Subject:  Re: Just curious about the setting for The Last Word |
Author:
Drake
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Date Posted: 11:57:20 07/19/03 Sat
In reply to:
E.J.
's message, "Just curious about the setting for The Last Word" on 20:30:40 07/18/03 Fri
EJ:
Answeres to your questions
>How in the world did you pick The University of
>Detroit.
I am a Detroit native. I was born in the city in the mid 1960s and lived in one of the close suburbs until the early 1970s. I have always loved Detroit. As far as the university goes, I think it is a pretty good institution for all that it is underfunded by the city, county and state. Go Titans!
>I went to that school in the 80's and it
>definitely isn't what you would call a garden spot.
>Our favorite place to go was Lou's Deli, just down 6
>Mile.
Since you have gone to the school (I went to EMU), then you will have noticed I am playing fast and loose with the campus configuration. There are three campus spread out in the city, and I have combined two of them as the primary setting. Here is a clue: Find the original Bangkok Express, and Rory's dormitory is located across and just down the street.
>The bullet holes in the windows and what looked
>like blood stains on the sidewalk out front added to
>the atmosphere.
The city is nowhere as violent now as it was back in the 1980s. Detroit is no longer even in the top ten cities of murders. Granted, assaults and car theft are still pretty hight, but Mayor Archer did a lot to clean up the some of the worst practices by the DPD. I hope Mayor Kilpatrick doesn't pull a "Hizonor" (aka Coleman Young) and backslide into corruption. Young did a lot during his first 8 - 10 years, but then he got caught up on a power trip and forgot about the city.
The long and short of the story is that I love Detroit... even if I place the Red Wings to the side. Greektown, Poletown (what remains), the Waterfront, Grand Circus Park... come on, these are some terrific spots. With the Red Wings, Tigers and Lions all playing in the city now, it doing wonders about bringing people back in. The festivals at Hart Plaza are hard to beat (especially the Jazz Festival!). The ethnic diversity is still there, and it gives a character to the city that is unique. The architecture from the 1920s - 1940s still remains in many areas, and it is beautiful.
Any urban center that has hit on hard economic times, as Detroit has since the mid-70s, is bound to see a general sense of detoriation. However, the city remains vibrant and alive despite all the nay-saying and predications of its demise. There is a strength in Detroit that I personally find inspiring.
This is why TLW is set in Detroit. It is my city... and I love it.
Drake
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