Detroit Flashcards
Describe Detroit’s location.
Detroit is located in Michigan, USA, situated along the Detroit River which forms the border between the USA and Canada.
Describe Detroit’s locale.
Detroit is known as the Motor City due to its history as a hub for the American automotive industry.
It is also home to a vibrant music scene, with Motown Records, a record label which today houses several hip-hop and R&B artists such as Lil Baby, Migos and Erykah Badu, being founded there in the 1960s.
Detroit has a diverse population with significant African American, Arab American and Latino communities. The city has faced challenges in recent decades, including a declining population and economic struggles.
Describe Detroit’s sense of place.
Detroit has a strong sense of place tied to its history as a centre for manufacturing and music. The city has a rich cultural heritage that is celebrated through events such as the Detroit International Jazz Festival and the Detroit Electronic Music Festival.
Describe the insider and outsider perspectives of Detroit.
Insider perspectives of Detroit tend to emphasize the city’s history, culture and community resilience, whilst outsider perspectives tend to focus on the city’s economic struggles and issues such as crime and poverty.
Which category of place does Detroit fall under?
Detroit is an urban place, with distinct neighbourhoods and communities. Some of these neighbourhoods, such as Corktown and Midtown are experiencing revitalisation, whereas others such as the Eastside and Southwest Detroit, face significant challenges related to poverty and crime.
Describe endogenous factors of Detroit that contribute to its character.
Detroit’s music scene gives it a cultured character, and it’s history as a manufacturing hub gives it an industrial character. However, it’s visible dereliction in several areas gives it an abandoned character.
Describe exogenous factors of Detroit that contribute to it’s character.
The rise of the automotive industry elsewhere (Asia, Europe) caused dramatic decline in Detroit’s economy, which my have given it a deprived character. Migration patterns from other areas into Detroit have given Detroit a diverse character.
What are the impact of relationships and connections on people and place with a particular focus on Detroit’s changing demographic and cultural characteristics?
