Decentering Neo-Bohemia in the Creative City: Cultural Marginalization, Economic Violence, and an Alternative Agenda of Diverse Cultural Scenes
Abstract
Creative cities policy is an approach that advocates the planned development of consumption-oriented, mixed-use urban neighborhoods supporting artistic activity and a vibrant nightlife to create economic benefits. The literature labels these neighborhoods “neo-bohemia” because they combine the gritty, authentic lifestyle of bohemian artists with a contemporary consumption culture of cafes, bars, galleries, and other arts spaces. Many, however, critique creative cities policy, suggesting it leads to gentrification and neighborhood commodification, and ignores the economic and cultural value of places that are not neo-bohemian.
I apply the critical theory of J.K. Gibson-Graham (2006) to decenter the concept of neo-bohemia in the creative city discourse and point toward an alternative framework of cultural sustainability that promotes diverse cultural scenes. First, I review literature that frames neo-bohemia as a hegemonic and destructive force that can promote market-based economic success, but at the cost of gentrification, neighborhood commodification, and the exclusion of alternative cultural and economic scenes and locales deemed mundane, or uncultured, and unprofitable. Second, I employ structural equation modeling and case study analysis to empirically demonstrate the arguments I present in the literature review. Third, I advocate for an alternative framework of cultural sustainability that recognizes the nonmarket forms of economic value and supports a diverse range of cultural scenes that include, but are not limited to, neo-bohemias. I highlight the recent creative placemaking policy movement as a practical application of the cultural sustainability framework that planners, policymakers, and other stakeholders can adopt as an alternative to the creative city.
In this dissertation, I contribute to cultural policy, urban planning, geography, and sociology literatures by presenting empirical evidence that helps explain the development process of neo-bohemia. My work identifies the benefits and consequences of the promotion of neo-bohemia and informs more nuanced cultural policy. Moreover, I present theoretical justification for and an example of the implementation of a cultural sustainability framework that can benefit planning and policy practitioners seeking alternatives to the creative cities discourse.
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