NO CRUISING: Mobile Identities and Urban Life in Los Angeles

This research studio will investigate the multiple themes generated by the concept of mobility (and its inverse: immobility) in Los Angeles. While the city’s automobility has become an unavoidable cliche, the question of mobility affects almost every sphere of life for its urban residents. The studio will focus on exploring the ways individuals and groups experience mobility and immobility, using methods from ethnography, history, material culture studies, literature, and visual and performance art. One of the key efforts of the studio will be to create hybrid forms of urban representation, juxtaposing humanities perspectives with spatial and movement studies. Together with faculty, students will make several trips to Los Angeles to explore the city, meet with local artists, writers, scholars, civic advocates, engineers and residents. The studio will culminate in visual, textual, and digital versions of student and faculty research.

ED RUSCHA, EVERY BUILDING ON THE SUNSET STRIP, 1966

Asco, First Supper after a Race Riot, 1974

Fung Brothers 626 Garvey, Valley, Main, Huntington, 2013

Reyner Banham, who learned how to drive in order to read Los Angeles “in the original.” 1972

SNLs The Californians, a fake soap opera that lampoons Angelenos’ reduction of all topics to transit routes. 2012

Thom Anderson, 2003 City as Background, City as Character, City as Subject

THE RIGHT TO CIRCULATE

MC:” I’m starting a project on mobility in LA” *Vance Duffy: “You mean immobility!!” *Fleet manager, Los Angeles Sheriffs Department

People in LA are living differently now; they perceive urban space in a new ways--walking, on bikes and public transportation.

People stay in their own neighborhood more--they don’t move around so much.

Aaron Paley, Director, CicLAvia

MC:” I’m starting a project on mobility in LA” *Vance Duffy: “You mean immobility!!” *Fleet manager, Los Angeles Sheriffs Department

People in LA are living differently now; they perceive urban space in a new ways--walking, on bikes and public transportation.

People stay in their own neighborhood more--they don’t move around so much.

Aaron Paley, Director, CicLAvia

MC:” I’m starting a project on mobility in LA” *Vance Duffy: “You mean immobility!!” *Fleet manager, Los Angeles Sheriffs Department

2010: Los Angeles has fewer freeways per capita than any major U.S. city. Los Angeles ranks number one in delays caused by traffic congestion Paul Sorenson, “Moving Los Angeles” Access35 (Fall, 2010) 26-30ll,

1996: BRU, NAACP sue MTA under TItle VI for discriminating against low income minority bus riders in favor of suburban commuters. The court required the MTA to buy new buses, create new routes, and lower fares to better serve bus riders.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/photography/la-me-walking-man-ss,0,5347988.htmlstory

DJ WALDIE DOESN’T DRIVE.

Grindr: Eco-hook-up: No driving necessary

Existing Gang injunctions

have named 7,000 people

who are now permamently

enjoined and restricted

from associating in public,

wearing gang colors, or

using gang hand signs.

No

Ed Ruscha, Los Angeles County Museum on Fire, 1965

Asco, Walking Mural, 1972

Senga Nengudi, Freeway Fets and Ceremony, 1978

Josh Kun’s project Phillips Music, on the Boyle Heights Museum Store

Art Laboe, pioneering LA Disc

Jockey, at the Grammy Museum’s "

Trouble in Paradise: Music and Los Angeles, 1945 to 1975" curated by Josh Kun for Pacific Standard Time,

2012