Archives Project Essay

Jayleen Jimenez
April 2011
Luke Vasileou
Eng 103

During the 70s, New York City experienced a malevolent crisis that affected every New Yorker in some sort of way. The city suffered socially and economically. There were high unemployment rates that were increasing with each day that passed. Of course where there’s high unemployment, there’s crime spawning within the gaping void that’s left behind as a result. Roger Starr,a Housing Administrator, used this towards his advantage to facilitate his desires of “planned shrinkage”. He was a radical who was determined to get the job due to the belief of the city decreasing in size and population no matter what the circumstances were.
When his ideas were presented there was more of mass of negative reactions than there was positive. Not many were in favor of his idea particularly the minorities. Being that the minorities were already suffering enough from the postwar economic slump, this was depressing and distraught news presented to them. In attempts to make a stand, they were often ridiculed by some such as a journalist from the Daily News, a newspaper that was and is filled with highly subjective articles. On the 4th of March 1976, an article was written in the Daily News titled as “A Display of Ignorance”. The title itself already shows the discontentment towards minorities for whatever reason the author may possess. On this day, a regional conference was being held and Starr was planned to deliver a statement but a gathering of perturbed protestors were rallying outside and displaying their objection towards his “planned shrinkage”. All they wanted was for the idea not to go through because just as everyone else they had homes. Despite their lack of money being at their disposal, they were treated differently and often categorized as living in the slums. The ignorant of this article made their position proven by showing their demeaning and belittling conduct that was presented on the paper. They deemed the protestors as being boorish and using fascistic tactics to intervene also mentioning the “gagging” of Starr.
“A band of hooting, howling protestors invaded a regional conference on Tuesday…”
This could have been worded where it didn’t exhibit much of their animosity towards the group of individuals despite the author’s positioning. The terms “hooting”, “howling”, and “invaded” made the protestors seem barbaric. Not only were they being degraded but Starr’s idea raped them of their fundamentals and rights.
Unemployment played a huge factor towards Starr’s scheme on “planned shrinkage” In the year of 1976, the agency reductions were all over 10%. Most being significant to the communities where the minorities resided. There was 4,879(13.7%)police reduced, 1,926(13.7%) firefighters laid off, and 8,130(17.3%) health employees laid off considering much more in other agencies. All of these notable necessities are what make a neighborhood strive in a way but without it, there is complete chaos. That’s exactly what happened to the “slums”. Without the police patrolling, the crime rate sparked. Where there was a fire, there was barely any firefighters. If there wasn’t any medical assistance then there would be much more injuries and casualties. With the lack of Sanitation, the entire neighborhood would be a complete pigsty. All of these factors were being pulled out one by one and forcing the neighborhoods to decrease in size and in value. This only outraged the residents further more but still Starr didn’t consider any of it.
In an interview that was dated in September 2 of 1993, Roger Starr gave much of his views and perspectives towards “planned shrinkage” and how he felt about the minorities. He was given a number of questions by Robert Fitch. In this interview, he should his extensive knowledge of the housing industry considering he was the administrator. He knew of what he was talking about quite well. It’s just he frowned upon the minorities and degraded them incessantly. He never considered them so he often planned without their views on such subjects. Roger Starr was a very controversial individual who wasn’t in favor of the Brook Amendments.
“...take tenants who couldn’t pay an adequate rental, so the maintenance of public housing deteriorated very rapidly…”
He strongly felt that the Brook Amendments gave minorities what they didn’t deserve. He felt that the Amendment was removing the “good” tenants and keeping the “bad” tenants which were minorities who took it for granted. Economically it didn’t favor Roger Starr nor the government. It was just a program built solely for those who were in need of money and housing.
Starr wasn’t always a pessimistic person, he had great ideas that helped the people in neighborhoods. If one were to wonder why project housings are shaped similar to a cross, it’s because it kept “people from going up the roof and doing drugs…”. It was a positive input because at least he tried to keep people from harm’s way though I am sure he was doing it more for his benefit. It was very considerate for Starr to think of drug abusers going up to the roof yet he is advocating for the decrease of police officer; in which these officers are the ones who are obligated to deal with drug users and those alike however they still removed the patrolling officers. Starr believed that fiscal terms left the city in a horrid shape economically. But he did have a bit of hope, he stated “If you were willing to sit and wait and wait and wait, you would eventually get paid off…” If you look at his opinion, you can see the relevance to his “planned shrinkage”. If you can wait for the plan to go through it would eventually be paid off well to the people and the government. At the end of the interview, Starr explains the influx of immigration, the decreasing jobs, and loss of population yet he still views the “planned shrinkage” as a great idea. Though we’re losing all of these things, to make matters much worse a continuation wouldn’t affect the people who already being troubled from his previous ideas/plans.
Starr was a cynical and radical man due to his determination on “planned shrinkage”. He was fully aware of the negatives and who were affected but still didn’t give much of a second guess. He favored the rich and that was evidently shown in the interview. It all was in favor of gaining profit and disregarding the poor. There could have been ways to avoid this and go about it in another way but Starr seemed to have focus on only one idea and that idea solely.

