Tearing Down the Streets

Adventures in Urban Anarchy

By: J. Ferrell

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Paperback | 7 December 2001 | Edition Number 1

At a Glance

Paperback
292 Pages

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21.6 x 14.3 x 1.9

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From New York to San Francisco, Times Square to the Tenderloin, local police clash with graffiti artists, disorderly young people, radical environmentalists, and the homeless on city streets in an attempt to create a sense of urban order and safety. Pundits talk about "quality of life crime" opponents talk about the "Disneyfication" of America's cities. Drawing on Jeff Ferrell's ongoing field research in a variety of cities, including Denver, San Francisco, New York, Phoenix, and Flagstaff, this lively account of Ferrell's adventures as a participant and researcher inside the worlds of street musicians, homeless punks, militant bicycle activists, high risk "BASE jump" parachustists, skateboarders, outlaw radio operators, and hip hop graffiti artists, explores the contested day-to-day dynamics of public life and public space. Along the way the book takes on a remarkable range of contemporary public controversies involving these underground groups, documenting the ways in which their on-the-street anarchist politics and cultural self-invention shape resistance to new forms of spacial and legal control, and tracing the roots of this resistance through a subversive past that stretches from the Paris commune of 1871 to the punks of the 1970s. This look at extreme urban culture asks "whose city is it?" and argues that a disorderly urban culture is a better alternative than the Disneyfied city.

Industry Reviews

'Provides an energetic and highly informed look at environmental and political movements to nonviolently 'reclaim the streets' - Publishers Weekly

'Strongly recommended for anyone interested in cities and city life.' - Choice

'...provides and energetic and highly informed look at environmental and political movements to nonviolently 'reclaim the streets.' - Publishers Weekly

'...those who have felt themselves being smothered for the sake of an artificial community will find it difficult not to share his sympathies...' - Booklist

'His firsthand field experience and passion add insight to his discussion of the daily lives of these groups and give his personal accounts excitement and interest.' - Mindy S. Wilson, Contemporary Sociology

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You Can Find This Book In

Non-Fiction Society & Culture Social Groups Urban Communities Politics & Government Central Government Social Issues & Processes Social Services & Welfare Crime & Criminology Political Activism Demonstrations & Protest Movements Earth Sciences, Geography, Environment, Planning

Regional & Area Planning Urban & Municipal Planning Sociology & Anthropology Arts & Entertainment History of Art & Design Styles Art from 1900 to Current Art from 1960

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Hardcover

Published: 7th December 2001

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Acknowledgments	p. vi
A Jagged Line Down the Middle of the Street	p. 1
Wild in the Streets	p. 37
Taking Back the Streets	p. 91
We Want the Airwaves, Baby	p. 149
The Towering Inferno	p. 179
Open City	p. 221
Notes	p. 247
Index	p. 274
Table of Contents provided by Syndetics. All Rights Reserved.

Tearing Down the Streets

Adventures in Urban Anarchy

At a Glance

Paperback

Industry Reviews

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

Other Editions and Formats

Hardcover

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