The American City: A Cultural Study of Boston and New Orleans
Introduction
The title of this article is ‘’The American City’’, might sound like an extremely wide topic; however, I have chosen to focus our theme on the cultural symbolism of two very different American cities.
The first city to be part of the study is New Orleans in Louisiana, chosen for its unique creole heritage, which is under-rated on a national level. The main aspects analysed are the Mardi Gras celebration and the strong presence of Jazz and its sub-genres throughout the city. To present these aspects I have chosen the film with the same title as the city itself ‘’New Orleans’’on the first, followed by several artists, all performing different types of music born in or specific to New Orleans. The remainder of this section will be dedicated to examples of New Orleanian culture through literature and art.
The second city chosen for the article is Boston, Massachusetts, singled out from other possible options for being and East Coast city and one of the first strong holds in New England. Boston played an important part in creating the American identity and later as a landing-spot for immigrating European cultures. In this case the film ‘’The Departed’’ was chosen as a good example the city and Boston will be musically represented by three genres differing completely from those of New Orleans. In addition, a book highlighting the importance of immigration and how it has influences the city over the years will also be mentioned. Lastly, a number of art pieces will also be mentioned complementing those representing New Orleans.
Films
- New Orleans: “New Orleans” (1947) directed by Arthur Lubin
Since the 19th century New Orleans society has been influenced by different kinds of music. Although it was not until the 1910s that jazz became popular in New Orleans, this genre quickly became one of its defining elements. In the film “New Orleans” there is a clear influence of jazz reflected in the society of the late 1940s. With the help of this film the aim is to explain how the music contributes to the development of the identity of the city.
With the help of both Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong who contribute to the creation of an unforgettable soundtrack the director managed to transmit the kind of atmosphere one felt when visiting these blossoming jazz streets of the city. The film is based on a relationship between an upper-class young girl who falls in love with a jazz player. That is why film gives us a unique perception of how the society of the beginning of the 20thcentury was, allowing us to make a comparison with the current society.
- Boston: “The Departed” (2006) directed by Martin Scorsese
The police force is a built in part of Boston’s culture, American law enforcement has it’s roots in the city where there is a strong sense of duty and many members of the force take pride in this legacy. When it began to be more need for the force, Boston was transitioning into becoming a city made up largely of second generation immigrants, whom now searched to stabilise their role in society, many moved on from factory jobs and tinkering to become police or firemen, which was an honourable choice of profession for somebody without an educated or privileged background.
However, Boston is a city with an extremely high crime rate and a pre-existing network of organised crime that has persevered alongside the police force. Sometimes the line between organized crime and organized protection is blurred, especially when both sides belong to the same culture, as occurs in Boston with the Irish mob and the police force, over 50% of which is of Irish heritage.
This overlapping of forces and corruption has in itself become symbolic of the city of Boston, and is the main theme in the chosen film. “The Departed” is a Martin Scorsese production which expertly confronts issues like police corruption, mobs and the important role heritage plays in binding individuals to loyalty as well as undeserving stigmas. All of this develops via an intricate plot based loosely on two real-life Bostonians, John Connolly (a corrupt FBI agent) and Whitey Bulger (an Irish-American mobster), who grew up together.
Literary Representations
- New Orleans: Nine Lives: Mystery, Magic, Death, and Life in New Orleansby Dan Baum
With the analysis of this book, what I am trying to show is the city hidden under the first layer seen by tourists and studied in the classrooms. It is thanks to the narration of the nine different characters that we are able to appreciate the contrasts between the past and the present. The stories are set in the times of both Hurricane Betsy and Katrina but what the author of the book tells is beyond that superficial reality. The New Orleans described in the different narrations lets the reader explore the city beyond the cliché related features of this place and into the real core of its unique culture.
That is why this book was chosen, because the stories contribute to our understanding of the unknown depths of the city. Each one of the characters comes from a different background and that provides new perspectives to the development of the project. Due to their origins, the protagonists face certain aspects of the New Orleans culture, from the celebration of the famous Mardi Gras to the annual celebrations of the upper class society.
