Screen_shots_Sasha

reference materials –

“Gentrification did not only affect these neighborhoods economically, but also socially and culturally. Gentrification changes the social environment and established class based and ethnic networks

. New comers bring their own culture to the community. They try to change the physical image of the neighborhood. For instance, they would change the decorations and attractions of the neighborhood. They would install gardens and better parks they think is culturally appropriate. Anderson cited that “as the newcomers wittingly or unwittingly establish a cultural outpost of the larger society, they tend to discount this significant proportion of the host community and are fairly criticized for not following the cultural footsteps of their processors”.

cited: www.socyberty.com/Sociology/Gentrification-and-tourism

“Many of the characteristics of black neighborhoods documented in ethnographies by Elijah Anderson and others can be seen here. For example, Mr. Fletcher (Danny Glover) and Mike (Mos Def) encourage the neighborhood youths to appreciate black heroes (particularly Fats Waller) and the local black history. In Code of the Street, Anderson discusses how black “old heads” serve to remind black youth of their history and encourage moral behavior. However, as Anderson notes, the authority of old heads is declining and this, too, can be seen in the movie. Mr. Fletcher seems to have lost some of the authority he once had and is conflicted about how to best serve the community. The Passaic City Council wants to demolish the historical building where Mr. Fletcher’s video store is located and replace it with an ugly and generic looking housing development. Though Mr. Fletcher is troubled by the arrival of a corporate video store into the neighborhood, he also tries to steal their core ideas (DVDs only, action/adventure and comedies only, uniforms, etc.) to keep his store alive.”

cited: contentanalysis.wordpress.com/tag/gentrification/

Story Iteration #2

Background:

Beneath the urban landscape, in a world unknown their live creatures called Genies.  Genies are a special breed of cockroaches that are known for there resourcefulness.  The Genie communities are ruled by monarchy’s of Kings and Queens, sworn by secrecy.  Secrecy of an urban myth called Wellstone’s Utopia.  Stories of Wellstone’s Utopia were passed down from generation to generation.  It is regarded in Genie society as “the land of plenty”.   A place where food shelter and resources are unlimited.  Genie rulers for centuries have protected the legend of Wellstone’s Utopia.  Safe guarding the location and even the knowledge of it’s very existence.

Plot:
B is a troubled young bug searching for his past. He takes on different odd jobs to make ends meet. On one of his expeditions he travels to the town of Patiyala. The Patiyala town is ruled by a conniving Genie named Torex.  Torex is driven by a desire to find and expose Wellstone’s Utopia. B finds out of Wellstone’s Utopia and tries to exploit the conning Torex.  The only living map of Wellstone’s Utopia is Princess Joli the niece of Torex.  Princess Joli is grief stricken by the sudden death of her parents King and Queen Patiyala. Joli refuses to deal with the world and turns her back on the thrown of Patiyala.  B promises Torex that he can convince Princess Joli to tell of Wellstone’s Utopia.  Torex agrees to help B with Princess Joli to reveal the location of Wellstone’s Utopia. Torex also has his own plans on eliminating B and Joli once Wellstone is found.

Torex – draft

Torex - first draft

First round of sketches

B and Torex Sketches!

Story Iteration #1

Plot:
In a small world that exist beneath the urban landscape, there live creatures called Genies. The Genies are a special breed of cockroach that live in a town called Wellstone. Wellstone is ruled by a ancient monarchy of Kings and Queens, sworn by secrecy.  Secrecy of an urban legend called Utopia.  Utopia was found by the first ruling class as a refuge of Wellstone, storing the town’s emergency provisions.  For centuries this was the duty of Wellstone rulers, until the recent King and Queen were lost in an accident.  King and Queen Bit left behind a single daughter named Joli, who is known throughout the town as an adventurer. At the time of her parents death Joli was to young to rule Wellstone.  Her Uncle Lucas assumed the role as King of Wellstone temporarily until his niece Joli is ready to take on the responsibility.  Now Lucas is a greedy, conniving bug who only wants to rule with an iron fist. Lucas is not aware of Wellstone’s utopia and becomes hell bent on selling the town too the highest bidder.
B is a troubled young bug searching for his past. He takes on different odd jobs to make ends meet.  When he comes to Wellstone he assumes the role of a carpenter, fixing and repairing homes.  This is when he comes across Joli Bit the niece of Lucas.  She tells B about the suspicious activities of her Uncle Lucas.

Animate Short – Al Dente

Precedent.. A brief history..Demographic Shift

Lefrak City (junction blvd)

Local reisdents speak about the changes in there community of Rego Park and Junction Blvd.

Reference provided by http://junctionblvd.blogspot.com

Project Area

Lefrak City

Lefrak City is a large urban housing project located in the Corona section of Queens in New York City. Built for working and lower-class families in the 1960’s, Lefrak City features twenty-eight eighteen-story apartment buildings. In addition to the residential buildings, the complex also features two large office buildings, playgrounds, school, and nearly 3,500 parking spaces. Today, nearly 14,000 people live within the LeFrak City complex.

Named after the original developer, Samuel LeFrak, ground was broken for the facility in 1960 and was finished in 1969. Under a �total living” strategy, the philosophy of the complex was to offer in addition to housing, shopping centers, recreation, transportation and other facilities. The original cost of rent was an affordable $40 per air-conditioned room. Demographics have come in waves. Directly following construction, a large jewish population moved into the complex. However, through the 1980’s, more and more African American as well as Muslim immigrants from the horn of Africa are calling LeFrak City home.

Lefrak City Area Population Statistics in 1990
Total Population Persons 60430
Nativity Native Born 29265 Foreign Born 31165
Major Racial and Ethnic Identifications White Non-Hispanic 22935 Black Non-Hispanic 12276 N American Native Non-Hispanic 115 Asian/Pacific Islander Non-Hispanic 9062 Other Race Non-Hispanic 264 Persons of Hispanic Origin 15778
Asian/Pacific Islander National Origins Chinese 4145 Asian Indian 3280 Korean 882 Filipino 480 Japanese 10 Vietnamese 96 Thai 75 All Other Asian/Pacific Islander 330	Hispanic National Origins Puerto Rican 3318 Colombian 3188 Dominican 3511 Ecuadorian 1611 Cuban 563 Peruvian 737 Mexican 450 Salvadoran 67 Guatemalan 119 Panamanian 147 Honduran 84 Nicaraguan 82 All Other Hispanic 1901
Language Data Persons 5 yrs & older 56711 Speak Only English at Home 21194 Speak Other Language at Home 35517	Languages Spoken at Home (Ages 5 and Up) Only English 21194 Spanish/Spanish Creole 14233 Chinese 3838 Italian 1091 Korean 751 Greek 601 Indic 2720 French/French Creole 1552 German 508 Tagalog 347 Polish 380 Russian 4210 South Slavic 128 Yiddish 572 Arabic 331 Portuguese/Portuguese Creole 122 Hungarian 552 Japanese 30 Vietnamese 38 Other Languages 3513

Gentrification – video youtube