39 pages • 1-hour read
City of Quartz: Excavating the Future in Los Angeles
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Essay Topics
How does Davis describe Los Angeles’ Catholic renaissance, and why is this important for the city as a whole?
How does Davis treat the subject of utopia in his study of Los Angeles? Does he present a fixed or mutable idea of the state?
“There is no power structure here—only people who think they are it.” Do you agree with Colonel Otis’ statement about Los Angeles? Give reasons for your answer.
What is Boosterism, and how does its legacy continue to shape life in Los Angeles today?
Examine Davis’ case study of Fontana. Why is this town’s fate important for his study of Los Angeles?
What was noir, and in what ways did it critique the Southern California myth promoted by the Boosters?
How do fear, surveillance, and security shape Los Angeles’ urban design?
What roles have racism and racial tensions played in Los Angeles’ development?
What is incorporation, and how does it promote social inequality?
Describe Davis’ critique of unchecked capitalism in Los Angeles. In what ways does he show that consumerism and individualism filter through to all levels of society?
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