Hatice GÜL

Cities are also shaped centers of individual’s lifestyle and character as well as the center of all kinds of activities. Cities are the places that have influenced our thoughts, behaviors, our relationships with others, and other environmental dynamics since the historical process and create their own lifestyles. In addition, cities still maintain their agenda as areas where social changes are experienced intensively. The value judgments, behaviors, and attitudes specific to the urban lifestyle are inevitably affected by social changes experienced. The most distinctive feature of the change is the emergence of urban characters with new forms in social life. Being urban is to be a part of the changing order. As a matter of fact, the individual reveals his character through the dynamics of change taking place in the urban conditions in which he lives. The fact that the individual is at the center of the change is an indicator that the individual is most affected by the change. In our study, the dimensions of the relationship between the spirituality seekings and the new urbanization that emerged as a manifestation of the effects of the new capitalist system on the city have been revealed. In this context, the main features attributed to the character of the individual who gained new attitudes and habits by capitalist urbanization have been examined by taking into consideration the perspectives of R. Sennett, Z. Bauman, and E. Fromm. As a result of the evaluation, along with the prominence of the salient points on which all three writers focus on the character, some features also show similarities. Among the similar qualities, it is possible to say that there are features that are prone to consumer, having superficial and temporary relationships, being flexible and open to change, holding short-term goals, and so on.”

Keywords: New Urbanization, Character, Capitalism, Flexibility, Spirituality