porches & other culprits
From: Blaise J. Tobia (tobiabjdunx1.ocs.drexel.edu)
Date: Mon, 31 Jul 1995 23:45:50 -0400 (EDT)
The role and history (of the demise) of the front porch is obviously a
complex subject, and, in conjunction with the rise of the two-car garage,
is clearly related to the an even more complex subject in our
social/cultural history, the automobile. But, in the urban neighborhood
where my wife grew up, cars were not so omnipresent, and there weren't
really that many front porches. Some houses had one, others had only a
stoop, and there were apartment houses as well. Yet, there was a vital
block life during the 1950s and early 1960s that has now disappeared. The
block seems deserted in mid day and in early evening, let alone in the
middle of the night! Cars are broken into, and graffiti is written, even
on private residences.
I would propose an additional pair of culprits, somewhat alluded to in
various responses: the television and the air conditioner. Between them,
they have helped pull people off their porches and stoops, and into their
private dens. Much socializing happened/happens because of necessity--good
intentions will not be enough in the long run (and cohousing designers are
obviously cognizant of this fact). Boredom and stifling heat brought people
outdoors, and community was forged. Instead, today, we bathe in the cold
blue light of virtual community (and yes, this probably does include
computer monitors as well as televisions!).
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Blaise Tobia     Philadelphia, PA    215-387-9706    tobiabj [at] 
post.drexel.edu
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- artist/photographer/teacher (at Drexel University's College of Design Arts)
- interested in CoHousing personally, politically and artistically
- serving as contact person for the Delaware Valley CoHousing Association, 
   an umbrella group encompassing several potential site-development projects:
   one urban-retrofit (Germantown/Mt. Airy; close to happening)
   two new-construction (Shawmont and Lambertville; still in early stages)
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