THE CITY AS AUTOBIOGRAPHY : The Self and The City as Reflexive Projects

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Roy Voragen

Abstract

The self and the city interrelate; both the self and the city are
reflexive projects. Moreover, these reflexive projects are
dialectally interrelated. Identity is not expressed in actions but
(per-)formed through actions. Performativity entails a dialogue,
with others and with the urban environment. The meaning of
the self is public and shown in its created forms: the city.
Knowledge is grounded not in theory but in practice, i.e.
knowledge of the city is shown in social practices, styles and
forms. The unforeseen and unwanted consequences of the
urban risk society cause anxiety, which in turn causes
segregation, exclusion and architecture of fear. To overcome
this, we citoyens need creativity as a virtue; the density of a
megalopolis could also lead to an innovative attitude, hence the
experiences of the creative communities in Bandung.

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