Sonia Mathew
The Beauty of Chicago
11/12/2009
Does ethnic diversity have aesthetic value? Is a more diverse city a more beautiful city? Why or why not? What is the aesthetic relevance of Chinatown? Of Pilsen? “Aesthetic value is a branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty, art, and taste, and with the creation and appreciation of beauty,” (Dictionary). Ethnic diversity has aesthetic value because it deals with a variety of cultures and learning to appreciate the different cultures. Chicago visions itself as a diverse city, emerging with a montage of cultures, languages, and religions. We live in a city with people who come from around the world; people speak different languages and practice different religions from one another. As a city, we accept diversity and let people practice their faith in a peaceful manner. Diversity is not a curse but, in fact, a positive aspect.
Diversity is beauty and you gain knowledge from diversity. For instance, in Chicago, Chinatown and Pilsen share their culture with the city of Chicago and people engage in learning about these cultures through these areas. “Diversity is beauty and beauty is one factor that contributes to drawing tourism and investment,” (Wikipedia). Chinatown contributes to the diversity of the city of Chicago. Chinatown is an attraction for locals and tourists for an exclusive chance to learn about Chinese culture, while enjoying authentic cuisine and celebrating Chinese traditions. Chinatown is a place for Chinese people to come to the city for groceries, food, and to get a feel of their home: a home away from home. Chinatown is a representation of their culture. The buildings of Chinatown are based on Chinese architecture. There are a variety of Chinese restaurants, serving authentic cuisine such as, fried rice, hot and sour soup, etc. There are clothing stores selling Chinese attire, medicine shops, and shops performing traditional Chinese rituals. The beauty of Chinese art, taste, and culture is shared with the city of Chicago giving it a new appreciation for diversity. Pilsen, like Chinatown, embraces culture. Initially, Pilsen was a neighborhood with a high population of Czech immigrants, as well as Polish, Croats, Austrians, and Lithuanian immigrants. As time went on, the majority of the population became Mexican. In Present times, Pilsen has become the largest Mexican neighborhood in Chicago. Nevertheless, Pilsen embraces the Mexican culture; they have restaurants and grocery stores. Pilsen is also known for their murals with the collaboration of Mexican and European art and their Neo-Bohemian architecture. Pilsen shares their culture with Chicago and adds to the diversity of the city. "A diverse community is a richer community," (Sam Harper, committee of Fiestas del Llano). Diversity enhances the beauty of a city, which from an economical standpoint is beneficial. Nevertheless, diversity helps the acceptance of people who come from different backgrounds, who may speak a different language, or have a different God. Diversity has aesthetic value because we have an appreciation for the beauty of the unity of different cultures in one city.