• Comparison-Noun, the act of process of comparing, the examination of two or more items to establish similarities and dissimilarities.

Example: I don’t think comparisons of her situation and mine are appropriate.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/comparison

• Reference- Noun, A note in a publication referring the reader to another passage or source. A person who is in a position to recommend another or to vouch for his or her fitness, as for a job.The state of being related or referred.

Example: Her speeches have special reference to environmental policy.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/reference

City Limits Blog

The reading from “City Limits” by Colson Whitehead basically goes into depth about his view on New York City. Colsen’s main point in city limits was to state how each and individual New Yorker creates and shapes their very own skyline and neighborhood in New York. He talks about New York and how he remembers it. He would recall certain areas in New York when he passed by there or lived at that certain neighborhood. The passage is written sometimes in a sarcastic tone and includes a lot of metaphors. He writes your “New York is only the New York as you remember it.” So he goes on a rant saying how  you can’t really talk about Bryant Park used to be a reservoir because you never witnessed it, or for him the Met Life building will always be the Pam Am building because that’s how he remembers it. He includes how New York is build up of many different skylines of our old neighborhoods and our new neighborhood. He basically explains the importance on reminiscing on our old New York. You can see from his writing, he views New York as a fast changing being. Writing how New York is always changing and will keep on changing with our without us. His writing truly speaks to me in how I viewed New York when I was younger to how I view New York now. What this reading truly made me question is how of other parts of New York has changed before I have even existed, and if I would find all of this information out would it even matter? Its clear Colson Whitehead has his unique way of viewing New York, than many others do, but he does make you think about New York and our own encounters in New York’s History.

When first hearing we were going to the Brooklyn Historical Society to look at maps I was very skeptical at the whole idea that it would be even the least bit interesting; but to my surprise it was actually pretty fun. It was amazing getting to view the way the city use to be compared to how it is now. Finding things that are familiar was the best part. I really enjoyed the subway system maps the most because it was the most relatable. Things have changed so much so with so much variation its nice to know you actually know something about the maps your analyzing. One thing that was really cool about the map I took the most time viewing, Map of the New York city subway system with call number 1955.Fl (in case anyone wants to find it) is that i was relatively familiar with almost ll the subway lines and it truly amazed me being that this map was first made and revised between 1940-1955 I felt like i knew so much history, but really its just that the lines haven’t changed very drastically. A very unpleasant shocker for the day was the group speeches we only had ten minutes to prepare for. It was especially horrible for someone like me who thinks public speaking is absolutely dreadful, but all around i think everyone did extremely well. All in all I had a great experience at the Brooklyn Historical Society and I would love to go back.Our last visit to the Brooklyn Historical Society was truely bitter sweet. I’ve enjoyed our visits there from our walking tour, to learning about maps and analzying documents. My group members and I got to view the trains tickets that were really cheap it would seem now but really interesting because we were familair with one of the train the ticket was being used for which is the Long Island Railroad (LIRR). We also reviewed a document bout advertising where the newpaper was trying to get advertisements in their paper about all the new tunnels and bridges. So at our first table where we viewed our first set of documents it was really about the new means of transportation in the 1900s and celebrating change and new ways of travel, whereas at our second table filled with documents it was a bit different; still envoloving what seems to be very low amounts of money for what was being given we viewed a proposal for land being sold and the response to this agreemnet between two me being made. One thing that found so amazing when I was viewing these documents was not the actual agreement but I was obsessed with the paper it was written on. I had never seen a watermark before so to hold the paper up in the light completely by accident and disscover that; it really was just the highlight of my trip. I’ve enjoyed experiencing BHS and might go there on my own one day to do some research of my own.

