Compare And Contrast The Components Of Culture

When I first moved from Huntington Beach to Los Angeles, I was so confused. Although I was definitely not a stranger to the city it seemed so different. I had been visiting almost weekly for the last four years. Living here forced me to familiarize myself with all the different areas and neighborhoods. It took me a while especially since most of the neighborhoods aren't even on any maps; you just have to find out on your own by driving through or asking the locals. But I have to say that the strangest part about living in Los Angeles is seeing million dollar condos and houses at the top of a hill and gang areas at the bottom of the hill. Some of these areas are called Mt. Washington, Silverlake and Atwater Village. The people that live here are completely different for the people that live in the million dollar houses of Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and Malibu (the Westside). How can two groups of people living within a ten mile radius be so different?

A couple of months ago I was looking for houses because a fifty story building was rumored to be built blocking the north side view from my condo. I needed a view of Downtown still so I proceeded to look in the hills of Mt. Washington, Silverlake and Atwater Village. I drove up the narrow cracked streets with a cliff on one side and old semi-run downed houses with traces of graffiti on the other side. So far I wasn't happy with the community; imagining myself driving on these streets at night scared me to death. But despite the dangerous streets and gang like community I kept driving determined to see what all the fuss about this area was about.

When I started to get closer to the top of the hill, the streets started to change, they were actually smooth. The residents were tending to their well manicured lawns and the houses looked tidy and neat. I was amazed, how was this calm jewel in the middle of the chaos of Los Angeles? I pulled up to an open house and was impressed by the modern style and scenic view. The dÐ"©cor of the house suggested that the person living there was very interested in photography and music. There were black and white photographs of woman and men in almost all the rooms of the class and a shiny guitar and a piano in the corner of a living room.

I picked up a printed article from a local magazine the realtor left on the wood table. It was about the up and coming area commonly referred to as "The Eastside". I stated that many musicians, actors and artist were moving to the idyllic area because of the awesome views and undisturbed neighborhoods.