Special Activity: MOMI

Things I’ve learned
• How the first gaming system was produced and who created it
• The way audio is done in films
• Special and visual effects done in movies. I really enjoyed the displays that were from two of Darren Aronofsky’s films.
• How the choking scene was done in “Black Swan”
• The difference between cosmetics then and now


One concept the tour guide explained was how the African Americans and Asians were type casted into movies during the early 1900s. I can’t quite remember the two actresses name that were well known but one of them were usually type casted as the “Mammy” because of her robust southern appearance. The other was an Asian woman who was type casted as the Femme Fatale/Seductress. Another concept was the producing of audio in films. She showed us the film “Titanic” as an example. The scene where the ship is already sinking, she told us how the sounds were produced such as the chimney breaking was done with a can and some one squeezing it. I can’t quite remember any thing else. Other than that, this field trip was rather splendid.

Blog Thirteen

During the 70s, New York City experienced a malevolent crisis that affected every New Yorker in some sort of way. The city suffered socially and economically. There were high unemployment rates that were increasing with each day that passed. Of course where there’s high unemployment, there’s crime spawning within the gaping void that’s left behind as a result. Roger Starr,a Housing Administrator, used this towards his advantage to facilitate his desires of “planned shrinkage”. He was a radical who was determined to get the job due to the belief of the city decreasing in size and population no matter what the circumstances were.
When his ideas were presented there was more of mass of negative reactions than there was positive. Not many were in favor of his idea particularly the minorities. Being that the minorities were already suffering enough from the postwar economic slump, this was depressing and distraught news presented to them. In attempts to make a stand, they were often ridiculed by some such as a journalist from the Daily News, a newspaper that was and is filled with highly subjective articles. On the 4th of March 1976, an article was written in the Daily News titled as “A Display of Ignorance”. The title itself already shows the discontentment towards minorities for whatever reason the author may possess. On this day, a regional conference was being held and Starr was planned to deliver a statement but a gathering of perturbed protestors were rallying outside and displaying their objection towards his “planned shrinkage”. All they wanted was for the idea not to go through because just as everyone else they had homes. Despite their lack of money being at their disposal, they were treated differently and often categorized as living in the slums. The ignorant of this article made their position proven by showing their demeaning and belittling conduct that was presented on the paper. They deemed the protestors as being boorish and using fascistic tactics to intervene also mentioning the “gagging” of Starr.
“A band of hooting, howling protestors invaded a regional conference on Tuesday…”
This could have been worded where it didn’t exhibit much of their animosity towards the group of individuals despite the author’s positioning. The terms “hooting”, “howling”, and “invaded” made the protestors seem barbaric.

Blog Twelve

Without a doubt, when one views another of higher jurisdiction, they’re presented with emotions similar to inferiority. Whether it is shown through the exterior or interior of the individual. This doesn’t mean it happens all of the time; it all depends on the individual and their esteem and morals. History has shown in both parties of being the “other” through the years of the Third Reich, the enslavement of Africans, and so forth.