- Boston: Boston’s Immigrants, 1790–1880: A Study in Acculturationby Oscar Handlin
The Boston’s Immigrants historical research provides a sharp analysis of the Bostonian society within a wide range of factors, from its demographic fluctuations, provoked by migratory movements (not only international, but on a national level too), to the severe problems of cultural assimilation, problems mainly linked to segregation.
The main area of focus is aimed at Irish-American citizens and their integration and role in Bostonian society over the past century and a half. In addition, this book depicts the economic situation of the city that proved a crucial moment in American history, in which the confrontation between the Anglo-Saxon and Celtic heritage played a major part causing racial prejudice against the weaker.
This social exclusion is also shown with the birth of anti-Irish associations and political forces, such as the Know-Nothings, the political party that preached hatred towards the Celtic culture.
Nevertheless, Irish society is a fundamental pillar of American culture, mass-immigration brought with it foreign values and systems that settled in cities such as Boston, thus giving the city no other option but to be influenced by and moulded into an epicentre of overlapping traditions.
This book provides a relevant analysis of the evolution of the city of Boston in terms of immigration and the impact it has had.
Art Pieces
- New Orleans’ art pieces:
This painting titled “Spring in New Orleans” represents how some of the features of the period in which New Orleans was a French colony prevail. This piece shows The French Quarteror Vieux Carré, the oldest neighbourhood of the city that has become one of the most characterizing. The artist, Diane Millsap, was born an outsider to New Orleans, however her visits became more frequent and although her infatuation with the city at first was expressed through sketches and photographs it soon turned into a vibrant, powerful and renowned representation of New Orleans.
This other painting also by Diane Millsap titled “Frenchmen Street Funk” represents New Orleans night city life and the contrast that can be appreciated in the structure of the different buildings. There is a cultural clash of the original French architecture, the current project housing and the African American way of communal expression in the streets; in this image through music.
In this image the African-American street culture embodies the typical night scene where members of the community join each other to jam, unintentionally giving New Orleans its unique character.
This oil painting by John Harrattan highlights a very important matter that is widely forgotten when it comes to mentioning the hurricane Katrina. The accurately titled “Hell on Earth at New Orleans” shows the cruel reality the disaster provoked in the city. The woman represented in the image is waiting for the help that never came; the government represented in the flag that covers her failed the city of New Orleans. The country easily forgot about the New Orlenians once the news grew old, the nation failed them even though they are part of it.
It is also important to bear in mind that the location of the city has conditioned its history significantly throughout time with other devastating storms such as hurricane Betsy and George.
The final representations of New Orleans culture chosen have to do with The Mardi Gras, a creole celebration developed in the streets of New Orleans and other parts of Louisiana, with both Afro-Caribbean and French-Catholic roots, celebrated every year on the last Tuesday before lent. Each piece of art aims to capture the essence of the festivities. The statue of the famous Big Chief Allison “Tootie” who thrived to transform the then violent celebration into a peaceful one is a representation of the past of this treasured tradition. The “Chief of Chiefs” is still remembered as one of the most prominent figures of the Mardi Gras Indians.
The other piece we have chosen is a still from the critically acclaimed HBO series “Treme” in which the modern “Chief” is depicted.
With these pieces what we have tried to show is how a tradition that dates from the mid 19thCentury is still very alive in New Orleans modern society.
- Boston’s art pieces:
Boston is a cityfounded by adiversity of cultures, from which a single defining American culture was born. You could say that Boston was the cradle of American independence; therefore the first of the art pieces chosen as an essential part of the cultural tour of Boston is the famous engraving by Paul Revere of the Boston Massacre. It was a vital addition to the propaganda war used to fuel the sentiment of independence and American national identity. In March 1770 Boston was bubbling for an excuse to confront the unwelcome presence of the British military, when the moment presented itself a taunting crowd quickly formed, egging on the soldiers to fire upon them, the British soldiers in turn did not need much provocation andopened fire on the mob of civilians, killing five and injuring six. The incident was captured by the artist Henry Pelham, and later immortalised as an engraving by Paul Revere, and used as propaganda and an incentive for the independence movement.
