Mixed Use driven by Mass Media Influences

Urban lifestyle depictions by the mass media significantly impact the continued urban renaissance. The first TV episodes I enjoyed were Andy Griffith and the Walton’s; then the Brady Bunch and Cosby, and then on to Seinfeld and Law and Order. I saw television personalities starting with the Walton farm, then the Huxtable townhouse, and furthermore into Seinfeld’s New York condo. Quite a lifestyle and storyline transition in prime time television programming for a 20 year span. There is no doubt in my mind that this had an impact on my lifestyle choice of a mid-rise condo near Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis.

From this personal experience, I would argue that this storyline transition has accurately reflected the rebirth of urban America. Many people choosing their first place to live after college over the last decade help make Friends and Sex and the City two of the most popular shows. Furthermore, look at tonight’s television list on one station, and you see How I Met Your Mother, Big Bang Theory, Rules of Engagement, and CSI: Miami in the 3 hour primetime lineup, which are all very urban based storylines and backdrops.

Of course I am biased as I want to validate my downtown, condo lifestyle, but what blogger doesn’t have some bias. I can only hope mass media continues to have a focus on urban based shows that no doubt help reaffirm that urban lifestyle is definitely cool (and the sustainable option as well if you read “Green Metropolis” by David Owens)!