Viewing “Third LA with Architectural Critic Christopher Hawthorne”
Man, Artbound is killing it with the docs this season. Artesanos, Charles Lummis, Fallujah…so much good stuff. Last night the KCET series closed out the season with Third LA with Architectural Critic Christopher Hawthorne and I made sure to watch it.
It’s no secret I’m fascinated with the city of Los Angeles. I love to learn about its history, explorer its present and contemplate its future. Ok, maybe I don’t love contemplating its future but I do it anyway. How could I not when it’s a finite space that increasing numbers of people are inhabiting. With rising housing costs it’s definitely something that keeps me thinking. Well, apparently I’m not alone because that’s exactly what Third LA is all about.
Hosted by LA Times architectural critic Christopher Hawthorne Third LA spends the hour examining the past, present and future of Los Angeles by focusing on specific evolving neighborhoods. Hawthorne starts off by explaining his theory of third LA. He explains that the late 1800’s era with it’s rapid population boom was the first LA, the mid 20th century with the onslaught of suburbia and personal transportation was the second LA and today, with gentrification and our focus inward and return to shared space, is the third LA.
Throughout the film specific neighborhoods such as Venice, Leimert Park, and Boyle Heights are examined through their first, second and third eras. For example, Venice was designed by Abbot Kinney as a European style utopia by the sea. It then became a run down area inhabited by artists drawn in by the cheap costs of living. These artists then made the area more desirable and lured several tech companies like Snapchat. Now, it’s one of the most expensive areas in Los Angeles and the average citizen can’t even consider living there. As we learn about each area the same scenario repeats itself – an area begins as an idealized concept, has an era of decline and then becomes gentrified. While gentrification leads to the revitalization of an area it also brings a high cost of living pushing out those citizens who have stayed with the area through the good and bad times. It’s a complex issue for sure.
In its one hour running time Third LA with Architectural Critic Christopher Hawthorne provides an interesting overview of the continuing evolution of Los Angeles. Presenting a bit of history, a range of current issues and some potential solutions it’s an enlightening view of the city and definitely made for a kicker finale of Artbound. If you missed it last night it will be rebroadcast on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. I definitely recommend checking it out.