Boston has undergone a transformation from cradle of independence and birthplace of innovative politicians to harbour of European immigration, industrial gem and over the last half a century the inner-city has become prone to street violence and organized crime. Especially the street-car quarter known as Jamaican Plains, with many of its youth ending up victims of this urban culture. However, there has been significant communal effort to reform and improve this neighbourhood.
Part of this re-flourishing consists of converting downtrodden areas into communal green spaces, our second piece of Bostonian art is one of these areas, know as the Egleston Square Peace Garden. Under the directions of the Roberto Chao nine local artists (Rex Ferrer, Masiel Grullón, Allan Wilder, Lisa Wilson, Michael McQueen, Christopher Thorpe, Camilo Chao, Jasmanie González and Tehmaine Divens) have created a series of colourful murals in memory of the victims of street violence with the theme of peace throughout history.
In representation of the Boston’s winter, we have “The Wharf and Custom House Tower”. Here Goodwin, the artist depicts two elements: the wharf and the Custom House Tower. In the first place, the wharf allowed Boston to be a trade center during the 19th Century. The wharf was one of the focuses of Boston’s main economic activities. On the other hand, the economic prosperity that the wharf provided Boston allowed the construction of the Custom House Tower, the first skyscraper built in the city, which took 12 years to construct, starting in 1837.
Another important element shown in the piece of art the snowy atmosphere, Boston’s climate has conditioned life, and contributed to the form the city has taken, from an architectural point of view.
The final piece of art work chosen an example of Bostonian culture is the painting by GeorgeP.H Healy, titled Webster’s reply to Senator Hayne, which depicts the debate between the Massachusetts and South Carolina senators which took place in Boston, paintedin 1830. The discussion was about the importance of forming part of the union or not, Webster supported the idea of the United States as one nation, while Hayne interpreted the constitution as a treaty between sovereign states. The selection of this painting was motivated by its strong historical significance; this debate is considered one of the bases of the American identity.
Music Representations
- New Orleans: TheSavoy Family Cajun Band, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and Terence Blanchard.
The musical celebration of New Orleans can only be understood by taking bits and pieces of different bands all belonging to some of the most characteristic and treasured music genres associated to the city.
The Cajun band, the Savoy Family Cajun Band, has reached their pinnacle with their latest piece of work described by the Billboard Magazine as “an Acadian gem”.
The band is one of the most prominent in this usually forgotten genre, which dates from the 18th century and is considered a national treasure. The Cajun has its roots in the French-Speaking Acadians of Canada that were forced to emigrate due to their Catholic beliefs to the southern French colonies.
Cajun music is traditionally played with an accordion, the fiddle and some other background instruments such as the metal triangle. The main themes are death, loneliness and star-crossed lovers.
Another important genre to take into account is the one played by The Dirty Dozen Brass Band. This New Orleans Brass Band is one of the most iconic of its genre and has managed to stay successful since its founding in 1977.
Their newest CD “Twenty Dozen”, a rendition to their long and successful career offers an insight of the traditional Brass Band sound that will introduce the amateur audience to this unique genre.
Brass band New Orleans’ music is mainly played with brass instruments such as trumpets, trombones, saxophones and a percussion section. These bands are famous for their performances in funerals, which have become one of the main features in the New Orleans traditional musical culture.
Finally the Grammy winner Terence Blanchard cannot be forgotten in order to analyse the music scene of this incredible city. This jazz trumpet genius collects breath taking songs from his 1994 “In My Solitude: The Billie Holiday Songbook” to his 2007 “A Tale of God’s Will (A Requiem for Katrina)”.
Terence Blanchard is considered one of the best modern jazz and hard bop trumpeters and composers and has help to spread the popularity of both genres across the USA.
