Blogging Social Difference in L.A.: Week 5

 Hi Everyone! This week I responded to Brittany Zajic's blog, A Look at L.A., from last week about her excursion to the Playboy Mansion. She explored the neighborhood surrounding the Playboy mansion and the ways that the actual mansion itself exhibited social exclusion through carceral archipelago. I thought the blog was very well written and a very interesting idea for a place to visit!

Below is my comment to her post.

       Wow! This is so interesting! Your choice of location was really creative!  

       Almost everyone I know has heard of the Playboy Mansion, but few every venture to it or get to come anywhere close to it. It has it's own mystique attached to it as it's the home of Hugh Hefner. I've seen it on TV once during a reality tv show commercial and also on the show, The Buried Life (about accomplishing goals on your "bucket lists" and helping other people accomplish theirs). Their goal was to sneak into the playboy mansion on halloween and it was EXTREMELY difficult. As you mentioned in your post, the Playboy mansion has been spatially placed in an area far away from the undifferentiated public. Additionally, there is so much security, gates and foliage surrounding the property that it is very clear that the owner (Hugh Hefner) wants his privacy and to exclude the general public from entering, just like the carceral archipelago we discussed in class. 

        It is very interesting, however, that he allows tour buses to come by and take a peak at his house. For him though, it probably works in his favor in the form of publicity. In some ways, that's very welcoming, but again it acts as a screening process. Most people (unless they go out of their way) would not be able to find the place, as you mentioned it was difficult even with a GPS for you). They had to pay money in order to get there, which ensured that they had enough money and were within a high enough class to spend money on leisure.   

       It's also interesting to think this secluded and private area is in a place like Los Angeles. When contrasting this place to other places in L.A. like skid row, Compton or south central LA, it is clear that there is much social differentiation in Los Angeles. It is clear that this neighborhood has less material density and a different demographic overall. Difference is blatantly expressed in the landscape through the large houses, perfectly landscaped foliage, the difficulty of public access, the security surveillance (which is pretty pricy) as well as the gates. 
Great post! I found your trip extremely informative and relevant to the class material! :) Have a great weekend!

Thanks for reading! See you next week! Hope everyone's midterms are going well :)

-Breeanna Bergeron-Matsumoto