“The city (especially NY) envelopes a uniqueness that has the ability to encompass all of Calvino’s qualities.”
The aesthetic that I feel ties in all of the qualities Calvino found indispensable in his text is that of the city. The city in general is the analogy I chose that encompasses the ideas of lightness, quickness, exactitude, visibility, and multiplicity easily. I think of what some call the “center of the world” when I talk of my aesthetic, and that is New York City. My emblem is the specificity of NYC and the movement that runs amongst the people there. New York can be considered light with its condensed building scheme, making it appear small and lithe, although in actuality it is of course extremely heavy. The way people move in the city seems light to me as well, since it is a constant stream of motion where no one is in one place too long, causing no appearance of heaviness. Of course the city is always moving at a quick pace: the cars, people, airplanes, Wall Street, etc. The idea of quickness is especially enveloped in New York.
I think of the subway when I recall exactitude since every station and stop has to be perfectly mapped out so people don’t get lost. I also think of the city’s tourist maps, which is exact in showing popular spots to eat and things to see. Times Square is a Mecca of things to see, making it a perfect way to exemplify visibility. There are constantly moving signs that are hugely visible and that light up brightly at night making everything and everyone visible at all times of the day. Multiplicity is also shown in the city as there always seems to be a new person moving into a new building or a new Broadway show taking the stage. The numerous New York publications and TV shows also show interesting stories that are heard and are quick to multiply through the city’s citizens and visitors at a rapid pace.
