Now Can We Stop With the Detroit Ruin Porn?

[SpartanDem]

On the heels the wonderful Chrysler commercial I have a bone to pick with the way my city is portrayed. Of late there has been influx of photographers/journalist coming to Detroit to feature our "ruins" in various works Yves Marchand and Romain Meffre's 'Ruins of Detroit' is one the latest and has been feature prominently. Often resulting in articles like this popping up lamenting the city's downfall. But in these works there is a focus solely the ruin with no context. I'm sure many of you have seen images of long abandoned Michigan Central Station probably the most famous abandoned building in the city.





Click these and what do you see? Of course in front of you in many of these you see Central Station, but look around you also see Mexicantown a growing neighborhood and commercial corridor with some of the most popular restaurants in the region. You see Corktown with it's quaint colorful homes and Slows BBQ a restaurant that won some national acclaim sits kitty corner to MCS. Both these neighborhoods still have rough edges, but overall have seen a significant revival with MCS looming over them. Marchand and Meffes book doesn't tell this story with singular stark photos of MCS.

http://goo.gl/maps/syXN

http://goo.gl/maps/1V77

http://goo.gl/maps/LRNA

http://goo.gl/maps/gLJG

http://goo.gl/maps/kaKn





Another favorite the United Artist Theater. What does this photo tell about Detroit? Does say we've seen four major renovations of empty theaters two, Orchestra Hall and the Grand Circus Theater now our Opera House, were in similar shape as the UA? In their pre renovation forms they would have featured prominently in these ruin books. But today in these works a not word is mentioned about them, because I suspect you can't sell your coffee table book with pretty pictures of Detroit and no one interviews you about your views of capitalism . Which gets me to my main point that the ruins fetish does a disservice to the city. Detroit is more than collection of empty buildings, Detroit is complicated. You don't have to paper over our many ills, but portraying the city as a Mad Max wasteland so you can sell a few more books doesn't help us.

[Kaleva]

1. Rec'd. Thanks for posting and giving us all another side to the story.

[NuclearDem]

2. Beautiful city!

[Mojeoux]

3. Does the Rouge River still freeze up to skate on?

I grew up near the Rouge and since back then (still?) the land around the river was kept a wild meandering city park. We skated on that river all winter and played in the woods and swam at Rouge Pools in the summer.

I was born and raised in the city, but I also grew up in those woods.

[NuclearDem]

5. I've never actually been to Detroit...born and raised in Indy

But it's just good to see such a great city coming back.

[Mojeoux]

10. I've heard the river dosn't freeze up anymore????

I lived so close, I could walk back and forth with my skates.

[Hailtothechimp]

4. Loves me some Slows BarBQ

A list of tap beers to die for (21-25, with many of them being Michigan brews)and some awesome food too. Seeing the train station with your own eyes is pretty jarring. But eating there supports what they're doing, so give it a try. You'll not regret it.

[SpartanDem]

6. Slows is amazing

I took some out of town family once, now it's a must vist anytime they're here.

[NWHarkness]

7. Thank you!

I am sick to death of outsiders highlighting everything bad about Detroit as some sort of cheap thrill.

As far as I am concerned, those who post ruin porn are part of the problem, willingly cheering on the destruction of a great city.

It especially galls me to see it on DU. How about some respect for one of the strongest Democratic bastions in the country?

[Tunkamerica]

8. Outsiders!

[XemaSab]

9. I will admit to seeking out "ruin porn"

but I think what really draws me to these pictures and videos is the idea of transformation and change.

I like the idea that old things can become new, and when I look at the ruins I see a lot of possibility, both for structural renovation, but also for cultural transformation.

[sandyj999]

11. As someone that has lived here almost all my life, thanks for posting this.

I wish one thing. I wish Matty Maroun, with all his money would do the whole area a favor and tear down that train station. Unless my info is wrong, he owns it. Coming in to the city from the west, that is not exactly a positive vision. In fact it is the proverbial "sore thumb". It is what you see from a distance and is not the vision we need for a comeback.

[Ken Burch]

12. The main point of Detroit bashing and "ruin porn", ever since they started

Was the obsession of the white power structure in this country with punishing Detroit for daring to become the first major U.S. city to let black people achieve political power.

