From the Metropolis Berlin to the Global City of London, The Augmentation of Progress.

University Degree Social studies

From the Metropolis Berlin to the Global City of London

The Augmentation of Progress

Sophie Wulk

ID no.: 262129

Pigeon Hole 10

11.12.2003

Comparative Paper

Final Draft, revised

Ruud Hendriks

Group 4

Berlin, the metropolis of the 1900s, set the foundations for the global city of London of the 20th century. It seems that globalization, a normal feature of social life by 2000, has in steadily quickening pace developed out of the classic modernity of 1900. Nevertheless it seems that the metropolis supported the importance of locality whereas the global city London makes globalization necessary. In how far can this statement be proved and what are the consequences of an augmentation of progress and increased technological improvement?

Trams and telephones, department stores and daily papers, symbolize the emergence of hectic mass culture in the early twentieth century Berlin. As a consequence of new technologies, discontinuity characterized people’s “day to day” life. (Fritsche, P., 1996, p. ). Today new situations and constant technological improvements are seen “as normal feature of social life”. (Mc Grew, Anthony, 1993, p.67). In contrast to the “loss of inner security”(Georg Simmel) of many metropolitans, Londoners in the year 2000, living in the era of dynamic multi culture and a never ending technological progress, remain untouched and cool (London: A Global City). This reflects the fact that culture has adapted to the accelerating velocity and globalization during the twentieth century. The trend from the importance of locality toward global orientation is in a good way depicted in the variety of newspapers offered during the specific time. The creation of a local newspaper, a cultural guide for Berlin, was celebrated around 1900. Today, not only a large number of ordinary local newspapers and event guides but a variety of international magazines and papers exist. They reflect the city’s cultural and ethnic patchwork. Coexisting on relatively small space, every minority has an impact on the other and origins and distinctive ethnic particularities are hard to be traced back. London of 2000 becomes a global city with an hybrid society without distinctive cultural habits. Instead of being a host to the world like London, classical modern Berlin attracted people from all parts of Germany: If we talk of globalization of the city in 2000, we may talk of nationalization of the city in 1900. (London: A Global City).

In 1900, technology also provided the background for new cultural developments. New technologies and population growth led to a reduced number of working hours in Berlin around the 1900s and workers were initially confronted with spare time. Cafés, theatres, galleries, cinemas and sport arenas gained widespread popularity and led the way to mass or popular culture. The spending of leisure time developed a “(…) modern sense of ‘way of life’ ” (Blackbourn, D., 2003, p.293). Also in London in the year 2000 cafés and restaurants remain significant. In contrast to what they embodied in Berlin, now they are ...