“City Limits” by Colson Whitehead, is an essay in the collection, The Colossus of New York that reflects the transitions of a changing New York. In his work, Whitehead talks about a private New York that every individual creates in a metaphorical way. In addition to that he also writes about the constant changes that New York City goes through in time. New York City is portrayed as a symbol for every person that lay eyes for the first time, like Whitehead describe in the beginning of his third paragraph: “You start building your private New York the first time you lay eyes on it. Maybe you were in a cab leaving the airport when the skyline first roused itself into view.” That how Whitehead described the idea of the beginning of a private New York, which include a skyline as a metaphoric meaning. Whitehead love to play with the reader, the more you read the more you start to know New York, in other word Whitehead brings up the idea, that New York City is not the same each time that you are not looking around: “The New York you live in is not my New York City; how could it be? This place multiplies when you’re not looking…. Your favorite newsstands, restaurants, movie theaters, subway stations and barbershops are replace by your next neighborhood’s favorites…. Before you know it, you have your own personal skyline.” This is how Whitehead gives the answers to readers, that are building personal skylines that are base of memories of places, restaurants movie theaters, and now they are part of the privates New York that every individual created the first time. It also these privates New York are getting affected because New York is constantly changing, and now we are living of our skyline of memories of our privet New York.

“Who know Brooklyn?” by Ben McGrath is an article post in The New Yorker that reflect the hate between two people that not tolerate each other. In Ben works Mr. Merlis and Mr. Manbeck are the main characters which are constantly arguing about who know better Brooklyn, although both of them question the credibility of each other because of their works and hate. Merlis a man with a shaved head that teach social studies at a high school in Queens: “Has published eighteen books of his own, fifteen about Brooklyn” meanwhile his adversary has seventh books with a latest volume call: “Historic Photos of the Brooklyn Bridge.” In the other hand Merlis always is criticizing the book from Manbeck by saying: “Whit mass-media publishers like Arcadia, Turner, and other vanity presses…borough’s popularity, if you can put together a group of old photos and a few words.” In this statement Merlis is describing why mass-media, are willing to publish books from Manbeck which probably doesn’t have a contribution of the Brooklyn history. In the other hand Manbeck always accused Merlis of using material from the Kingsborough Historical Society which Manbeck founded. You can see that both of them don’t get along with each other because they start remembering old times but the most ironic stuff is that both of them are historians. Even though both of them hate each other they are not realizing that, they are affecting the history of Brooklyn in their way of acting about their works.

Reading Photographs

When I look at this photograph I see a place where women tend to hang out. A place where mostly women go by the way it is set up with benches and the numerous amount of women in the photo. This photo looks as though it was taken in the 1800s by the way the women are dressed. The women picture have long black dresses that cover most of their bodies. That could have something to do with women not being able to expose their bodies in a sexual manner like in the past. It looks like a store that sells fabrics and materials for clothing to be made by the signs that I see in the picture. As I look more the store looks as if it sells more than just fabric by the way the showcase that is displayed. At first glance though this photo does not look like a department store as it says in the description because of the way the store is set up. It doesn’t look like a department store because it doesn’t look as big as one would imagine a department store to be. By the description of the photo I’m surprised to find out that it was actually owned by a man being as though there were a lot of women in the store. I’m also shocked to find out that it was one of the largest department stores because it doesn’t look very big to me in the picture. The information in the blog changes my interpretation and observation by things may not be what they seem at first. Just by looking at a picture may look one way at first but after observing what your really looking at, you can ultimately see something very different. Just by discussing every detail of the picture as a class and seeing that everyone interpreted in a different way got me to pay more attention to details.

