 that new order be already at work inside the historic towns? Are its effects only negative? I want to question a presupposition common in many discussion of historic preservation. This is the presupposition that a spatially distinct historic center belongs to a single community that possesses a unified self-consciousness and a unified aesthetic self-image. Local communities less and less correspond to bounded spatial areas, and spatial areas contain less and less homogeneous communities. There is growing a new kind of discontinuous unity, which is the theme of this essay. Whether we like it or not, historic towns are becoming nodes in a new kind of network. Even if lovingly preserved, the historic towns cannot be isolated. They are and will be penetrated by new processes. These new economic and social and aesthetic processes are not featureless; they have their own order. I will speak about this order as if it were fully developed. Of course it is not. But it is coming and it is not merely degeneration. It offers new possibilities as well as great perils. My topic, then, is the context for preservation, and the changing identity of communities. What I offer is an image: the suburban retail strip, together with an abstraction from that image: the list. After examining some complications about multiple identity I pose questions about the self-consciousness of community and offer an answer in terms of the role of aesthetic criteria for our togetherness outside. An Image for Today Think about suburban retail strips. Retail stores, service outlets, signs, signs, traffic and parking. These are familiar images, and there are two standard ways to invoke them. One is in a sad tone, to condemn the garishness, degeneration, commoditization of modern or postmodern society. Another is in a triumphalist tone, with echoes of Venturi and of various postmodernisms. Neither of these fits what I want to do, though I will come closer to the second. I want to look at the kind of order that dominates the strip. On the strip, discontinuity reigns. There are no mediating spaces except the characterless flowway of the road. Although the road is continuous, it has little quality of its own except for convenience or inconvenience. Its blandness highlights the abrupt transitions among the seductive mini-worlds containing the various enterprises. One branded island abuts another: McDonalds next to Staples Office Supplies next to Rapid Auto Repair next to Wal-Mart. There is no continuity except the general spatial arrangements for parking and the
that new order be already at work inside the historic towns? Are its effect merely negative? I want to question a presupposition coarse in many discussion of historic preservation. This is the presupposition that a spatially distinct historic center field belongs to a single residential district that possess a unified self - awareness and a unified aesthetic self - image. Local communities less and less correspond to bounded spatial sphere, and spatial areas control less and less homogeneous communities. There is develop a new kind of discontinuous unity, which is the theme of this essay. Whether we wish it or not, historic towns are becoming node in a new kind of net. Even if lovingly preserve, the historic towns cannot be isolated. They are and will be penetrated by newfangled processes. These new economic and social and aesthetic processes are not featureless; they have their own order. I will speak about this order as if it were fully developed. Of course it is not. But it is coming and it is not merely degeneration. It offers new possibilities as well as great hazard. My topic, then, is the context for preservation, and the transfer identity of community. What I offer is an image: the suburban retail strip, in concert with an abstraction from that persona: the list. After examining some complicatedness about multiple identity I pose questions about the self - consciousness of community and put up an answer in terms of the role of aesthetic criteria for our togetherness outside. An picture for Today remember about suburban retail strips. Retail stores, service outlets, signs, polarity, traffic and parking. These are familiar images, and there be two standard ways to invoke them. One is in a sad tone, to sentence the garishness, degeneration, commoditization of modern or postmodern society. Another is in a triumphalist timbre, with echoes of Venturi and of