Even though none of Detroit's problems had anything to do with the racial structure of it's post-1962 political leadership(being caused instead by the collapse of the U.S. auto industry and the decline of the power of the UAW, the union that represented those who created the wealth of that industry), Detroit was the first city where the black majority dared to defy the white elites who thought they had an eternal right to rule. Thus, Detroit HAD to be made the butt of stand-up comedy jokes(even though many cities with white-run municipal governments had it just as bad), had to be driven to economic ruin through racist capital flight to the suburbs(even though those who left had no reason to leave at all), and had to be held up as THE example of a failed city.

Detroit was the internal Haiti of American politics...the first site of successful black rebellion against white dominance that had to be punished and "put in its place".

Hence...ruin porn.

[NuclearDem]

13. Are you sure there isn't an element of the Left that likes to use Detroit...

...to show what corporations can do to a city?

Certainly explains why a lot of people here had such an allergic reaction to the Chrysler ad...

[Ken Burch]

17. There may be some of that as well

But that's not what started the whole Detroit-as-joke thing.

And there's a difference between showing Detroit-as-victim-of-corporate cynicism(which is valid, to some degree, and which is an expression of sympathy to the people of Detroit)and the dominant meme of Detroit-as-failed-city, which was always about sticking it to the black majority in Detroit for daring to be politically effective.

[SpartanDem]

20. In the end it's not very sympathetic

because thr city often gets painted even worse than it is in reality. Marchand and Meffre's and other's ruin porn often leads to commentaries like this ending up in liberal sources. "Cumulatively, the photographs are a powerful and disturbing testament to the glory and the destructive cost of American capitalism: the centre of a once-thriving metropolis in the most powerful nation on earth has become a ghost town of decaying buildings and streets.". Like said in thr OP there are growing neighborhood around the train station, but thanks to a singular focus on "ruins" the city painted in a unnecessarily negative light

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2011/jan/02/detroit-ruins-marchand-meffre-photographs-ohagan?intcmp=239

[SpartanDem]

18. There is absolutely an element of that

in my OP I link to a commentary in the Guardian in which that is the subject. The problem with these articles as with just taking pictures of abandonment is it doesn't give a whole view of the city. The stories are simply look a look what corporations did to this city. While there may be valid points about corporations in these article they rarely discuss reliance on a single industry, local corruption/incompetence, poor urban planning very real this that led to Detroit's decline. Also just discussing the ruins leading many to painting a unesscarily bleak pictures of the city.

"Cumulatively, the photographs are a powerful and disturbing testament to the glory and the destructive cost of American capitalism: the centre of a once-thriving metropolis in the most powerful nation on earth has become a ghost town of decaying buildings and streets"
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2011/jan/02/detroit-ruins-marchand-meffre-photographs-ohagan?intcmp=239


Woodward Avenue in downtown Detroit is home to a popular park with a skating during the winter and while not all the buildings have been renovated or storefronts occupied. Many more are than there used to be, telling readers that the city is a ghost town with nothing more than decaying building is not fair.

[RichGirl]

14. Check out Michael Moore's twitter.

He's very loyal to Detroit and Michigan in general. Always pointing out its assets. Like how many of the Superbowl players went to Michigan schools. He says he will never let Detroit die. He has an event planned next weekend, with some great names. Wish I could go. I lived most my life in the various suburbs north of Detroit. Worked in and around the city. It was a great place back then.

http://www.comedyfesttc.org/

[NuclearDem]

15. Too bad Michael almost missed the point of the commercial...

"So when the ad says "Imported from Detroit," how does it feel to think of us as a foreign country, no longer part of your America?"

Not exactly what they were going for Michael. "Imported" in the auto world implies luxury automobiles from foreign countries, but Chrysler used it to show that that sort of luxury can be made in America too. Hence "Imported from Detroit"

[JNelson6563]

26. Yeah, always ready to take offense.

He does some good but he's got a bit of an asshole streak too.

Julie

[Tejas]

16. This is a joke, right?

With a city council like Detroit, it's best not to bring attention to yourself.

[Rockholm]

19. The Chrysler commercial was AWESOME.

1. Going to consider a 200 when they are ready.
2. My dentist is from Michigan and went to dental school in Detroit. She said she was amazed at that commercial and how good it made Detroit look.

