Falkirk Wheel, Panoramic view.

Falkirk Wheel, Panoramic view.
Image by Cameron Lyall, GNU license Wikimedia

22 July 2011

Postindustrial/Deindustrial

I have been thinking a lot about Postindustrial topics for about six months now. From my time in Dundee, I can say for certain that we are living in a transitional time between the industrial to the postindustrial.

Dundee has reinvented itself as a place of discovery instead of Juteopolis. The schools, the musuems, the actual Discovery ship, all of these things bring people into Dundee and support the city. A few years ago the city was in decline following the fall of Jute and now the city is prettier than ever. The factories have been re-purposed for housing and in the case of Verdant Works, been converted to a museum on Jute. These are all indications of a city moving past its industrial ways.

Dr. Tomlison spoke to us about deindustrialization. However I don't think that this transitional period can be called "de" industrialization, because this town is not returning to what it was before industry: It is moving past it.

Once it fully breaks away from industry, Dundee will truly be a postindustrial city. What this means is that Dundee will fully be a service, merit, and knowledge "industry". Everything will be think work, instead of physical labor. While this may be a long time to fruition, as Professional Writers we can document and evaluate things as they occur.


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