Read: NYT article: Kyle Spencer, “The Memory-Keeper of SoHo” (2015)
Watch: Documentary (14 min): Or Szyflingier and Jonathan Baez, “The SoHo Memory Project” (2020)
- Comment:
- 1. Below, write a 1-paragraph response to the article and the film. You may focus on anything that interests you– ideas from either work that you found interesting, connections you can make to your own neighborhood or experience of New York or another place, something you noticed about the writing or filmmaking, images from the film that you found important, how different genres (newspaper profile of Yuki Ohta vs. documentary) affect our understanding of a story, or any other topic.
- 2. After considering genre with this new material, think about your Unit 3 project. Re-read the assignment (under MAJOR ASSIGNMENTS). What is your topic, and what genre have you chosen? Has your thinking changed about what genre you’d like to work in for your project, after our discussion of genre with the SoHo Memory Project? How will your choice of genre help tell your story and get the word out?
- 3. EXTRA CREDIT OFFERED for writing a 1-paragraph response to the event, below. If you were unable to attend you can watch the event here
When reading and watching the film, there were many interesting parts that stood out to me the most. I found the overall project to be quite interesting because I wouldn’t imagine someone creating a project that revolved around the history of SoHo. Especially when there are many other districts such as midtown Manhattan, little Italy, lower, upper east side, etc. I found the project to be interesting as well because it explained the background of what SoHo really was like in the past. Seeing the change and the lifestyle that was once lived back then to how someone lives now, differs tremendously. This adds onto my experience of New York because whenever I walkdown SoHo, the first thing that comes to mind is money. The reason being that there are many individuals that live in Lofts, and over the years, SoHo has developed its reputation of being a commercial area with expensive/luxury brands (Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, etc,). Seeing what SoHo was originally to how it is now, changes the way I see things and has changed the way I view New York. It helps me understand the progress we’ve made as well as showing me what a part of New York really was like. The images that stood out to me most were the images of the past and the reason being that it allows me to compare what life was like before to now. In comparison to one another, I feel that the video does a better job at expressing what this project really is. The documentary does a great job in both showing emotions/passion towards the project as well as giving me an overall understanding of what SoHo was like back then in comparison to now. It does this with its visuals and vocals. Both genres were great, but one seemed to pull me over more than the other.
My topic for Unit 3 is Asian Hate. This topic speaks about the violent actions and injustices done to the Asian community both in the beginning and during the Covid-19 pandemic. I am still unsure about my genre and the way I want to present it. I was thinking about either writing a letter, power point, essay or a newspaper. By executing either one of these genres, I believe it would have a very positive impact on my audience because either genre seems to be strong and go hand in hand with my topic. Want to let my audience know (people who are unaware of the Asian Hate) that we need to take action about stopping injustice and overall help diminish and if possible eliminate discrimination/racism. I believe these are effective ways in getting my word out because I will be including images and videos of violent and unjustifiable acts being done to the Asian community.
Extra Credit:
After having attended the event earlier in the afternoon, I found it to be a very interesting and enlightening experience. The reason I say this is because when hearing the background/ behind the scenes of “The SoHo Memory Project”, I realized how passionate both Or and Jonathan were about their work. After having heard both their stories and experiences, it really surprised me to see how determined they were about finishing this project and making it a success. I remember having heard Jonathan say he would wake up early and be in SoHo at 4 in the morning working on trying to progress in getting this project done. Hearing Or Szyflingier speak about her fathers quote, I found it touching and agreed with the quote because you never know when the day will come in which you’ll need that helping hand from someone. I found the overall event entertaining and has motivated me to try my best in presenting and completing my work because after seeing their faces when having been chosen as the winners, motivates me to believe that I too can be in that position. This is what I thought about the event.
Hi Saul,
Good start here. Thanks for your great comments about the special event.
Re: Unit 3, the genre you choose will really depend on the audience you want to reach. Think about that a bit as your next step– who do you want to read/see/hear your words? New Yorkers? Americans? A particular age group? That will help determine the best genre and medium.
