The "Urban Place" of Sex and the City

New York City, known as the city that never sleeps, is busy, bustling and involved in world affairs and economy. As a global city, New York City is an icon of economic success and American culture. There is a very large Central Business District which includes the Stock Exchange and many multinational corporations. HBO’s series, The Sex and the City, reflects the hectic lifestyle of New Yorkers. In one scene, Carrie is at a party on a boat and runs into her ex-boyfriend, Big, and as they catch up on what’s going on with each other, the New York skyline is seen in the background. This skyline represents the post-industrial state of the city. After the industrial revolution, skyscrapers sprung up everywhere throughout the city to utilize the many innovations of the previous period. New York City holds much excitement and opportunities for its inhabitants and others who wish to live there. Carrie and her friends are part of the elite of NYC and they explore the opportunities of work and leisure, meet many different types of people and have the possibility of a surprise encounter with someone. The latter, happens in this scene and Carrie is shocked by the coincidence of Big being at the party also. His presence at the party altered the social space of the party and Carrie is impacted by the bad timing the two have. Space is socially constructed and is dynamically changing. New York has become the city it is because of the people that live there. Its diverse inhabitants all contribute to what New York City really means.