It is the city of hopes and dreams. The place to be. The Big Apple. The greatest city in the world.
It is idolized in all places near and far, a shining light that acts as a symbol for American triumph. It is the place imagined by every person who wants to be in the center of the action, ready for their big moment. A symbol of opportunity. It is a relic, persisting through time to be an illusion of the glory days of old. It is New York City.
Anything and everything is in the crowded Burroughs, from the bright white lights of Broadway to small shops and restaurants on lesser known side streets, and to the green expanses of Central Park. There are prestigious colleges, world governing centers, and business after business. World landmarks, from the Statue of Liberty, to Ground Zero, and the Empire State Building, all call New York their home, as do the millions of people crammed into the endless row of apartment buildings, all wanting a taste of the action in the most significant center of the world.
NYC stands alone as an image of regal beauty, with the glory of the old industrial era, the fierce stock market, and booming business. The city is glorious, with tall illuminated towers, a skyline that is one of the most recognizable to anyone who happens to see it in person, on a postcard, or on a screen. It is the perfect example of what a bustling city should be, and is the basis for any stereotype of modern America.
New York City is more than just a large commercial, social, and governmental center. It is an illusion. It is success. NYC represents the big break. When one wants to take a chance, they go to downtown Manhattan. When the dream is to be a star on the stage, or even on the screen, they turn to Greenwich Village. When one wanted to escape their poor circumstances, they did so through Ellis Island. The idea of such a place, where opportunity is said to be around every corner, has transformed a once simply large metropolis into a fantasy land, one that is dreamed about in young minds all over the world.
The city fuels the story line for books, plays, musicals, and movies. It connects modern pieces such as the smash hit Hamilton to the epics of the early 20th Century such as The Great Gatsby. It is the first thing that anyone thinks of when asked to picture America, American standards, or even just an American city in general.
Of all the symbols America has to offer, NYC is perhaps one of the most significant in terms of showing the realities of the nation. It has a bit of everything that makes up American character, the positives and the negatives alike. It has more diversity than any other major metropolis, with the rich immigrant history continuously influencing every aspect of daily life. There is always something for everyone.
Without the city, the culture of a widely diverse nation would have no center point. With a place for each art form, religion, or political view, NYC combines every important attribute into one large exhibit. Essential to the portrayal of not only American history, but American values and people, New York City continues to be one of the most important sites in the nation. With its permanent image of old elegance and symbolism of opportunity for those down on their luck, New York is truly the place where one can begin anew, whether it be in the arts, business, or simply in terms of personal morals.
No comments:
Post a Comment