  Pmardo Member Username: Pmardo Post Number: 1 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 68.40.195.233 |
Hi everyone - I'm an undergrad at U-M in Ann Arbor doing urban studies. I'm brainstorming ideas for my senior thesis next year about the metro Detroit region and am looking for some ideas that anyone might have. Related topics may include but are not limited to: SEMCOG, Afrocentricism, Coleman Young, Heilderberg Project, Dostoevsky, Bakers Keyboard Lounge, Kwame Kilpatrick, New Urbanism, Transit, Land Banks, Redevelopment strategies, etc. Any ideas on topics/areas/people to focus on that may produce some new/untold stories? Thanks! | ||
Chow Member Username: Chow Post Number: 272 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 198.109.26.164 |
Idea: Develop you own fucking ideas. | ||
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen Post Number: 1226 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.14.122.57 |
Wow, Chow, what a way to welcome someone to our Forum!! What's the problem with someone asking for some ideas? I applaud pmardo for taking the initiative to seek out new ideas and places to explore. After all, it's not like he/she doesn't already have some ideas as shown by the list of possibilities. Welcome, pmardo! | ||
Rberlin Member Username: Rberlin Post Number: 437 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 65.43.45.201 |
Hey Chow, need some of this?  | ||
Chow Member Username: Chow Post Number: 273 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 198.109.26.164 |
You are right. I was overly hostile. Let me redeem myself... with an idea! A thesis should be an extension of your thoughts. I would hope, being this far into school, that you've developed an appreciation for detail and are able to craft provocative ideas on your own. Be a thinking person. This is something that you will likely invest a vast amount of time and energy into. I have no problem helping someone develop ideas and give the knowledge I have when asked. But I draw a line at someone asking for ideas. (Message edited by chow on March 22, 2006) (Message edited by chow on March 22, 2006) | ||
Livernoisyard Member Username: Livernoisyard Post Number: 336 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 69.242.223.42 |
Perhaps, you could do suburban studies... | ||
Bvos Member Username: Bvos Post Number: 1304 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 64.148.226.17 |
What is your major? That might help narrow your very diverse list down. Out of all the ideas you have, the one that strikes me as the most interesting, able to apply to numerous majors and the ability to gather and write a shit load of stuff on while at the same time getting an oustanding history lesson on metro Detroit is Afrocentrism. I've found this to be one of the most facinating areas I've studied about Detroit. "Singing in a Strange Land", the bio of C.L. Franklin (Aretha's dad) would be a good place to start as would "Living for Change", Grace Lee Boggs' book. From those two books the references and bibliographies should send you down the road to information overload. Don't forget to interview Mrs. Boggs herself if you choose to do the paper on the topic. She'll happily do an interview with you. | ||
Wabashrr1 Member Username: Wabashrr1 Post Number: 13 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 152.163.100.8 |
Pick an event that occured, 1967 riots for example, and do a then vs now, before and after. I don't think you can present a good picture of where Detroit is without looking at where it was. What changed, why, and how has it affected the city? | ||
Mountainman Member Username: Mountainman Post Number: 7 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 69.144.81.143 |
Maybe the history of Brewing in the city of Detroit. Its actually a rich one. I'm pretty sure there is at least one book on the topic. | ||
623kraw Member Username: 623kraw Post Number: 848 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.41.224.200 |
"How Paradise Valley Vanished" | ||
Pmardo Member Username: Pmardo Post Number: 2 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 68.40.195.233 |
Thanks for all your help, I'll add some of these topics to the jumble of my brain and maybe something may come out. Chow: I am not seeking your intellectual property, just thought fellow lovers of Detroit would have some suggestions of something fun and unfamiliar to share with the university community. No hard feelings though. | ||
Atl_runner Member Username: Atl_runner Post Number: 1872 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 24.98.116.13 |
I'd suggest Transit, and on a similar level to this. http://www.beltline.org/what/h istory.shtml, where a GA Tech student created a feasible reuse of abandoned tracks around the city. A project called the beltline, which today, because of his Thesis, is fairly close to reality. (see second paragraph) | ||
Karl Member Username: Karl Post Number: 1690 Registered: 09-2005 Posted From: 68.230.22.99 |
Pmardo, welcome. I would start with the Detroit riots in 1967, taking note of the population mix of the city at that time, including businesses, their size & location in the city. Move to 1973 when Coleman Young became mayor (5 terms?) and pick up the book "Quotations of Coleman Young" a little red book that is now (perhaps) out of print. Gives an interesting insight into the man who some say drove nails into the coffin of the city, and others say helped the COD. During those years, the city changed dramatically, with the population, along with employees of the city, becoming predominantly African American. During this time frame (1967-2007?) you could give sidelight to other large cities & what happened (NY, Chicago, Cleveland, etc) sharing their progress or lack thereof) There is a great resource on this website - I think the thread was called "Great Books about Detroit" or something like that. With a focus on the great City of Detroit, I'd call your effort "African Americans & American Cities - Givers & Takers" When you finish, if possible could you link your masterpiece to this forum? I'm sure whatever you decide would be of interest here. Good luck! | ||
