In a well-written two page, double-spaced
essay, (500 word minimum) please examine
and answer the following questions.
The story of William Levitt and the creation of
the modern suburb that we know today is told
in the 1950 Time magazine article “Up from the
Potato Fields” as found below. If you can
possibly prevent yourself from vomiting as you
think about the dreadful and wretched
suburban blandness that Levitt brought to our
green and pleasant fields, please try to answer
the following questions, only after the Pepto
Bismol* has settled you down a little. Bleech.
1. What did Levitt do that had not been done
before? Why was his model of a home and a
community appealing to the many young
families that quickly snapped up these tiny
houses?
2. Why did this happen when it did? Basically,
why didn’t someone come up with this idea in
1920 or later in 1970 or never at all? What was
it about the postwar period that made Levitt a
millionaire and average middle-class white
Americans home owners?
3. The community was described by the
author of the article as “antiseptic.” What did
he mean by that and do you think the residents
wanted it that way? Would you want to live in
such a place??? Really, is there anything about
this sort of community that you might find
appealing?? (Maybe you live in such a place and
are mad at that smug Horner for even
asking???)
*http://www.pepto-bismol.com/