The D.C. Area's Unique (?) Cultural Identity
http://thekojonnamdishow.org/shows/2011-01-03/dc-areas-unique-cultural-identity
The Washington region boasts a vibrant cultural identity. But people from other cities often like to remind Washingtonians that they were "into cupcakes" before D.C., or that singing "Sweet Caroline" at baseball games was a "Boston thing" first. We explore the pieces of Washington's cultural identity that are unique to the region, and where the area is guilty of following trends in other places.
Guests
Tim Carman
Food Writer, The Washington Post
Sommer Mathis
News Editor, TBD.com
Blake Gopnik
chief art critic, The Washington Post
Lynn French
Development consultant; former adviser on homeless policy to Washington D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams
Comments
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One thing that has struck me since moving to DC a few months ago is the startlingly poor quality of local television news relative to other large and even medium markets. Perhaps this is the result of residents fancying themselves citizens of the nation as opposed to the city? Local television news seems quite important in terms of integrating people into the community, so it is problematic that the news is unwatchable here. Thank goodness for the Kojo Show! Otherwise I don't think I would feel nearly as integrated as I do already.
As an ardent dancer, I have been thrilled to see the attention being given to one of Washington's great institutions -- the hand dance.
I danced the swing/lindy/jitterbug for years in New York and elsewhere, but it took me awhile to figure out the hand dance step. Contrary to your guest, I would agree with the Washington Post that it is just a variant on the lindy. The only difference is the starting point of the steps -- apart from that, the steps turned out to be identical. No extra beat that I have found!
I think that love for southern soul and line dancing -- aided by that other great Washington institution, WPFW radio -- also deserve special mention.
I am curious about why some people refer to Washington, DC as "Washington" and others refer to it as "DC." My father grew up in the city and calls it the former, I have lived in and around the city for 20 years and I refer to it as the latter. Is this just a generational thing?
The legacy left by Pierre L'Enfant in the enduring road system with it's wonderful circles, diagonal state name streets crossing the lettered and numbered streets has impressed me since childhood. Also Rock Creek Park is a treasured asset running from north to south , with the National Zoo in the middle.
While this is a shameless self plug it is none the less still relevant. One of the cooler aspects of DC is the entertainment and social organizations that exists here in the City. DC hosts one of the largest Skeeball Leagues in the country (there are a handful spread across several cities) as a way for working professionals to engage, interact, and unwind from their stressful work.
United Social Sports hosts Skeeball, Bocce, Cornhole, Shuffleboard, and other social sports leagues throughout the city. Few people know that "adult" kickball got its start in the DC nearly 12 years ago and the city is still finding fun ways for young professionals to interact.
http://www.unitedsocialsports.com
Thanks for a great discussion to you, Kojo, and your guests. I moved here from NY in 2008, and just moved from Alexandria to DC this past month and am eager to get to know the District better. I think everyone's comments ring true, and I found Mr. Carmen's discussion about the critical mass here vis a vis New York very insightful since I've been wondering the same thing. I think city identity is something that all transients/transplants are searching for about DC, and there isn't necessarily something we can glom onto. For New York, it's the big city, Broadway, "making it." For LA, it's Hollywood, the movies, Rodeo Drive. For Miami, it's the beach club scene, rich Latino food and culture, palm trees. For even a place that's less known like, say, Portland, there's an identity of the great outdoors balanced with a thriving metropolis. But what is it for DC, that's accessible to everyone? At first blush it's just the politics, but that's not something, on a local level, that every resident can be privvy to. For the staffers - many of whom are the quintessential passer-through - yes, they can see this side of Washington, the side everyone around the country thinks of. But for the rest of us who've decided to park here, what is the city's identity?
I'm looking forward to exploring it. Thank you for getting the conversation started for me.
I greatly appreciated this segment. I recently moved to D.C. from a small, midwest town. Being the hayseed in the "big city" I felt greatly out of place and nailed down these feelings only a few weeks ago: I feel there is no sense of community here. (That said, I am a member of the transiet population). Since the revelation, I've desperately been trying to learn more about this new place I'm calling home, its people, and its history. I must say I learned quite a bit today and am eager to learn more. Many thanks.