Neo-Bohemia

by Richard Lloyd

Neo-Bohemia brings the study of bohemian culture down to the street level, while maintaining a commitment to understanding broader historical and economic urban contexts. Simultaneously readable and academic, this book anticipates key urban trends at the dawn of the twenty-first century, shedding light on both the nature of contemporary bohemias and the cities that house them. The relevance of understanding the trends it depicts has only increased, especially in light of the current urban crisis puncturing a long period of gentrification and new economy development, putting us on the precipice, perhaps, of the next new bohemia.

Genres: Sociology, Nonfiction, Social Science, Anthropology, Unfinished, Urban, Art

328 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Richard Lloyd is a writer and researcher with a focus on Italian art and architecture.

Reviews

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really quite fascinating study of those enclaves of "hip" that tend to appear in urban areas, and whose activities I disavow (occasionally with contempt), in part because I know that I'll always be like the writer of this book: an outsider whose status within that world is practically nonexistent. Although I'd like to write more about this book here, I don't want to put in the effort, so I'll just keep it short. My only real complaint is that it could have been longer. There are sections (especially toward the beginning--the ones on the developments of modernism and bohemia in particular) that could have been expanded without hurting the overall flow of the book. Not that the current thing is lacking in detail--far from it. I just found myself wanting to learn more about these two topics because they were so interesting. But, I suppose that that is what a bibliography is for.

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

basic premise of this book is that in a postindustrial society-where image/culture, not physical goods are sold-bohemian/artistic culture is not an underground phenomenon anymore. it's central to the economy of the urban city. the case study is wicker park in chicago, as it turns from one of the city's postindustrial slums into the hip neighborhood, beginning with the arrival of mostly artists from middle class backgrounds, in the late 80s and early 90s. i liked the historical perspective (it makes comparisons of modern postindustrial model of production to the henry fordist one) and introduction to urban studies/sociology this book gave me. i also liked seeing resonances in this book to the mission district, my hood. this review makes the book sound kind of dry, but frank lloyd has a definite voice in the whole thing. he used to live in wicker park and his personal experiences there trickle in through the book. some interesting info.

[Luis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic look at a neighborhood as it moves through different identities based on economic fluctuations. The impact that artists can have on the definition of a neighborhood are readily explored. More importantly the surviving aspect of living as a artist is put on display focusing on jobs within the service sectors.

[Ft. Sheridan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best parts are about how late capitalism exploits artsy service laborers. And the chronicles of the days when Real World held it down in Wicker Park, much to the chagrin of the rootless, cosmopolitan hipstertopia's citizenry.

[René · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this because it's about a specific Chicago neighborhood, Wicker Park. Most of the middle was pretty interesting. I liked the section about bartenders and service workers and the role they play in "culture creation" and enhancing a bohemian neighborhood's coolness quotient -- a lot of that was really eye-opening. The language in the beginning and end parts of the book suffers from "academese" though.

[Jared]

Very interesting provocative argument that he walks back a lot of in the conclusion and afterward. He basically addresses all of my concerns and says but bohemia not really this extreme type I've said in the rest of the book it was so don't yell at me (also I LOVE RICHARD FLORIDA but don't tell anyone bc I'll say I don't like him and then only agree with him)

[Ггг Ггг · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good. An amusing discussion of the geography of capital in cities like Chicago. His discussion of the Wicker Park area comes to mind a lot for me when I think of the city I live in now, viz. Austin.

One other thing I think of: he talks about the aging Gen X types who started to talk about IPOs and investing in hushed tones when out socializing, embarrassed by there 'cooptation by the system' (not a quotation). It makes me think of my earlier years and now my goals to grow wealth through my online broker.

Options, baby! I want the f****** mooooooney!!!!! I'll go back to caring about my ideals when the Soviet Union is reborn.

[River · Rating 4 out of 5]

This case study of the Wicker Park neighborhood is a thorough investigation into how a bohemian enclave and "scene" can become fertile ground for gentrification and a takeover by late capitalist businesses. The strongest parts (as others have said) are when Lloyd explores how hip consumerism and hip workers function under contemporary capitalism.

I'm not from Wicker Park and I am not all that familiar with the area, but I still enjoyed the book and felt that it has something to offer folks outside of Chicago.

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This serves as a great primer on the history of the popular Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago, as well as the history of "hip" enclaves throughout history and what drives them. This should be a must read for anyone that lives in Wicker Park and anyone interested in urban planning and the development of cities.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was very interesting, but I really did want him to get to the point sometimes instead of incessantly showering me with anecdotes. The anecdotes, to be fair, were meant to show-don't-tell, but a little bit more direct telling would have been good.

[Susan Mazur Stommen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I liked this less well as I went along. I get the main argument, and think it is worthy, but I think he ends up dinging the victims just a tad too much...

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

another chicago great. ever interested in how wicker park came to be? lloyd tracks the effects of artists on the area and how they helped create the "new" bohemia.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting ethnology of the gentrification of Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you ever needed a reason to visit Wicker Park sometime within your life, this book is it.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pseudo-academic history of the gentrification of Wicker Park, Chicago, my old stomping grounds. I read it very eagerly but I wonder if anyone not from the area would really care.