Great Canadian Skyline Thread II

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by Marshal

You have not been in Canada long enough if you think this is what Canadians feel about their real culture, nor long enough to recognize what that culture is. If you have been here 20, 30, 40+ years, you are blind to it all, or do not understand culture at all.

Every country has their historically misinterpreted iconography, most of which is now used by marketers (especially government tourism departments) and tends towards easy caricature. Real culture is what's actually going on, you know, by the population, that vast majority including all the cultural producing subgroups and industries. Sure, the cowboy belongs in Calgary's culture . . . but it is of very small importance and relevance.

Also, Canadians do not hate or feel shame for their culture (a few do) because they are too busy making and consuming it. Calgary doesn't need a 'Cowboy' security blanket, it doesn't need that simplistic kind of identity, and it isn't some non-descript city without it. Rather, it needs its identity to align with what it actually is - so promote the local: food, recreation, music, art, landscape, people, agriculture, buildings, urban structure, iconic things of all types and forms, and, yes also, the odd cowboy, stampede, bison, RCMP serge, etc.

As a postscript: Canadians are also tired of being told to be proud of our most obvious/trivial cultural aspects. And that is no different than the case in Berlin, Cape Town, Adelaide, Osaka, Glasgow, Paris, Moscow, Beijing, Mumbai, Cairo . . .

Couldn't have put it better myself.

[itom 987]

https://www.instagram.com/mackerskm/

[O-tacular]

Will be really interesting to see that view in a couple years' time.

[Calgarian]

Yeah that area should look totally different in 10 years.

[WhipperSnapper]

Drastic changes to a couple blocks for sure. Will see about the rest. I'm a little hesitant how long the unprecedented number of units being built will be absorbed.

[ainvan]

Tdot! by Cyclonic Niloy, on Flickr

[Mrs Sauga]

I know we harp on a lot of those waterfront/southcore buildings, but Ice, and the harbour office and condos looks great in that shot.

[caltrane74]

Because they are positioned closer to the lake, both Harbourplaza towers should appear taller than ICE from this angle....

They have a way to go before they top out.

[isaidso]

Originally Posted by Marshal

You have not been in Canada long enough if you think this is what Canadians feel about their real culture, nor long enough to recognize what that culture is. If you have been here 20, 30, 40+ years, you are blind to it all, or do not understand culture at all.

Absolute rubbish. I've been in Canada for almost 40 years. I've lived in every region of this country except BC/the Territories, schooled here, served in Canada's Armed Forces, driven across Canada, explored it extensively, participated in its festivals/traditions, admired its art, grew up with its music, supported its museums/galleries/performing arts, played most of its sports, and accumulated a mountain of knowledge about Canadian culture, politics, history, and society over many decades. Hell I've even produced content that aired at a film festival. I don't understand culture or am blind to it? Boy are you ever barking up the wrong tree.

Originally Posted by Marshal

Also, Canadians do not hate or feel shame for their culture (a few do) because they are too busy making and consuming it. Calgary doesn't need a 'Cowboy' security blanket, it doesn't need that simplistic kind of identity, and it isn't some non-descript city without it. Rather, it needs its identity to align with what it actually is - so promote the local: food, recreation, music, art, landscape, people, agriculture, buildings, urban structure, iconic things of all types and forms, and, yes also, the odd cowboy, stampede, bison, RCMP serge, etc.

This posts wreaks of cultural insecurity actually. Do you think Londoners lament about their cliche symbology and argue that double decker buses and Beefeaters will give foreigners a simplistic perception of the city? No, because they know London's more than that and don't feel the need to go out and prove that it has tons of other things to offer. Why? Because its a culturally confident city.

I know Calgary is a young city but its culture has a long way to go if people there still think these things define the city and people won't look past the imagery. It's called branding and marketing 101 says 'know your strengths'. That cowboy imagery is what sets Calgary apart and people are fools if they dismiss it. It's your calling card. It's the Stampede/western symbology that's going to get tourists to Calgary initially and that's when you open their eyes to everything else.

Food isn't going to get them there. Architecture isn't going to get them there. The urban structure isn't going to get them there. The music isn't going to get them there. The art isn't going to get people there. The people aren't going to get people there. None of them are strong enough to register globally. Cluttering the message and down playing your strengths? That's precisely what you DON'T DO! And yes, I went to business school.

I love Calgary but if your viewpoint is representative there's no way in hell I could live there. Maybe I'll give it another 20-30 years and then have another look at Calgary.

[Marshal]

Originally Posted by isaidso

Absolute rubbish. I've been in Canada for almost 40 years. I've lived in every region of this country except BC/the Territories, schooled here, served in Canada's Armed Forces, driven across Canada, explored it extensively, participated in its festivals/traditions, admired its art, grew up with its music, supported its museums/galleries/performing arts, played most of its sports, and accumulated a mountain of knowledge about Canadian culture, politics, history, and society over many decades. Hell I've even produced content that aired at a film festival. I don't understand culture or am blind to it? Boy are you ever barking up the wrong tree.