assorted postmodernisms. Neither of these match what I want to cause, though I will come closer to the second. I desire to look at the kind of order that dominates the strip. On the strip, discontinuity reigns. There are no mediating spaces except the characterless flowway of the road. Although the road is continuous, it has little quality of its own except for public toilet or inconvenience. Its blandness highlight the abrupt transitions among the seductive mini - earth containing the various enterprises. One post island abuts another: McDonalds next to Staples Office Supplies next to Rapid Auto Repair next to Wal - Mart. There is no continuity except the general spatial arrangements for parking and the
 thwt new order be already xt work inside jhw histmric tkwns? Are its effects only negative? I wqnt ti question a presupposktion comlon in mqny viscussion of historic pvzservzbion. Chms is the presukposition thdt a spatially dkscinct historic center belongs to a syngle cpmlunity that pofsesxqs a lnlfied self-consciousness and a unjfied atsthetic self-image. Local communities less anf leds correspond to blunded spatual weeas, and spagial areas contain lesa and less homogeneous communitkes. Tkere is groqibg w new kind oh discjntinuous unlny, whicv is thr theme of thix evsat. Whether we like it mr not, historic torns are backming nodes in a beq king of netdirk. Evtn mf movingpy 'reserved, tge historic towns cannot be isplwnrd. They are znd wijl be penetrated by new processes. These ntw ecknomic and social and awsthetic processes arg not feattreless; they have their own order. I will speak abmut tiir oxeer ar iv it were fully developed. Of course it is not. Guu in is coming and ib is not merely debejetwtion. It offets new 'ksaibilities as well as grewt peeils. My tjpic, then, is the context for prwservation, aud rhe changing identnty of commuuities. What I offer is an image: thz subudban retail strip, tofdther with an abrtrscdion from that image: the lyst. After exakining rome complycations ahout multiple identity I pose qgestions ahout the self-consciousness of community and ogfar dn answex in tcrms of the rolq of aesthetic criterna for our togetgerness outside. An Image for Togwy Think abont suburbwn rwtaio stripr. Retail stores, service outlets, sitns, signs, traffic end kadking. These are faniliar images, amd ghewe ace twj standard wafs tu ivfoke ghem. Ont iw in s sad tone, to condemt ths garishness, degenrrwtion, conmoditizwtion of modetn or postmodern slcietb. Anotier is in a triumphalist tone, with echoss of Venhurl and of varijus iostiodernisms. Neither of these fits what I want to di, though I will cone closer to the seeokd. I want to look at the khnd of order that doninates the strip. On the strip, discontjnuity reigjs. There are no mediating spaces except the characterless flowway of the eoad. Although the doad is cmncinbous, it has uittle quality og its own except for conveniencx or inconeeuience. Its blandness highlighys the abrupt ttansitions among the seducfive mino-worlds containing the various rnterprises. One branded lsland abyts ahother: McDunalds next to Stalles Oyfice Wuppliew newt to Rapid Augo Teiair next ho Wel-Mcrt. There is no continuity except the gwnfral spatial arrengements fov karking and tre
that new order be already at work historic Are its only negative? I common many discussion of preservation. This is presupposition that a spatially distinct historic belongs to a single community that possesses a unified self-consciousness and a unified self-image. Local communities less and less correspond to bounded spatial areas, and spatial contain and homogeneous There is growing a new kind of discontinuous unity, which is the theme of this essay. we like it or not, historic towns are nodes in a new of network. Even if lovingly the towns cannot isolated. are will be penetrated new processes. These new economic and social and aesthetic processes are not featureless; they have their own I will this order if were developed. Of course not. But it is coming and merely degeneration. It offers new possibilities as well great perils. topic, then, is the context for and the changing identity of communities. What I is an image: the suburban retail strip, together with an abstraction from that image: the examining some complications about identity I pose about self-consciousness community offer an in terms of the role of aesthetic criteria for our togetherness An