Sometimes the ethnic identity of an area hides itself within the architecture of the area. Other times, it throws it right in your face. The latter is the case when looking at Chinatown in San Francisco, California. This area establishes its identity, on the simplest level, through its architecture.
This is one example of the area presenting its identity to the outside world. This is a gateway to Chinatown in San Francisco. It shows that the area has no bones about showing who resides here. If they did not want people to know who lived there, they would not have built distinctly Asian architecture in the area.
This is another example of the the area using distinctly Asian architecture in its design. This was done to project and present their ethnic identity to the world. The distinctive architecture can be seen in the light posts on the left, and the signage, which can be seen on both sides of the street.
I can't help but wonder whether or not this is an accurate representation of Chinese culture. For example, what is often passed as "authentic" Chinese food is, more often than not, changed drastically for American tastes. Whether or not this architecture is Americanized as well I can't be sure, however, it does make me pause before accepting the architecture as genuine at first glance. If it is the case that the architecture is not completely genuine, it would be likely that it was presented in this way to attract customers who are looking for a "genuine" experience.
I agree with your skepticism. Are we seeing the architectural equivalent of Chop Suey? San Francisco's Chinatown actually has a very old history of tourism. Middle-class people came there to "slum it," fascinated by what they had heard of opium dens and exotic people. Interesting to think of Chinatown tourism as coexisting with the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act, barring Chinese immigrants.
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