This posts wreaks of cultural insecurity actually. Do you think Londoners lament about their cliche symbology and argue that double decker buses and Beefeaters will give foreigners a simplistic perception of the city? No, because they know London's more than that and don't feel the need to go out and prove that it has tons of other things to offer. Why? Because its a culturally confident city.

I know Calgary is a young city but its culture has a long way to go if people there still think these things define the city and people won't look past the imagery. It's called branding and marketing 101 says 'know your strengths'. That cowboy imagery is what sets Calgary apart and people are fools if they dismiss it. It's your calling card. It's the Stampede/western symbology that's going to get tourists to Calgary initially and that's when you open their eyes to everything else.

Food isn't going to get them there. Architecture isn't going to get them there. The urban structure isn't going to get them there. The music isn't going to get them there. The art isn't going to get people there. The people aren't going to get people there. None of them are strong enough to register globally. Cluttering the message and down playing your strengths? That's precisely what you DON'T DO! And yes, I went to business school.

I love Calgary but if your viewpoint is representative there's no way in hell I could live there. Maybe I'll give it another 20-30 years and then have another look at Calgary.

Wow, I know I was a bit blunt, but you are acting as thin skinned as Donald Trump.

I reek (notice the spelling, wreak is an off form of wreck) (and also, symbology is not a word) with cultural insecurity? Interesting. Maybe you are right - my architecture firm is usually lost in sophistications - maybe we should try being literal in future - we are working on a school, I think we will make it look like a piece of sushi, Tobiko maybe.

You started OK, talking culture but quickly switched to tourism "get'em there" branding/marketing, 101's and other nonsensical statements of opinion. You should maybe try thinking at a 400 level instead. Sorry but the old 101 cliche is so tired, and useless in an adult/professional world. Now, tourism is certainly an important industry that must obviously market in a way that maximizes the draw. But, that is not an equivalence for a city's culture. Its incredibly silly to confuse or conflate the two.

I'm glad you went to business school . . . you obviously think you know what's up with all this. The problem with business school seems to be that it doesn't teach rational argumentation, like say university philosophy/logic.

You love Calgary, but if Calgary's culture is described as involving all of its cultural production, then "there's no way in hell [you] could live there"? And cowboy culture is all it takes to reverse that? Are you drunk or just irrational and upset because someone put your stupid ideas in their place. Oops. Sorry, I don't want to upset you further, so I take that back.

So, you have lived here 40+ years. Well, of my two options I will go with 'B': you don't know what culture is (now with mountains of knowledge, I must be wrong: you do know what culture is. So there must be confusion somewhere else in your genius, I'm not going to go looking though)

Sorry again, truly, but I am tired of listening to nonsense these days. Hit back if it will feel good. I won't answer further. Catharsis done.

Ride em, Rope em, Cowboy!

[SkahHigh]

Montreal Nightscape by Mark Zaj, sur Flickr

[SkahHigh]

Montreal by Gabriel Provost, sur Flickr

[Mrs Sauga]

OK I had to look it up, but yeah "symbology" is in the Websters dictionary FWIW.

[logan5]

Lol.

[Monolith]

Mountain View - Vancouver, BC by SeaSide Signs ~ Vancouver, BC, on Flickr Taken on July 20, 2016

[ainvan]

[O-tacular]

Canada's own mini Manhattan!

Edit: those Toronto pics from last page.

[Marshal]

When I was a kid, the first time I went to Toronto I was able to talk my parents into driving into the city along the most iconic route (to my mind @~13 yrs): from Steeles, straight down Yonge Street. As the kid-city fanatic, I was given the front seat and the map. At that time, the excitement and experiential intensity kept building all the way south, the traffic & bustle, the building clusters first in groups all over, then the major collections in North York, and at Eglington and St Clair; and then you could see the climax coming, but first, the perfect gateway at Bloor with the two towers (Bay and CIBC) rising so tightly together . . . that was when you knew you were there, Canada's Manhattan was before you, with the true giants were in your face.

NOW, that twin gateway has been obliterated. Toronto has exploded. It is truly remarkable. I envy today's 13 year old, hopefully off the smartphone and excited about the actual world.

"Symbology" I am corrected . . . in my world "symbology" was a made-up term used in certain translations of Roland Barthes, and heavily criticized by anglo-semioticians, especially one that I studied, Susan K. Langer (Philosophy in a New Key, 1942). I am surprised that the OED legitimized it. What is "the Websters"? Joking.

[Pinion]

@meteo_matt on twitter

[softee]

The view looking down Yonge street has certainly changed.

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