第一次写 issue, 欢迎大家来拍

raphael13UID: 2390517

Issue 2

To understand the most important characteristics of a society, one must study its major cities.
Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should consider ways in which the statement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerations shape your position







Many people hold the view that the gigantic cities represent the fundamental characteristics of the society where they are located. However, this view is not overwhelmingly convincing since it downplays the role played by the counterparts of cities in constructing the identity of a society. Thus, I believe that visiting the major cities, alone was not able to disinter the nature of a society.

Indeed, the big cities well embody the political, economic and cultural characteristics of a industrialized society. New York, a metropolitan city, establishes a paradigm for people to explore the American spirit. The diversity of cultures in New York City inspired Andy Warhol to advocate the pop art which had prolonged influence on the American contemporary art. The Wall Street created the updated version of American Dream. Even a walk on the street in the Brooklyn region will provide one with an impression of the Americans: energetic, tolerant and optimistic. The high tolerance of the racial, gender differences led to the establishment of a highly visible image of the US, characterized by democracy and equality.

However, one cannot deny that these metropolitan cities are over-globalized. One might find the modern part of a society from the Skyscrapers but would feel hopeless to trace the traditions from these brand-new buildings. Any society is in a process of recreating itself while maintaining its traditions. In this sense, to understand a society means not only exploring the cities which present the up-to-date face of a society, but also investigating the countryside which preserves the indigenous feature of a society. It is difficult to find the traditional Japanese, characterized by gentleness and thoughtfulness, in Tokyo, a highly westernized city. By contrast, it is easily noticeable that Arima, a small town, has preserved the precious feature of Japanese identity. It is normal to see women wearing kimono on the street, which is a rare scene in large cities like Tokyo. The antiquated buildings are well preserved, marking the Japanese identity of this town. It is in Arima, instead of Tokyo, that one can have a clear idea about the long history of Japan, blessed by abundant exquisite temples and shrines.  

In conclusion, big cities can well elaborate the modernity, but may be less successful to reflect the traditional face which was equally important as the modern part for a society. Therefore, a deep understanding of a society requires the visits of both the urban and rural area.



发现时间完全不够，结尾只有一分钟来写。。。 囧死了。。
自己觉得有点跑题，大家看看是不是，
写完完全没时间修改了，30分钟真可怕。。。

第一次写，请大家指教~~~