Karl Member Username: Karl Post Number: 1691 Registered: 09-2005 Posted From: 68.230.22.99 |
Oops, I almost forgot: GO BLUE!! | ||
Mbr Member Username: Mbr Post Number: 52 Registered: 03-2005 Posted From: 152.160.42.163 |
They have an Urban Studies program at umich? Is that in Taubman or something? | ||
Sumotect Member Username: Sumotect Post Number: 180 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 64.243.32.9 |
Couple of topics suggestions: "Globalizations Impact on Urban Form" "Peak Oil and Urban Structure" "Urbia, Suburbia, Exurbia, a comparative analysis" | ||
Rustic Member Username: Rustic Post Number: 2240 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 130.132.177.245 |
Why Detroit? Seems to me that in an urban studies curriculum at UoM ANY Detroit topic would be completely played out by now among your fellow seniors and there is all the metaphorical baggage associated with it to boot. If yer shooting for novelty do sumptin' cool like Mayan sewage systems or Parisian heroin distribution in the Jazz age or yellow fever epidemics in some random city far from Detroit ... whatever ... it is a biiig world out there. Karl, CAY was Detroit's mayor from Jan 1974 to Jan 1994. If ya wanna tack on 7 years prior to and 13 years after the end of a mayors' tenure for comparison purposes, well then the Cavanagh administration would perhaps be more enlightening to consider: Jan 1962 to Jan 1970 ... lessee -7 years at the begining and + 13 years at the end gets us: 1955-1983 arguably the peak and nadir of Detroit. IMO the Cavanagh administration was really the inflection point of Detroit politics. Much of what CAY had to work with with was the endgame of a chess match started in the Cavanagh administration. | ||
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen Post Number: 1230 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 140.244.107.151 |
Here's the link to the Detroit Bibliography that was mentioned in the Books about Detroit thread (just scroll down to the Bibliography section): http://www.marygrove.edu/ids/i ndex.asp And our recent thread: https://www.atdetroit.net/forum/mes sages/62684/64975.html | ||
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen Post Number: 1231 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 140.244.107.151 |
I think an interesting topic would be providing an in-depth look at a particular neighborhood, business district, or other defined area to see how the changes in the city administration, industry and housing booms and depressions, and the times in general have influenced for better or for worse through the years. Examples: Corktown, East Warren Businessman's Association area, Grand River, etc. Some areas have a long documented history (150 years+); others much less. | ||
Ltorivia485 Member Username: Ltorivia485 Post Number: 2471 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 66.238.170.32 |
I will be a college senior next year, and I really like the Paradise Valley topic. I may do that as my senior thesis. | ||
Leidio Member Username: Leidio Post Number: 4 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 128.103.173.160 |
You would be making a rare but valuable contribution to discourse in urban studies if you researched the need for bottom-up, community-based neighborhood regeneration versus developer infill projects (e.g. "luxury" or "upscale" condominiums) that depend on the economics of globalism for their viability. That is, it pays to build for the middle class, but cities like Detroit are composed of the poorest. Also, if you are intending on going to graduate school, this will be a compelling thesis to present given current discourse. I graduated from Michigan last May; there are many faculty that would be interested in engaging this topic with you. Good luck, and earn Highest Honors. | ||
East_detroit Member Username: East_detroit Post Number: 550 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 69.212.169.194 |
Q: How do you know someone went to UofM? A: They will tell you within 5 minutes of meeting them. | ||
Leidio Member Username: Leidio Post Number: 6 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 128.103.173.160 |
East_detroit--don't be a douchebag. I'm trying to correspond my comments to actual experiences that are accessible to him as a fellow student. Get over it. (Message edited by leidio on March 23, 2006) | ||
Matt_the_deuce Member Username: Matt_the_deuce Post Number: 592 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.14.248.252 |
I think Leidio is lying to us. If he/she really did go to U of M, then he/she would know that "douche bag" is two words, not one. JK!!!!!!!!! sorry, I couldn't help myself.  | ||
623kraw Member Username: 623kraw Post Number: 849 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.41.224.200 |
I suggest "How Paradise Valley Vanished" because it would take a bit of elbow grease and would mirror other downturns that were happening simultaneously in the city...It would be a must read for me! | ||
Bvos Member Username: Bvos Post Number: 1331 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 64.148.226.17 |
East Detroit...LMAO.......And you know why.....ha, ha, ha, ha, ha........because it's so true.........ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.... | ||
Super_d Member Username: Super_d Post Number: 785 Registered: 08-2005 Posted From: 205.188.116.137 |
Here you go... "The installation of lead pipes in urban homes as it relates to the destructive nature of the Black Community." Try that! provocative__bound to raise a few brows! super d(motordetroit) | ||
Arc312 Member Username: Arc312 Post Number: 12 Registered: 01-2006 Posted From: 35.11.161.238 |
GO GREEN!!! |
