The Imaging of the City

Over the years, public housing has evolved into a phenomenon of a less than desirable aspect of urban existence. It is part of the urban mystique reflected in media depictions as a place of crime and discontent. This essay, written by a scholar of urban planning and design, examines public housing not simply as something reported in the news but rather as a dynamic communication environment. The role of communication in the construction of public perceptions and community identity are explored as it functions in this highly stigma-laden locale. The process of socially constructed meaning for insiders and outsiders is examined within the context of this unique and problem-ridden urban environment.