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Jayline Lopez
Professor Malvin
28 February 2016
ENGL 114A
Contrast Through Architecture
Downtown Los Angeles is where the sun shines down on thousands of people, and the
moonlight reflects upon the grand luxurious buildings. Beautiful, never ending skyscrapers
appear in one's hindsight. Downtown L.A is where one finds themselves as a tiny fragment in
front of intimidating pieces of great architecture. These luxurious buildings give way to wealth.
The glamour, elegance, shiny glass windows, the immenseness, and even the logos at the very
top of these skyscrapers display and create an appearance of prosperity. The exposure of the
buildings located Downtown are what make this part of Los Angeles beautiful. Apart from
providing the city with spectacular views, the buildings of Los Angeles point out a very wealthy
community filled with glamour and money, in contrast rundown buildings throughout the same
area demonstrate an impoverish, struggling community.
Walking through Olympic and Georgia within Downtown Los Angeles, the J.W Marriott
is in one's plain view. This 21-story building, composed of transparent, blue glass, includes about
877 luxurious expensive rooms, for the comfort of those whom can afford a night's stay. A bit
further away is the US Bank Tower on fifth street and Grand. This 72-story skyscraper is home to
many affluent business men and women. The rooms in this building are primarily used as offices
or meeting rooms to talk business. The bright, elegant buildings of Downtown Los Angeles
imply wealth, urbanization and beauty. This is the part of the city that all residents want to

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inhabit because of the allurement. Where one turns it is easy to catch a glimpse of a man in a
dressy suit, suitcase in hand, with shades on reflecting the face of the sun, speed walking into a
tower ready for a business meeting one assumes. One can also notice a woman, with a bag on
hand, laughing at something she was told over the phone, with dressy attire, walking into one of
Downtown's grand hotels excited for her stay. These strong standing, wealthy, admirable, and
looked upon buildings reflect their wealthy occupants.
As the rays of sunlight cast down on these skyscrapers, the highly reflective and
transparent windows blind one's eyes. A kaleidoscope of colors also results from that same
reflection which only adds on to one's admiration. The stainless windows give an individual a
clear-cut view of who dwells within these upper-class looking buildings. Gazing atop at an
infinite building, one gets lost in thought of how great the architecture of the city is. During
nighttime, once the sun has set, darkness is not present due to the illumination of artificial lights
coming from all the floors of the tall buildings. This view in its entirety is breathtaking and
beautiful.
This part of the city implies opportunity. It is a place where many impose their dreams
and believe they can accomplish them. It also causes people to wish to be in these buildings
because they appear so affluent. Downtown Los Angeles and its intricate, captivating
architecture symbolizes the future and success because these buildings continue be constructed
creating urbanization and many job opportunities. These buildings also seem to create a sense of
competition that is based on its architecture, intricate details, and appearance. This is because
when one skyscraper or building is constructed better one's are made afterward in order to
increase the likelihood of attracting more people which then builds up more wealth.

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However, although Downtown Los Angeles contains its wonders, it has its downside.
Walk away from the shiny buildings, their glamour and their wealthy occupants, and what will be
present is a different face of the city. A couple blocks down in Downtown Los Angeles, around
sixth street there is a complete change in appearance. Sadly, what will be in one's field of vision
won't be tall skyscrapers and beautiful architecture. Instead, there will be run-down buildings,
abandoned warehouses, and lines of less fortunate individuals attempting to obtain a spot at a
local over-populated shelter. Tents made into houses that are seen as luxurious to the less
fortunate will appear on the cement walkways along street ways. Carts filled with empty can
bottles, with old, used blankets, and some personal belongings are pushed around by these
individuals. Their clothing contrasting from that of the wealthy people who reside in luxurious
buildings, are unclean, worn out, torn, but are worn because it is all they can afford. There are no
tall skyscrapers, affluent hotels, or hundreds of business offices. Light does not reflect off the
buildings of the shelters. Instead, there's this dull light which creates a sadness within an
individual who notices this part of Los Angeles. Impoverish communities where one only sees
run-down, dilapidated buildings create a feeling of disparity. It is a place that contrasts from the
tall, wealthy buildings where many less fortunate individuals reside in. This part of Los Angeles
demonstrates a harsh reality for many because these individual do not possess the same
opportunities of those within the wealthy community.
In Truman Capote's Hollywood Los Angeles is portrayed as a place where the streets are
populated with cars, and the pavements are empty. Capote describes that people migrate to Los
Angeles with the false perceptions of this grand city, filled with camera lights, spotlights, and
the ability to become instantaneously famous when in reality it is nothing like that. The city

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exhibiting elegance is enough to create admiration and leave a person in awe at the sight of what
presents itself as wealth. The buildings, the people, the lights, are all enough to influence the
perception and dreams of prosperity. Capote writes that an acquaintance of his was traveling to
Hollywood in search of a job and fame with high expectations, ready to see the glamour of
Hollywood (351). Arriving in this famous city, Capote's acquaintance, Thelma, discovered that
Hollywood was not at all what she imagined. The streets where filled with gas stations, used-car
lots, motels, and supermarkets, none of this she expected (352). This destroyed her hopes and
dreams regarding her outlook.
As in Capote's Hollywood, one can walk through the streets of Los Angeles and admire
the tall skyscrapers, their hundreds of shiny and highly reflective glass, and have a perception
that Downtown Los Angeles as being wealthy. However, these perceptions and the idea of
richness diminishes as one walks through the disadvantaged parts of Los Angeles. Our views of
fascination in the face of luxury turn into hopelessness and it is obvious that there is a radical
change in the features of this part of the city.
Downtown Los Angeles is beautiful, but there are places that contradict this view. The
buildings and all their features are fascinating. At the sight of them one cannot help but admire
the incredible man-made architecture. On the other hand, the city is filled with buildings, not
luxurious, but that provide help to the less fortunate. No admiration is given to these dull and
plain looking buildings although they are a luxury to those in need. In the face of Downtown Los
Angeles, its buildings are what gives life to this city.

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Works Cited
Capote, Truman. "Hollywood." Writing Los Angeles; A Literary Anthology.
Ed. David L. Ulin. 2002. 351-356. Print.
Ulin, David L. Writing Los Angeles: A Literary Anthology. New York: Library of
America, 2002. Print.

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