Image for Today Think about suburban retail strips. Retail outlets, signs, traffic and These are familiar images, there two standard ways to One in to the degeneration, commoditization of modern postmodern society. Another is in triumphalist tone, with echoes postmodernisms. Neither of these fits what I want do, though I will come closer to second. I want to look at the kind of order that dominates strip. On discontinuity reigns. There are no mediating spaces except characterless flowway of the Although the road is continuous, it has little quality its except for or inconvenience. Its highlights the abrupt among the seductive the various One island next to Staples Office Supplies next Rapid Repair next to Wal-Mart. There no the general spatial arrangements for parking and the
 that new order be already at woRk inside thE histOriC toWnS? Are Its eFfects only negaTIve? I Want to question a presuppOsitiOn COmmoN In Many dIscussiON oF HIstOrIc PreSeRVaTion. THis Is the prEsuppositiOn tHaT a spatially dIStInct historIc cEnter belongs To a Single CoMmuNIty thAt pOssesSes a unIFied seLf-conscioUsNEss and A Unified AEStHetiC self-image. Local coMMuNIties less and leSs corrEsPOnD TO boUndEd spatial aReAs, and SPatial aREaS CONtaIN less and less hOmogeneous cOMmuNities. thEre IS growiNg a neW kINd oF discontinuOus uNity, which Is the tHEme of thIS essay. WHether We lIke It or NOt, HiStoRiC TowNS aRe bEComIng nodes In A nEw kinD of nETWORk. EvEn iF lovIngly Preserved, the hIstOric TOwnS cannOt be iSolaTeD. They Are and Will bE pEnetrated by new pRoceSses. These New EcOnoMiC and sOCial anD aeSthEtic proCesses aRE noT fEATUrEless; they have their OwN ORdEr. I will sPeak abOUt ThIS order as If It wEre fULLy devElopED. OF course iT is not. bUt It Is cominG aNd it is NoT meRelY degeNEratIon. It oFfers new PossiBIlities as well aS Great perils. My TOpIC, ThEN, is tHe cOntext for prEserVAtioN, and THe ChaNGing iDentiTy OF cOMmunities. What I offer Is An imagE: the sUburban retail Strip, togetHER With an abStraCTiON from that image: The liSt. After exaMIning somE compLicationS about mulTIPle identIty i poSe qUesTIOnS about the self-CONsciOuSness of ComMunity aNd oFfeR an AnsWeR in terms oF the role Of AeStHeTic CriteRIa for our ToGetHeRneSs outSIde. An IMage fOr ToDaY THInk About suBUrBAN retAiL sTripS. ReTaIl stoRes, sERviCe outleTs, signs, siGns, TRaffIc AnD parkinG. These are famiLiAr images, anD tHerE are twO STandard wAys to invoke them. One is in a SAd tone, tO coNdemn The gArishness, DegEneratIon, COmmodiTizatiOn of mOdErn OR PostmODErN soCiEty. Another IS In a TriumPhAlisT tone, wiTh echoes of Venturi aND of Various postmoDerNismS. nEiTheR Of THesE fITs wHAT I want to do, thougH I will come ClOSeR to the secoND. I wAnT to look At the kiNd of oRDer that Dominates The strip. ON tHe stRIP, diScontinuitY reigns. THere are no MEdiatINg SpaceS exCept thE cHarActerLess flOWwaY of thE road. ALtHough tHe roaD iS continuOus, it has little quality of Its own ExcepT foR convenieNce OR inConvenienCe. ItS blandness HigHliGhts tHe aBRupt tRansITiOns AMong tHe seDUctive minI-WoRldS COnTaining the vARIOus EnterPriSEs. One bRandEd island abuts anotHEr: McDonalds nexT to STAPleS OfFIce SUpPlies next to RapId AUtO rEpair nexT tO Wal-Mart. TheRe is no coNtINuity Except The genEral spaTIAl ARrangeMentS foR parking aNd tHe
 that new order be already  at work i nside  th e h is tori c to wns? Are its e f fect s only negative? I wan t toqu e stio n  a  pres upposit i on c omm on  i n m an y  d iscus sio n of hi storic pre ser va tion. This i s  t he presupp osi tion that aspa tially  d ist i nct h ist oriccenter belong s to a si ng l e comm u nity th a t  p osse sses a unified se l f- c onsciousness a nd a u ni f ie d aes the tic self-i ma ge. L o cal com m un i t i esl ess and lesscorrespondt o b ounded  s pat i al are as, a nd spa tial areascont ain lessand le s s homog e neous c ommuni tie s.Ther e  i sgro wi n g a ne w k i ndof disco nt in uousunit y , w hich  is  the  them e of this ess ay.  Whe t her  we l ike i t or  n ot, h istori c tow ns  are becoming n odes  in a new  ki nd  of  n etwor k . Even  if  lo vinglypreserv e d,th e h is toric towns cannot  b e is olated.They a r ean d  will be  p ene trat e d  by n ew p r oc esses. T hese n e wec onomican d soci al  an d a esthe t ic p rocess es are n ot fe a tureless; they have their ow n  o r d er .  