I enjoyed working and learning with the faculty and Brooklyn Historical society staff this semester; I would like to reflect especially on one of our assignment papers, which was called Overlapping New Yorks. This assignment was the one I enjoyed the most because in this essay I used everything we have learned this past months such as our walking tour, visits to BHS and class readings which all related to Brooklyn’s history. I was interested in the point professor Rosen wanted us to get across in this essay. This point being that we can see overlapping New Yorks everywhere. It is amazing how by just crossing a street there is an extreme change of neighborhoods such as the transition from Downtown Brooklyn to Brooklyn Heights. For this essay I chose The Brooklyn Heights Promenade not only because it is a beautiful place but because I had been there before but knew little of its history. When I learned that this promenade lies above the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) I was surprised, how such a peaceful place can be above a noisy highway and wanted to learn more. I learned that the idea of building this promenade was part of a resolution plan to the creation of the BQE. Since many Brooklyn Heights Residents opposed the idea that the BQE should be built to cut right through the middle of the neighborhood; the resolution plan was to build it on the edge and build this promenade to insulate the neighborhood from the noise. Visiting this place again after learning some history was amazing it is such a beautiful place and has an amazing view. It is clear that this is the perfect place to see overlapping New Yorks. First there is this peaceful promenade located in a quiet neighborhood and it is not until you look down on the edge that you realize it is located right above a busy and noisy highway.

Essay # 3- Overlapping New Yorks

In the reading “City Limits” by Colson Whitehead we get the idea that each person has a different story to tell about New York city, which means that we all build our own private New York. From my experience I see that this idea of New York is true since I am sure that the way you see New York is not the same way I see it. It is all based on experience and the time you started building your own city. I have taken a walk ten minutes away from city tech and I have discovered a place where I can see overlapping New Yorks and also the perception of my own New York. I have chosen the Brooklyn Heights promenade overlapping with the Brooklyn-Queens expressway (BQE). This place shows this idea of how we all have different views of this city and how there’s overlapping New Yorks everywhere.

I chose the Brooklyn Heights Promenade because it is a beautiful place and it really shows the way I see my own New York. To get there from city tech is very easy first make a left on Jay Street towards Tillary Street once you get to tillary turn left and continue into Clinton Street then turn right onto Montague Street last make a left and walk straight into the Promenade. This path is the easiest way to get to it according to Google maps but there are many options on how to get there. I recommend you take a different path every time you go and explore the Brooklyn heights neighborhood because it is a beautiful place. On my way to my location I explored this neighborhood and saw the beautiful old-fashioned houses. This neighborhood is very quiet and slow paced. Since it is a landmark you get to witness some part of Brooklyn’s history appreciating how Brooklyn was years ago and how it has progressed. On my way I stopped by a little store it was very interesting to me because it was old fashioned and almost everything was handmade and recycled materials. This walk was very interesting since I passed Tillary Street which is a very busy and commercial street into the quiet Brooklyn Heights.

When I finally got to my location I catch sight of the beautiful view of this promenade, I saw the Brooklyn Bridge, the Empire State Building, the East River, etc. In the promenade there was mothers walking their babies enjoying their day and it was very relaxing and quiet. It wasn’t until I went to the edge that I noticed the BQE the noise of the traffic. I recalled historian Julie Golia telling us how many years ago Brooklyn heights residents came together to refuse to have the BQE cutting through this neighborhood, this was their New York and they refused to have this technological advances change their quiet neighborhood. That is how I then noted this was my place of juxtaposition with Brooklyn Heights. It was almost unbelievable that this peaceful promenade lies right above this busy and noisy highway. This is when I said to myself “oh yeah this is New York City” the busy city that never sleeps. Observing my surroundings more closely I started to realize what my “own private New York” looks like and I am pretty sure it looks very different from yours. According to Colson Whitehead in the reading he states “there are eight million naked cities in this naked city—they dispute and disagree”. He implies in this quote that each person builds its own NYC and us all having a different city there will always be disagreements. This New York I created is based on my experiences and the time I came seven years ago and this city I created is very different from all the others.

I saw the horizon and saw all this historic places the Liberty Island, empire state building the water taxis, etc. But from my knowledge from the news and history I know there’s something missing there it is the twin towers. I wouldn’t know this ever existed if it wasn’t for the news and what others tell me because when I came here seven years ago it wasn’t there therefore it is not part of my New York. It is probably parts of yours because every time you pass by there you will say “there used to be the twin towers” you will always see it that way no matter what is there now or how many years pass. But in my case it is as Colson Whitehead stated “Never listen to what people tell you about old New York, because if you didn’t witness it, it is not part of your New York and might as well be jersey”.