In my opinion the documentary of “ the Soho Memory Project “ is very interesting. They said if you don’t know your history , it’s impossible the build a promising future. In this documentary we can definitely see how soho has progressed and evolved..The parts that stood out for me were all the old pictures of what we know today as Soho. When I think of the Historic District , all that comes to my mind is fashion , creativity , expensive housing, beautiful architecture, which is nothing compared to the 70s as Yuki Ohta described. I can connect the experience of Yuki Ohta with my neighborhood back in my hometown. I was raised in a historic district as well , where architecture is the key of it, houses are not permitted to change the facade, which maintains the essence of the neighborhood. However, I can definitely perceive the change of the place when I reminisce my childhood,. All the traditional bakeries and restaurants disappeared through the years. As Yuki said it would be interesting that people from other neighborhoods in New York take the initiative to create memory projects , so people around the world can know about the rich history that this city possesses.
Talking about today’s event I would like to say that it was fascinating to learn about how this documentary was done. We usually are not aware of all the work and effort that people put together to create a film , picture or any art .
Regarding My topic for unit 3 , I chose to talk about the psychological effects of COVID-19 for health workers. I would like to write an informative essay that mixes some facts about mental health and my personal experience as health professional during this pandemic . My audience will be adults in general. I would like to create awareness about the importance of maintaining our mental health . I would also like people to understand how health workers were overwhelmed during this global pandemic.
Johanna,
What a wonderful connection between Yukie Ohta’s appreciation and nostalgia for SoHo and your own recollections of the neighborhood where you grew up.
Re Unit 3, I urge you to think a bit further about genre choice. Imagine this project is not for a class but for the public. Who do you think needs to know the information about how COVID-19 affected and affects health care workers? What do you hope will happen once people have this knowledge? Who needs this info the most? Patients? The government? Hospital executives? Answering these questions will help inform your genre decision.
1.After watching the article and the film. A couple of things that stood out to me was the photos. The reason the photos stood out to me is because it helped me get a visual of the what she was talking about on how SoHo was very different back then until now. Another thing that stood out to me was knowing her main objective. In which from my understand was to be able memorize her neighborhood and tell a story about it. The reason being is because I remember Yukie Ohta mentioning something about how her neighborhood and how It used to be full of factories and how the rent used to be cheap. In which case I can relate because I myself have heard many stories about my neighborhood and how it used to be full of factories and how rent was very cheap due to the fact it was dangerous. As well as how there was a dramatic change because before they said not many would want to live in the neighborhood and now you see a lot of people trying to buy properties or even rent an apartment.
2.For unit 3 I feel like I’m leaning towards life about immigrants, for example
you know talk about how they get discriminated and a reason they seem to migrate to
another country. As for the genre not very sure but I feel like a comic maker, poster or
maybe even an audio. Honestly yes my thinking has changed after the discussion with the SoHo Memory project because it gave me many ideas to think about but it also made me think about wanting to do something similar. Furthermore, the way my genre will help tell my story and get the word out is by letting people know the point of view of immigrant and give them a visual of being in their shoes.
Kobe,
Good start here. Keep in mind Unit 3 builds off of the Unit 2 project, so it should be the same topic (it’s ok if it’s a bit narrowed down).
I like your idea to do a podcast or comic– let’s think further about this because your genre choice will really depend on the audience you’re trying to reach.
1.
After watching the video and reading the article, Ms. Ohta talks about her exceptional childhood in relation to her childhood in SoHo (“South of Houston Street”). Starting with his speech “New York is a city of change if it stops changing. She will atrophy and die. This sentence shows us that Ms. Ohta remains convinced that one day her actual SOHO will be nothing more than a memory of the past. This change can take several months and years but after the change. Someone has to show people the memories of SOHO before it becomes what it is today. The SoHo memory project was a masterpiece project because it allows us to have an idea of how SOHO was in the past. The thing that was interesting about Ms. Ohta’s story. When she was describing SoHo as a grungy dirty neighborhood, and the fact that it was a factory. Also, talking about the trucks that are there all day long loading and unloading. That memory triggered me because while you are walking in SoHo now, it is like Ms. Ohta’s story even does not happen. The idea of SoHo being an expensive area with expensive housing or luxury brands tends to override people’s memories of what SoHo was in the past. This project helps us to have our own perspective of the new SoHo but without losing its memory in the past.
