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The Pruitt-Igoe Myth: Impact Of The 1949 Housing Act

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Midterm Paper

A. The Pruitt-Igoe Myth

History shows that the Pruitt-Igoe public housing complex symbolizes how architects, politicians and policymakers have failed to their job. Relatively, if one tries to search of “Puritt-Igoe” online, the images shown reveal is legacy: an imploded building; broken windows; and vandalized hallways.

The Myth

Pruitt-Igoe Myth is centered on the impact of the 1949 Housing Act, because this legislated did not only build Pruitt-Igoe but it also built other high-rise public housing decades after the Second World War. As such, this legislation initiated and prompted mass suburbanization, which resulted to the inhabitation of the residents, business and industry of the many cities in America. Relative thereto, …show more content…

First, it seeks to inform and enhance the debates as regards public housing and other welfare programs of the government. The film shows how affordable housing is offered, and how the American city is viewed differently. However, the film also shows what went wrong in Pruitt-Igoe and why it is considered as a symbol of failure. Second, the film shows how it can be very dangerous of conclusions are made out of a controlled debate. It is important to understand the myth of Pruitt-Igoe because in debates, issues should be made clear and arguments must be emphasized. However, the documentary shows how arguments are flattened, and it also shows how available pieces of evidence are discarded. Evidently, Pruitt-Igoe is a victim of this …show more content…

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