Suburbia and its lack of Authenticity

Suburbia and its lack of Authenticity

I grew up on a farm so I am not as in tune with the suburban life issues as others but from what I see and read the issue appears to be that suburban life lacks authenticity.  Everything seems to be a constant front for the community to see—the perfect catalog house, the perfect American family, the white picket fence and the perfect life.

First of all the idea of the catalog house in its self begins the process of creating this artificial life.  Instead of having a home that is designed for you and is transformed for you, you become transformed to the house.  You start living in a way that would be expected for someone who the house would be designed for to live inhabiting you instead of you inhabiting it.

Second the small but all too real separation between you and the community which creates a zone of artificiality.  You have to pass through this but with the convenient family car you only need to be in that zone for a small amount of time making it easier to put up that front.  

Thirdly because you have a car you work far away from your community and therefor do not really know your neighbors and they do not know the real you.

This is probably fine at first but after a while I’m sure it takes its toll on people and becomes more difficult to put on the front as time goes on or when stressful situations arrive. 

Mill villages essentially were a predecessor to suburbs but had one major advantage over the suburb in that all the people that lived together also worked together.  They knew everyone and I’m sure people talked about their issues with each other while at work.  Working together builds trust and confidence in each other which builds a community and only through authenticity and trust do people become a community.  Therefor I believe like I said a few weeks back that if we start to create more localized jobs where people of one area work, it will create a better and healthier community.