3.
My unit 3 topic is about the importance of electric cars over gas vehicles. The purpose of my piece is to urge the government, and other tech companies which are based on research on electric cars to create more charging stations for electric cars. Nowadays, more people are attracted to electric cars which are environmentally friendlier so giving them the opportunities of having more charging stations will make the future look brighter for EV cars. I will write a newspaper to convey my ideas
3.
Extra Credit:
After participating in The SoHo Memory Project event directed by Or Szyflingier and Jonathan Baez, I realized the hard work behind the scene. I found the project very interesting and optimistic, it gives me the desire to join a club and start something new. Or Szyflingier showed us how she conceived this project, how many times they thought about it. In addition, she contacted Ms. Ohta for a face-to-face meeting about the SoHo Memory Project. I heard Jonathan Baez talk about waking up at 4 a.m. and making the project more realistic. It all shows how well they worked on the project. The whole project was a total success, and it pushes us to do such a big project during our cycle at university.
Mohamed,
Excellent work here. I appreciate your recollection of Or’s project conception story. How we arrive at ideas can be random and fortuitous!
Before I forget, I want to suggest looking at The New York Times, which just published an article about electric cars and the growing corruption regarding cobalt acquisition in the Congo.
Re: genre choice, who do you think is the audience for your ideas? Is it electric automakers? Urban planners? Neighborhood activist groups? Environmentalist groups? That will help determine what kind of newspaper article you wish to write.
1. Some things in the video “The SoHo Memory Project” is that some of the pictures were in black and white to show that those were in the past before pictures had colors. She showed how New York City was back then and built into something that we have today. Some connections that I have is when she said “if people can’t couldn’t come to the museum, the museum would go to people.” During the pandemics, we couldn’t go to museums but there are some museums that you can see online and view while being in your home. In the article, you can view some of the pictures closely and in the documentary, you can see the person talking and what she is talking about when they are showing b-rolls of pictures.
2. My topic for unit 3 is About the psychological relationships between male and females in an online environment. More specifically the harassments females receive while playing online games. Since I am a female gamer myself, I have had first hand encounters of these situations. These experiences are not a rare occurrence either. A lot of girls are being harassed on the internet and it is only based on just their gender. There have been multiple recorded accounts and articles published to support these toxic environments. Online harassment towards anyone for any reason is unacceptable.
Hi Ziqi,
Good start here. The Unit 3 topic should build off of Unit 2, and you’ll want to think about genre and audience. Who do you think needs to learn about and from your project? Answering this will help determine a useful genre in which to work.
In “ The Soho Memory Project”, the most prominent idea to me, was that less privileged neighborhoods produce more creative people. I’ve seen this idea in movies before and I think it’s true. When you think about it it makes sense. Children with less money won’t have crazy toys and games so they would improvise. Games like kick the can or stickball were very popular on the streets of New York City in places like, Soho and Hells Kitchen. I also feel like a lot of people who grow up in these types of scenarios want to grow up and move on to something better, so they will pursue good careers.
My unit 3 project will exploring be the effectiveness of online learning. I would like to emphasize schools to remain in person, but offer the choice of hybrid or full remote learning to students. Some students cannot learn over a zoom call, and schools need to understand that so the choice to remain in person should be up to the student. This may however conflict the teachers beliefs which brings up another issue for schools. I think I’ll write an informative essay with info from both viewpoints on the topic of online learning.
Hi Liam,
Interesting… I like your idea here about children and creativity, though I question whether it applies to this article or the work here–I think we can say we have read about a privileged existence as the folks were able to buy SoHo buildings, convert them into apartments, and then sell those. I do think that money plays an important role in this work, however, and perhaps a role that goes unspoken. We talked a bit in class about how there is nostalgia for a neighborhood with less commercialism, but also profit from a neighborhood with more commercialism… can one have both nostalgia and profit at the same time?
