Lynn Coding

My coding process has given me so many rich directions... and repeatedly i am finding the codes to have an alternate opposite or contrasting code along with it.

Mourning the loss of the old city/ potential for future growth
natural beauty/ decay, abandonment, desolation
affluence / poverty
pride / disgust

other stand alone themes are diversity, youth, crime, frustration.

It seems that with all the opposites happening: this is not a dichotomy. This is a both/and situation: Lynn has both beautiful mansions and foreclosed triple deckers; both wooded forests and industry; both a sense of pride and shame for what has happened to a once thriving city. It's all there, and it's all part of the story.

I came into this project without knowing just how passionate the 'believers' are about the wonderful things the city of Lynn has to offer, and how upset it makes them not only to hear what others say, but to know that most of it is true. I think many people, including myself, had a pretty bad idea about the city, mainly that it is unsafe and depressed, but it's also got a lot going on. There's an interesting art scene going on, and I get the sense that there's much brewing in the way of social progress.

I'm very inspired by all the hope and potential evident in my small amount of research that Lynn might someday soon turn itself around. I find that instead of serving to expose my biases alone, this project has converted me into one of the believers.