Open AccessThe Intellectualization of Chicago&s Culture: An Ethnographic Analysis of the Chicago Cultural Center
Author(s) -
Walters Noah
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
student anthropologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2330-7625
DOI - 10.1002/j.sda2.20190601.0004
Subject(s) - intellectualization , center (category theory) , ethnography , cultural center , ethnic group , sociology , tourism , race (biology) , diversity (politics) , population , gerontology , gender studies , history , anthropology , media studies , psychology , demography , medicine , archaeology , psychoanalysis , chemistry , crystallography
The Chicago Cultural Center (CCC), centrally-located on Randolph and Michigan, aims to represent the diverse population of Chicago. Each year, the Center draws thousands of tourists and locals, eager to see the famous Preston Bradley Tiffany Dome or one of the many constantly-rotating exhibits provided by the Chicago Architectural Foundation. Functionally, the Center is open every day with long hours and free admission, seemingly enticing all to enter. Rather contrary to the ethnic diversity of Chicago, however, the CCC, although it is staffed by a wide range of minorities, caters mostly to upper-middle class whites. This ethnographic analysis utilizes interviews and anthropological tourism literature to explain the intellectualization of this Chicago landmark.