[RegieRocker]

21. I agree with your post except the use of the word porn.

It is not porn.

[Gaedel]

24. "Porn"

"Porn" has become a slang term for anything that draws an audience.

Gun magazines are described as "gun porn".

Obsessive photography of ruins is described as "ruin porn".

Both based on titilating an audience.

[RegieRocker]

33. Exactly why I don't like it.

Just because other sheep and cattle use it doesn't mean you have to. Titillating says it all.

[sufrommich]

22. Yes, please. Detroit is used like a political football between

the left and the right.

The left: This is what capitalism does to our country.

The right: This is what unions, big government do to our country.

Nothing is ever that black and white.

The whole region suffers the slings and arrows from the "concern" addicts out there and the "ruins of Detroit" are promoted by both sides.I'm sick of the constant bashing.

[PassingFair]

23. It cannot be denied that the city of Detroit exists as a WARNING to other big American cities....

as to the effects of "deindustrialization".

No jobs, no transportation TO jobs.

Population under one million.

Don't count Detroit out, though....
the next great thing will come along,
and we're well placed geographically
to ship it!

[Chorophyll]

25. K&R. Just goes to show you...

...what happens when we buy into the media narrative without bothering to look for the truth.

[RockaFowler]

27. I still love Detroit

And I always will. I've got to get back to my hometown soon. I was last there in 2003. I thank you and every Michigander who keep reminding us of this jewel of a city :)

[raccoon]

28. Well, I look at stuff like that because I've always been interested in post-apocalyptic literature

and films.

But I'm sure you could find urban decay in any large city in the US, in any region.

[Scruffy1]

29. You are so right.

I spent a couple of years phot0graphing American Cities in decline with the object of publishing a book on the subject but I canceled the project as I became aware of the the tenacity and spirit of the American people who always seem to be creating some good out of anything. Hopefully I will still have time left to do a book on how Urban Americans cope with and overcome adversity to build new social structures and more cooperative living patterns. I have seen some amazing things in my travels from New Orleans to Detroit.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

30. I love Detroit... any city that can make Cleveland seem habitable deserves recognition!

[Papagoose]

31. I love "urban ruins"

I don't personally see them as an indictment of the city, though I know some people do. I grew up and lived most of my life in Philadelphia and spent many days photographing abandoned buildings, but always saw my city as vibrant, exciting and a great place to live. I'm glad you take pride in Detroit - I know it is not the terrible place that so many people make it out to be. I hope to someday visit, and if I photograph some of these abandoned sites, I'll be sure to include some shots of the new growth taking place.

[JackDragna]

32. The pictures are fair game, and so is the city.

I understand Detroit's a big city that has a lot more in it than ruined buildings and urban decay. Still, the pictures, on a merely aesthetic level, are fascinating glimpses into a bygone era. In addition, the city has undeniably gone through some rough times, along with many other once prosperous centers of the upper Midwest and east (Cleveland, Buffalo, etc). I think it's important for people to see these images and realize not every part of America is shiny, happy strip malls, full of gleaming white people out to conspicuously consume.

I live in Louisiana and it was something of a cottage industry for a time for people to come to New Orleans and see the areas devastated by Katrina. At first, it bothered me, but after a while, I realized this might be the only way people see the effects of neglect and privation upon their neighbors. I guess my point is to not let these pictures ruin your own perception of the city and what it means to you.

[SidDithers]

34. K&R...nt

Sid

[babydollhead]

35. Pittsburgher here!

smog, pollution,steel industry,glass industry, ....not so much anymore. It is blue and green and artsy, and beautiful.

[Prometheus Bound]

36. I don't think it's fair to call it porn.

It's rarely intended to titillate or exploit. It's purpose is generally to document a bygone era. But it also involves art and education. Some of the photos are beautiful and meaningful, as are the decaying buildings they capture.

Why come to a discussion board and tell people what they can't discuss? Just avoid the threads.

[Tunkamerica]

37. stop saying that! This person doesn't like it so it must not be discussed

I like the whole urban spelunking thing and think the pictures are actually pretty cool. I had no idea it offended people until I read several threads expressing this same exact topic. Maybe from the same person; they definitely used the word porn.