In his talk, cultural historian Stefan Höhne showed that throughout the course of the twentieth century, New York City subway passengers struggled to navigate the system’s constraints while striving for individuality, or at least a smooth ride. The lecture explored:
How the NYC subway system shaped its passengers into heroes, patriots, barbarians, and vigilantes; how the NYC subway riders asserted their individuality over decades of imposing norms from authorities; and actual letters of complaint from subway passengers to the Transit Authority, picked from hundreds of actual correspondences.
When the subway first opened with much fanfare on October 27, 1904, New York became a city of underground passengers almost overnight. In his award-winning book, now published with MIT Press, Stefan Höhne examines how the experiences of subway passengers in New York City were intertwined with cultural changes in urban mass society throughout the twentieth century. He argues that underground transportation—which early passengers found both exhilarating and distressing—changed perceptions, interactions, and the organization of everyday life.
About the presenters:
Stefan Höhne is a cultural historian of urbanization and technology at the Kulturwissenschaftliches Institut (KWI) Essen, Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities (KWI), Germany. His work is distinctive for connecting historical studies of urban culture and infrastructure with debates on sociotechnical inclusion and accessibility.
Justin Rivers leads Untapped New York’s experience department, creating and delivering some of its most popular tours including the Underground Tour of the NYC Subway, the Remnants of Dutch New Amsterdam, and the Remnants of Penn Station tour. His mission continues to be creating and leading unique experiences that help New Yorkers and visitors alike rediscover their city. He has lived in New York City for over 20 years and is a graduate of Fordham University.
This event was co-hosted with Untapped New York, which unearths New York City’s secrets and hidden gems and helps local and visitor to discover the city’s most unique and surprising places.