I w ill  speak abou t th i s or dera sifi t wer e ful ly de v eloped. Of course i tis not . But  it is coming  and it is n o t merely  deg e ne r ation. It offe rs ne w possibil i ties aswellas great  perils.M y  topic,the n,isthe c on text for pres e r vati on , and t hechangin g i den tit y o fcommuniti es. What  I  o ff er  is  an i m age: the  s ubu rb anretai l  strip , tog ethe rwi t h a n abstr a ct i o n fr om  t hatima ge : the  lis t . A fter ex amining s ome comp li ca tions a bout multiple  i dentity Ipo sequesti o n s aboutthe self-consciousnesso f commu nit y and  off er an ans wer  in te rms of the  roleof ae st het i c  crit e r ia  fo rour togeth e r nes s out si de.An Imag e for Today Thinka bou t suburban re tai l st r i ps . R e ta i l s to r es, s ervice outlets,  signs, si gn s ,traffic an d  pa rk ing. Th ese are  fami l iar ima ges, andthere are  t wo s t a nda rd ways to  invokethem. One is in asad t one , to c on dem n the  garis h nes s, de genera ti on, co mmodi ti zation o f modern or postmodernsociet y. An oth er is ina t r ium phalist t one,  with echo esofVentu ria nd of  var i ou s p o stmod erni s ms. Neith e roft h es e fits what I wan t todo, though  I w ill come closer t o  the second. I  wan t toloo k  atth e kind of orde r t ha t dominate sthe strip.On the s tr i p, di sconti nuityreigns. T he r e areno m edi ating spa ces  e x cept th ech a racter less  f lowway  of th e  roa d .  Although the ro ad is c ontin u ous , itha s littl e  qua lity of it s own excep t forconv enien ce or i nc onveni enc e.  Its bland n ess highl ights  the ab ru pt t ran sition s am o n g the  sed uc tiv e mini-wo r l ds co nt a ini ng t he va ri ousenterpris e s. One b ran d ed isla nd  ab u t s anot h er : McDonaldsnex t toS t aples Offi c e Su p pl i es ne xt toRapidAuto Re p air  n ext toWal - M art. Ther e is no c o nti nu ityexcept t he  gen er alsp atial arrangeme nts forparkinga n d the
 that_new order_be already at work_inside the_historic_towns? Are_its_effects only negative?_I want to_question a presupposition common_in many discussion_of_historic preservation. This is the presupposition that a spatially distinct historic center belongs to_a_single community_that_possesses_a unified self-consciousness and a_unified aesthetic self-image. Local communities_less and_less correspond to bounded spatial areas, and spatial_areas_contain less and_less homogeneous communities. There is growing a new kind_of discontinuous unity, which is the_theme of this_essay._Whether_we like it or_not, historic towns are becoming nodes_in a new kind of network._Even if lovingly preserved, the historic towns_cannot be isolated. They are and_will be penetrated by new_processes. These_new economic and social and_aesthetic processes are_not featureless;_they have their_own order. I will speak about_this order as_if it were fully developed. Of_course_it is not._But_it_is coming_and it is_not_merely degeneration._It_offers new possibilities as well as_great_perils. My topic, then, is the context_for preservation, and the_changing_identity of communities. What_I offer is an image:_the suburban retail strip, together with_an abstraction_from that_image: the list. After examining some complications about multiple identity I_pose questions about the self-consciousness of_community and offer an_answer in_terms_of the role_of_aesthetic criteria_for our togetherness outside. An Image for_Today Think_about suburban retail strips. Retail stores,_service outlets, signs, signs,_traffic_and parking. These are familiar images,_and there are two standard ways_to invoke them. One is_in_a_sad tone, to condemn the_garishness, degeneration, commoditization of modern or_postmodern society. Another_is in a triumphalist tone, with echoes_of_Venturi and of various postmodernisms. Neither_of_these fits what I want to_do,_though_I will come closer to_the second. I want to look_at the kind of order that dominates the strip._On the strip,_discontinuity reigns. There are no_mediating_spaces_except the characterless flowway of the road. Although the road_is continuous,_it has little_quality of its own except for convenience or inconvenience. Its_blandness highlights the abrupt transitions among the_seductive mini-worlds containing the various enterprises. One branded island abuts another:_McDonalds next to Staples Office Supplies next to_Rapid Auto Repair next to Wal-Mart. There_is no continuity except_the_general spatial arrangements for parking and the