In summary I have chosen the Brooklyn heights promenade in juxtaposition to the BQE because it shows how you can go from a very quiet neighborhood to a noisy highway. This two New York’s overlap by the BQE passing right below the promenade reminding us that even though you’re in this quiet beautiful place you are still in New York City this busy city full of diversity and different neighborhoods everywhere. New Yorkers are always refusing change and see the our private New York as it used to be more further explained by Whitehead “maybe we become New Yorkers the day we realize New York will go on without us. To put of the inevitable, we try to fix the city in place, remembering it as it was, doing to the city what we will never allow to be done to ourselves”.

Summaries of “City Limits” by Colson Whitehead

City limits by Colson Whitehead is a story that defines New York city. It tells readers about how new York city was years ago and modern day new York. Whitehead tries to persuade readers into appreciating the things they have by stating “Cherish your old apartments and pause for a moment when you pass them. Pay tribute, for they are the caretakers of your reinventions.” He tells a story about the memories in new York city and how people shouldn’t always believe the things they hear about New York from history books or documentaries. He says “Never listen to what people tell you about old New York, because if you didn’t witness it, it is not a part of your New York and might as well be Jersey.” Meaning, in order to truly believe something you must first witness it. By telling the readers about the past and what new York use to be like, he tries to remind us about how we sometime neglect the things we had. For example, discovering that an old coffee shop is now a chain pharmacy or five stores is replaced by a travel agency makes us feel a certain way because of what we had is no longer there.

Revision:

City limits by Colson Whitehead is a story that defines New York City. It tells readers about how New York City was years ago and modern day New York. Whitehead tries to persuade readers into appreciating the things they have by stating “Cherish your old apartments and pause for a moment when you pass by them. Pay tribute, for they are the caretakers of your reinventions.” He tells a story about the memories in New York City and how people shouldn’t always believe the things they hear about New York from history books or documentaries or even on television. He says “Never listen to what people tell you about old New York, because if you didn’t witness it, it is not a part of your New York and might as well be Jersey.” Meaning, in order to truly believe something you must first see it with your own eyes. By telling the readers about the past and what New York use to be, he tries to remind us about how we sometimes neglect the things we had. For example, discovering that an old coffee shop is now a chain pharmacy or five stores are replaced by a travel agency makes us feel a certain way because what we had is no longer there. But the memories could never be forgotten. City limits basically describes things within New York City that people take for granted. Colson whitehead wants to remind readers that the places in New York City in which we grew up in know us a lot better than we know ourselves. All of our memories are spent there and a lot of us don’t really take the time out to pay tribute to any of those places. He wants us to look at New York City in a different way and appreciate everything New York City is made up of.

Tell Your Walking-Tour Story

At the beginning of the walk I wasn’t really looking forward to it because I thought it was going to be boring and people just lecturing to us about things we may or may not have known but have seen. When the tour began from the 1st stop to the last I was amazed at how much we got covered and how much information I have obtained. During the walk yesterday I began to question myself “have I really not seen Brooklyn for what it is? Upon of our walk I’ve seen buildings with structures I’ve never seen before also I’ve learned why communities and neighborhoods are the way they are and how they differ from different communities. I’ve also taken in account of stores that are still up even though there’s new technology that makes ones life easier such as video stores. Also we came across a hotel, not in business but still have its place in the community. What also interest me are the tall building that are not being able to be build today but in the 1900’s they were. Brooklyn also have faced many obstacles of getting where it is today such as the great fire breaking out that killed over 300 people leaving this to be the most destructive event in Brooklyn. Overall I felt it was a good informative tour that gave many people including me a different point of view towards Brooklyn.