Annas presents us with the idea that the ideal human being will be referred to as “other” due to thei


This is to be continued.

Blog Seven

Brief Intro: The standards of media perpetuate the views and concept of societies. It shapes and molds the mass of society into what they are today. One of the factors that facilitate towards society is television. The influence of many that television can provide solely by itself is the act of violence. Dating back to the origin of television, most would inquire: Does the act of viewing violence on television influence the audience to emulate what they are given? The general topic in itself stirs much controversy to those who bear witness. Some would say it does and others would claim otherwise. It may all be a matter of the individual or it may hold true regardless of the individual.
Body Paragraphs
P1:Origins of Television
A-When it began
B-Television shows that were aired
P2:Television shows now
A-Shows that are aired now
P3:Compare and contrast the time periods
A-Show the differences between sex and violence with both
B-Hardly any similarities
P4:Age/Ethnic groups and the demographics
P5:Media and their coverage/influences
P6:Kitty Genovese
P7:Media influences once more
Conclusion:Restate the thesis and positioning.

Trump,Christopher. "The Genovese Syndrome."
Columbia Journalism Review 11.4 (1972): 57-58.
Web. 5 Apr 2011.

This article proves much use towards the paper.In the body paragraph,I will be discussing this briefly.It discusses the media coverage between newspapers based on the murder of Kitty Genovese as well as Robert Krause.The article compares and contrast the newspapers,Daily News and Times, on their media coverage and length of both crimes.Being that one was subjective while the other was objective.The way the articles are covered influences the reader in some type of way,whether it appeals to their taste or otherwise.It also explains the lack of actions taken by those around the victim and suspect as well as the article(s) being published weeks later.The neighbors were aware of what happened but did nothing.This was deemed as the "Genovese Syndrome" or the "Bystander Effect"

Blog Eleven

The term “other” doesn’t seem to be something I would use to identify the group I contrast with the most but it certainly is a way to put things into perspective. To be frank,as a person I could never fit that mold of being social and gregarious.I don’t’ even think I appear as an amicable individual.I was always the introverted and the others were the extroverted.It’s a complete juxtaposition including the words itself. It’s similar to the whole “private” and “public” self discussion we’ve had earlier in the semester.The other are out there doing what they do best,interacting and being garrulous. Meanwhile, I am being quiet and preoccupied.They get along with just about everyone and I don’t bother to try.Their morals are completely different from mine.Everyday I am forced to interact with the others:family.My family are more than just extroverts.They embrace every single bit of life and I loathe it.They love to dance and talk.I don’t.Aside from all this,I don’t intend on insinuating anything in regards to my family.I accept and love them for who they are despite the obvious differences.But everyone else,I despise.I have no idea where this animosity stems from,perhaps because I am the “other” for them.

Blog Six

The Prison-House of Language is a very arduous statement to take in as a whole.One,such as myself, must strip the words apart to grasp onto meaning.The research has led me to a dead end and I must interpret the statement in ways of which I could fathom.
The terms that are within the statement allow a breakdown. When I see the word "prison",I think of solitary confinement and condemnation.In a way,it insinuates something just by being the first word in there.Then to see "house" come right after,it only proves me further.There's some sort of restriction.With those two put together,I can only believe that society must look down on those who use restricted language.Certain words or phrases are prohibited from the use of our language thus allowing it to probably be considered taboo almost.They're prohibited because of our social conformity despite there being a freedom of speech.It's irony,being allowed to speak forth our minds yet society attempts to prohibit certain things.
It also allows structure in our society.It teaches discipline to those around us including ourselves.When we're young,the rule of disrespecting our elders or anyone for that matter is embedded into our heads to prevent such remarks and insults.Of course this does not apply to everyone because there are those who rebel and possess a lack of morality.In simpler terms,we are taught to keep our comments amongst ourselves to avoid consequence.The Prison-House of Language serves its purpose in both negative and positive directions.