Your City's 'View of the World from 9th Avenue'

September 8, 2009 7:17 PM

In 1976 Saul Steinberg showed everyone how New Yorkers see the world. Does your city have its own 'View of the World from 9th Avenue?'

I don't mean to ask if your city has a literal copy of the concept that just transposes one place for another - those are fairly commonplace. I mean does your city have a special image or poster all its own that sums it up well, but that we haven't heard of because the scope of its popularity is too local?

Here's an example from my hometown: In 1978 The Mad Peck used street names to take a look at Providence.

Those are the only two I can think of right now.

Does your city have a distinctive image, popular with the locals, that has stood the test of time?

posted by jfrancis to media & arts (12 comments total)

I'm not sure how iconic/well known it is, but this postcard captures the spirit of (my old hometown) Boulder, CO: Boulder, California.
posted by Wulfhere at 7:32 PM on September 8

Back in 1997, we apparently had a sign. It's gone now, but the sentiment (and the reputation) lives on.
posted by oinopaponton at 7:35 PM on September 8 [2 favorites has favorites]

I've seen lots more, but there are a bunch on this page, including Amsterdam, Atlanta, Tel Aviv and China.
posted by mediareport at 7:43 PM on September 8

Politico did one recently, too.
posted by mediareport at 7:46 PM on September 8

Yow, sorry, it's the wine. I misunderstood the question. Good night.
posted by mediareport at 7:49 PM on September 8

My city is New York, but I think the Newyorkistan cover from the Dec 10, 2001 issue of the New Yorker has replaced the old Saul Steinberg drawing in the minds of many NYers. It came out just a couple months after 9/11 and reflects a turning inward to examine the city's diversity and self-sufficiency rather than our view of the rest of the country.
posted by nicwolff at 9:04 PM on September 8 [1 favorite has favorites]

I like that Cambridge sign. :D

- and the New Yorker one is very funny. It rewards scrutiny.
posted by jfrancis at 9:37 PM on September 8

I think every city with a souvenir shop has these. I've seen them for at least a dozen cities. The real question is whether any are licensed or they're all ripoffs.
posted by rokusan at 10:22 PM on September 8

Jim Borgman, the former Cincinnati Enquirer editorial cartoonist did a 4 part "East Side vs. West Side" that is probably what you're looking for.

http://borgman.cincinnati.com/Search.aspx - then click on "East vs. West"

He also did a direct parody with that illustration about how east siders view the west side, but I can't seem to find it online.
posted by QUHZK at 4:58 AM on September 9

I don't know if it's completely analogous... but Providence has this.
posted by brainmouse at 8:40 AM on September 9

People from my hemisphere like to turn maps upside down.
posted by rdc at 10:39 AM on September 9

@ brainmouse

Yes, that's what I was hoping to see. Things more in the vein of the Providence poster, not just rejiggered versions of the Steinberg map.
posted by jfrancis at 8:36 AM on September 10