Hub Culture recently released their 2010 Zeitgeist rankings of the world's best cities. Taking population rankings, GDP, quality of life, presence of the web and more into consideration the top 20 were as follows:
1. Sao Paulo 11. Beijing
2. Berlin 12. Washington DC
3. San Francisco 13. Cape Town
4. Los Angeles 14. Singapore
5. Shanghai 15. Tokyo
6. Zurich 16. Copenhagen
7. Sydney 17. Mexico City
8. New York 18. Istanbul
9. London 19. Buenos Aires
10. Hong Kong 20. Abu Dhabi
It's an interesting list, isn't it?
I love cities. I haven't been to all of the ones listed above but each one is very visceral in my mind from all of the numerous articles, news stories and photos I've seen over the years. It's a great list of places. But what's interesting is not necessarily who's on it, but who isn't...
First, the definition of Zeitgeist: [ noun ] the defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history as shown by the ideas and beliefs of the time.
That's a powerful definition when you reflect on it for a moment.
[ reflect please ]
To me, all the places above feel so current. Even if they're older cities, they just feel like the places to be right now. They're fast, full of contemporary light and art and offer a canvass in our minds of possibility, innovation and great things to come. Indeed, if one wanted to expand globally, these would probably be the places to consider.
But what about Paris? Barcelona? Chicago? Rome? Are these places not part of our current defining spirit? They feel pretty important and relevant to me...
When the Economist made their list of the world's most livable cities last summer only two of the cities on Hub Culture's list made that ranking (Sydney and Zurich). And when Monocle issued their top 20 only five of the above where on the list (Zurich, Tokyo, Berlin, Sydney and Singapore). I suppose our physical location and our mental location don't always run congruently.
Great. What's the point, you ask?
Well, first, there's something obviously wonderful going on in Zurich and Sydney considering they're the only two cities to make all theses lists.
But secondly, it appears that in our current zeitgeist we are embracing the cities that feel current at the expense of cities that make us reflect on our accomplishments of the past. The fact that Paris and Rome, for example, didn't even make the list is worth noting. When you're in places like these the past is all around you. It's impossible not to have history seep into your thoughts to celebrate and reflect on. In places like these it's also largely about marveling at the physical accomplishments, such as the Colosseum and the Arc de Triomphe. But our historical physical accomplishments are so often about war and ruling. And none of the above cities bring those thoughts as strongly to mind.
Apparently, our current zeitgeist isn't as much about where we've been but rather what's possible.
Interesting.
I don't think it's necessarily a good thing, or a bad thing. Just a thing. A thing that I thought was worth pondering this morning.