Weird City: Sense of Place and Creative Resistance in Austin, Texas

By: Joshua Long

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Synopsis: An examination of Austin&’s rapid economic and creative growth and local attitudes toward the Texas capitol&’s transformation as an urban center. Austin, Texas, at the beginning of the twenty-first century, is experiencing one of the most dynamic periods in its history. Wedged between homogenizing growth and a long tradition of rebellious nonconformity, many Austinites feel that they are amid a battle for the city&’s soul. From this struggle, a movement has emerged as a form of resistance to the rapid urban transformation brought about in recent years: &“Keep Austin Weird&” originated in 2000 as a grassroots expression of place attachment and anti-commercialization. Its popularity has led to its use as a rallying cry for local business, as a rhetorical tool by city governance, and now as the unofficial civic motto for a city experiencing rapid growth and transformation. By using &“Keep Austin Weird&” as a central focus, Joshua Long explores the links between sense of place, consumption patterns, sustainable development, and urban politics in Austin. Research on this phenomenon considers the strong influence of the &“Creative Class&” thesis on Smart Growth strategies, gentrification, income inequality, and social polarization made popular by the works of Richard Florida. This study is highly applicable to several emerging &“Creative Cities,&” but holds special significance for the city considered the greatest creative success story, Austin.