1. Andre Aciman talks about his ritual of going to Straus park because it reminds him of the hidden cities, what are these cities? Is it the cities from back home?
2. Is Aciman being in exile related to the idea of displacement? How?
3. How does Aciman’s attachment to the park allow him to cope with New York?
7 thoughts on “Shadow Cities”
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3) Yes, I do fee as though Aciman’s attachment to the park allowed for him to cope with New York. Of course, New York City is a very diverse and fast pace environment that is unique to many other places around the world. By Aciman developing an attachment, he found comfort in a city where finding comfort is very difficult.
2) Yes I believe that Aciman, heavily relates to the idea of displacement. Being forced to leave a country because you’ve been exiled can never be easy. It’s caused displacement in Aciman’s life because it forced him to relocate, which led to knew settings, and Aciman experienced change.
1) The cities that Aciman talks about are Alexandria and Rome. He first lived in Alexandria from which he was exiled and was forced to move to Rome. After living in Rome, Aciman moved to NYC.
3. I do feel as if his attachment to the park allows him to cope because being exiled is not easy to deal with. New York is a melting pot so having a connection to a park allows him to ease his transition from Rome to New York.
1) The hidden cities that Anciman is talking about is his memories. He is trying to recall those memories back into his mind. He wants to relive the moment again.
1) When Andre talks about the hidden cities he sees throughout Straus Park, he does it because they remind him of the places he has been. Throughout the park, many of the everyday, unnoticed parts of the park remind Andre of Alexandria and Rome.
2) Yes I believe Aciman’s “exile” is in regards to the displacement he feels within himself. Throughout the article, we see that Aciman has traveled a lot and misses the places he has been to. On his everyday walks through Straus Park, we see that he connects different parts of the park to the places where he has been. Because he isnt from New York. he feels as though he doesn’t belong. In a way, connecting the park to where he is from allows him to make that connection and feel more apart of the community.
3)Yes, Aciman’s attachment to the park allows him to cope with living in New York because it allows him to feel more apart of the community.
2) Aciman being exiled from Alexandria is related to the idea of displacement because of the distinct unfamiliarity he would feel after being in one place for so long, only to lose it. When you are thrust into a place without any idea of the places/people around you, it would feel rather confusing and scary.