Jazz is the trademark of New Orleans and one of its main origins was in the meetings the African-American slaves had in Congo Square, New Orleans, where they danced to drums in the lavish festivals. The creation of this genre was influenced for several traditional styles such as the habanera, ragtime, brass band or blues.
Jazz is characterized by its polyphonic improvisation and propulsive syncopated regular or forceful rhythms often created by musicians as they play.
- Boston: Aerosmith, The Pixies, and The Dresden Dolls.
In order to analyse the music scene of Boston, the following genres were chosen; Aerosmith’s hard rock, the Pixies’ indie, and the Dresden Dolls’ dark cabaret.
“Dream on”, by Boston-born Aerosmith, has to open the Bostonian part of any show, as their first released single there is a symbolic relation established with the beginning of their musical career and the beginning of the Boston’s history. This needs to be followed by “Crazy” and lastly, “I don’t want to miss a thing”, will give any listener a taste of their timeless work.
Hard rock, as a rock subgenre has its origins in the mid 60’s, characterized by the use of aggressive vocals, distorted electric guitars, bass guitar, drums, andusually accompanied by keyboards. As a rock derivation, hard rock shares its bases, it has a particularly Caucasian artistic voice, representing rebellion and a lifestyle far from the rules, Boston had the perfect ground for the blossoming of this genre.
The Pixies are also a key band in the Boston scene, and “Where is my mind?’, from the album “Surfer Rosa”, as well as “La La love you” are masterpieces. The first song introduces us into an atmosphere of confusion and loss in life, a topic thatis constant throughout the bands discography, whilst the following songs are examples of the group’s unique sound.
The Pixies are known as the pioneers of indie-rock on the east coast, this musical style remounts to the 80’s, and was born to supply the necessity of breaking the conventions of the previously made. The term “indie rock” comes from the term “independent” and it is based on the do-it-yourself point of view, with auto records and handmade designs, until the outbreak of the indie music in mainstream cultureduring the 90’s. It is usually played with guitar, bass, drums, drum machines, keyboard and soft vocals, but the most important element of this music is being different from the established.
To conclude the music representations of this city, there is another band that needs to be mentioned, The Dresden Dolls. The Bostonian dark cabaret duo formed by Amanda Palmer and Brian Viglione. “The Perfect Fit”, the third track of their first demo called “The Dresden Dolls”, which named not only the EP, but the band too, the song may be listened as autobiographic, defining the singer herself in the context of different and apparently disjointed metaphors. The following must-hear song is “Coin” that needs no words to describe it. The dark cabaret is characterized by the use of vocals, guitar, violin, acoustic guitar, drums, accordion, piano, cello, keyboard and even ukulele. It is a musical style influenced by the cabaret and burlesque culture, with a pessimistic view of life in its lyrics. This genre is has very unique and acquired sound, created by The Dresden Dolls and born in Boston.
With these three extremely different musical styles what I am trying to highlight is that without having a strong musical tradition or identity, Boston is a city that has enabled the creation and development of entirely new and experimental genres that have gone on to be recognised on an international level.
Sources:
- All Music.http://www.allmusic.com/artist/terence-blanchard-mn0000020971/biography
- Artist Rising.http://www.artistrising.com/products/219430/spring-in-new-orleans.htm
- Baum, Dan. Nine Lives: mystery, maic, death, and life in New Orleans.New York: Spiegel & Grau, 2010.
- Celebrate Boston.http://www.celebrateboston.com/architecture/custom-house.htm
- Douglas Green Associates.31 January 2011. http://dgjury.blogspot.com.es/2015/02/super-sunday-parade.html.
- Fine Art America.http://fineartamerica.com/featured/frenchmen-street-funk-diane-millsap.html
- Folk Life in Louisiana.http://www.louisianafolklife.org/LT/Articles_Essays/creole_art_mardi_indians.html
- New York Times.http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9803E3DC 1339E632A25753C2A9609C946693D6CF
