SCHOOL OF PLANNING AND ARCHITECTURE

SUMMARY:
Interruptions: Testing the Rhetoric of Culturally Led
Urban Development by Malcolm Miles







Submitted By:
Abhas Verma
UP/1118
II Sem. M.Plan.





The author Malcolm Miles in his writing Interruptions: Testing the Rhetoric of Culturally Led
Urban Development, questions the cultural re-development in the European cities which
were industrial bases or industrial towns. He takes the development as more driven by
market forces of profit maximization and not of preserving or highlighting the local culture.
He cites quotes from different authors and critically evaluates the development that the
governing bodies adopt. He looks up at the development as lucrative advocacy by firms and
organizations which persuades the government that post industrial situations, the cultural
industries and related knowledge sector of electronic communication and higher education
can provide a new economic base.
Miles divides his writings into two segments:
- Urban Culture and Policy: He discusses the various projects which were undertaken
to revive the economic base of post industrial towns and critically reviews them. The
various sub heads discuss the role of these cultural revivals in different aspects. He is
very critical about the development as they do not develop the local culture but
subdues it and he takes the example of different art galleries which are for the elite
class and by renowned artists. It does not have any linkages to the local and smaller
group of artisans and craftsmen. Apart from being for the elite class they also have
tried to maximise the benefits by developing restaurants and food courts and the
only places where the local people (lower section, economically distressed) find a
part are as bar tenders and waiters etc.
He terms the developments as a source of attraction for the tourists by involving a
famous person but the design interventions seems as not linked to the place.
The section talks of people showing resentment over these developments but the
government has been ignorant to these and is more aimed at economic benefits.
- Art as Interruption: In this section Miles discusses some of the projects which have
led to growth of culture and have helped in the economic regeneration of the
people. He gives the examples of integration of artists in the design of highways and
bridges, their complicity in publicprivate finance initiatives and the view that
culture solves socioeconomic problems which may result from other areas of public
policy.
Another aspect talked about is engaging the lower sections or artists as low budget
problem solvers. In these situations artists have very less to contribute as they do
not find themselves as part of projects. The example is of a government practice
where it Encourages creative learning in schools. The agenda was supported by an
organisation which targeted the areas which were socially and economically
challenged. These tend to employ the low budget artists. There are no quantifiable
evidences that this movement has benefits.
A new development in the field of art has appeared in recent times where artist have
associated their work with activist forms (installations, performances etc.) where
they focus on the social political subjects. The writer terms it as a range of eclectic
and hybrid practices. In art now specific issues are being represented.
The schemes of UNESCO have traces of cultural liberalism but it tends to
differentiate culture as way of life. But culture needs to be a part of it if economy is
to be associated with it. A case of Newcastle, where the concept of happy hour, on
various day (where prices are very low), the people are encouraged to stay at the
city centre and its facilities. But this created an additional problem of alcoholism
among the young.
He analyses various such projects and from these he concludes by a question: Is radical
culture, then, a resource? The question causes a stir in the mind if this is a solution or it
itself will creates some other conclusive effects which are not desirable.