetlights sidewalks. And finally, passing through a denser with liquor stores, apartments, and narrow roads until you reached Korea town. Your ability to see so many different zones in such a small amount of time exemplifies the fragmented city layout that Los Angeles has; as well as other post-metropolis cities. Also, while reading your post, a concept we learned in class recently popped up. When looking at each different part of Wilshire there seems to be much architectural and economic difference and it seems to play a role in the social differences seen in cities. The shiny and glamorous skyscrapers seem to subtly highlight the area and imply wealth, which will draw wealthy people to this area. Then the lightened up sidewalks, spacious, and quite vibes sets the tone for families only in Beverly Hills. Then down the road there are cheaper and smaller liquor stores, which were seen nowhere else but around these lower-income or apartment based living areas. There seems to be very clear zoning, you were just driving and it was apparent as to what areas you were passing by. It seems that physically the city can separate and clearly differentiate the individuals that make it up.

            Similar to what I pointed out earlier, you commented on how your experience related to the article  “The Truly Disadvantaged.” Your drive to Korea town pointed out the drastic economic differences in Los Angeles neighborhoods and how Korea town can be classified as a modern day ghetto. This part of Los Angeles geographical and physically lacks resources limiting the residents, adding to how difference is facilitated within cities and by cities. 

            Overall I really enjoyed your post , it touched on some important issues in Los Angeles and gave me a more thorough understanding of the culture of Korea town.