Re Unit 3, I encourage you to think about your genre choice. Remember the idea is not to write an essay for class but to get your ideas out into the world. Who needs to know what you have to say here? City Tech administration? CUNY administration? Higher education policy makers? Students scheduling their classes? Answering this will help determine the best genre in which to work.
1. When watching the film and and reading the article made me realize how much things in NYC are changing. When listening to the film and realizing what SOHO really was back then made me think of what is Yukie Otah really feeling. When looking at the old pictures and remembering how much they suffered and rejoiced at the same time. I can connect to this rejoice when i see my old toys from TOYSRUS, it’s sad to think that this new generation wont be able to see the paradise i saw in it but im happy to be able to keep these memories. the pictures where she was smiling with her family made this documentary connect with the feelings being transferred. The documentary does a great job in both showing emotions/passion towards the project as well as giving me an overall understanding of what SoHo was like back then in comparison to now.
2. my unit 3 project will be about the importance of the inequality there is in the fundings of the lower income students. this will be targeting the superiors of funding schools. i will write an article.
Hi Adrian,
Fun post here– are you referring to an experience visiting the old mega Toys R Us in Manhattan? Fascinating. In a similar vein, I remember visiting FAO Schwarz as a child and being mesmerized…
Re: Unit 3, excellent topic. I would suggest doing a little bit of research online to look at who (which government entities) funds K-12 DOE (Department of Education) schools, if you want to direct the message to the city, state, and federal government committees or elected officials. Are you thinking of an Op-Ed in the newspaper?
an op-ed would actually be great and very helpful. and the message will be directed towards the federal government because i believe the city already knows the issues happening.
This makes sense, Adrian. You might also want to look at the breakdown of who funds k-12 education in New York—
As I’m curiously watching the film and reading the article, I am a little horrified. This is reality, everything is changing and progressing. The world is getting smarter and we keep growing and everything around us is changing. As this lady is talking about her childhood in Soho, I could heavily relate. A very common place for us Hispanics who live in Queens is Jackson Heights, if I had to pick a happy place for me is McDonalds in 36th Ave I remember the walls full of happy cartoons, the tables blended in with the theme they were like school lunch tables, it was my happy place. Now the walls are plain grey, tables are regular seating tables, no animated characters its so sad to think McDonalds was such a happy place to be in and now it is completely boring and basic, kids now will never know how McDonalds was back then im sure they were appreciate such beautiful fantasy. Not only has that changed rent is crazy high and barely affordable, so much gentrifying. One example is having a target,starbucks, chickfila in 82nd st, that place was full of family owned businesses and now I barely see one.
2- My topic is Climate Change, I will be doing a short picture+explaing presentation. I am a little confident on this project. Currently done and looking for some feedback.
1) While sitting here reading the article and watching the film, I quickly came to the realization that NYC had completely changed over these years when listening to her reminisce on her past growing up in SOHO where she had stored crazy memories about the time she will spend with her friend creating or better known as implementing what they have to come up with something commending to their eyesight, but as time progresses she sat back and really observe what’s going on in her surroundings which led to the question, how did we move from these hug warehouse which today transformed into a commercialized upscale hub of fashion, retail, and food. With the countries overwhelming sums of apartment buildings and entertainment facilities being built, she came up with this wise plan to document the SOHO’s entire upgrade so the future generation like our great-grandkids can see how NYC was in the ’60s into how NYC is at that specific time of the year. But for some reason when I saw the film of exactly how SOHO was in the ’60s into in SOHO is to this present it clearly reminded me of myself growing up, I’m not saying I was born in the ’60s but the entire concept was similar where I grow up when the time was moving very slow and where 1 hundred dollars felt like a thousand dollars but in this modern world we live in 24 hourly now feels like 24 minutes I say that all to say that the past few years I’ve grown into a whole different person. The covid 19 pandemic made me realize that I shouldn’t be taking life for granted as responsibilities will eventually arrive upon me.
2) Something im very interest in writing about afrian amerians hatred amoungs the law. Black people is racialized classifiacted by the public only because of our skin color!