Uniting and Dividing
Throughout the 20th century the definition of city life evolved dramatically. Inventions and creations have both unified and divided city life, showing the ways in which society has developed over time. One universal aspect of mankind is the determination to improve and expand, leaving society room to grow. There have been times where this goal was achieved for the most part, yet there have been times in which people have failed drastically in their attempts to succeed in such a way.
The invention of the car is a great example of how inventions have impacted societal changes in cities all over the world. When the car was first created in the late 1880’s it was not a practical piece of machinery and was considered a luxury item. Throughout the 1900’s the importance of the car has grown astronomically changing the way history has unravelled. The ways in which the invention of the automobile has united society have been countless. Some of the most prevalent ways include the ability for people to live outside the city and commute to work, giving people freedom and mobility and finally creating a diverse new industry. Along with all of the positives there have been some not so favorable dividing impacts of the automobile. They include the division of the classes that ensued after the car was becoming an important part of everyday life and also some of the adverse effects of commuting population like traffic and accidents. In identifying the multiple ways that the car has united city life, it becomes very obvious that the impact of the car has been a positive one on society.
Thomas Edison innovated new ways for urban consumers to communicate with one another with the invention of the phonograph in 1877, helping to bring them closer together. By creating a new form of communication, Edison unified much of the populace who had never had the ability to keep in contact before. Along with the unifying ability his inventions had there were also some dividing factors. Edison’s innovative products were too expensive at first, so the only people available to buy them were members of the upper class. This created a division in consumerism by different classes at the time.
When the Berlin Wall was erected in 1961, it stood as a symbol of the growing division between the communist and capitalist forces of the world. At the same time, it existed as the physical division between East and West Berlin. The purpose of the wall was to prevent citizens of East Berlin from defecting to the West, which generally had better conditions overall. Unity seemed almost impossible to East Berliner’s at this point since no one was allowed to leave the city, even if they lived in West Berlin. Between the original wall’s erection until the last wall was knocked down in 1989, multiple walls, barricades, and objects were created in order to prevent defection. The walls were short and not extremely intimidating, yet people still feared them since anyone who was caught while attempting to escape was immediately shot. Those who made it beyond the wall itself still were not free, however. “The Death Strip” was a cleared area between the borders of the two cities that consisted of signal wire, barbed wire, armed soldiers, canine, watchtowers, and other technology that was intended to ensure that no one could escape.
Cars, Edison’s inventions, and the Berlin Wall were not only significant during the 1900’s; they have all had drastic effects on today’s society. Edison changed the way in which people within cities communicate with one another. His inventions may be outdated now, but they served as a base to many of the technological advances that were present in the world throughout the 20th century and that are still present today. Cars on the other hand are just as important as ever. In providing personal transportation to the population, the car created a whole new society which was more independent than ever before. The car provided and still provides today an independence that is priceless. Although the Berlin Wall was torn down in 1989, it still has negative impacts on the whole of Germany. Studies have shown that East Germany, which was controlled by the U.S.S.R, still has poor conditions, especially in comparison to those of West Germany, which was controlled by America. It falls behind the West in multiple categories, including disposable income, unemployment, cleanliness, and more.