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The term Gentrification has become a staple in our vocabulary. If the same term is applied to works Art has the Art become a homogenized sellout. Yuppie gentrification of a neighborhood creates a uniform sterile “prettiness” yet replaces the authenticity that was once the attraction…..is the same true for the Art. Does gentrified Art fall under the category of home decor or Art? |
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| When “urban renewal” of lower class neighborhoods with condos attracts yuppie tenants, driving up rents and driving out long time, lower income residents. It often begins with influxes of local artists looking for a cheap place to live, giving the neighborhood a bohemian flair. This hip reputation attracts yuppies who want to live in such an atmosphere, driving out the lower income artists and lower income residents, often ethnic/racial minorities, changing the social character of the neighborhood.
The term was coined by sociologist Ruth Glass, who is quoted below. “One by one, many of the working class quarters of London have been invaded by the middle-classes—upper and lower. Shabby, modest mews and cottages—two rooms up and two down—have been taken over, when their leases have expired, and have become elegant, expensive residences …. Once this process of ‘gentrification’ starts in a district it goes on rapidly until all or most of the original working-class occupiers are displaced and the whole social character of the district is changed.” |
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Carol Blogs
