The midtown aesthetic and culture, seen through the specific case of the group Musical Elements, reveals that the schism between uptown and downtown composers in New York in the 1970s is a critical construct that is an oversimplification of an infinitely more complex, dynamic and nuanced musical atmosphere. Furthermore, the hyper fixation on the uptown/downtown dichotomy as perpetuated by subsequent analysts has obscured the actual intersectional environment between uptown and downtown, in particular, the midtown aesthetic and culture, which is more accurately depicted as a transitional arena of cooperation and exchange operating successfully in between the perceptions of the polarized dichotomy. This thesis attempts to place Musical Elements as central to the development and promotion of a midtown culture, aesthetic, and sensibility. This is not to say that this ensemble represents the only ensemble or group of composers promoting a midtown culture. But a historiographical exploration of the so-called uptown/downtown schism, along with interviews with those affiliated with Musical Elements and analyses of works associated with the group, reveals how a midtown culture and philosophy helped bridge the gap between uptown and downtown.

This dissertation documents a time between 1960 and 1983 in Midtown when a complex set of social, political, and cultural forces merged to challenge the dominance of elite groups of businessmen and arts patrons who had dominated growth and development there since the early 1920s. I argue that interaction among these disparate groups affected the character of Midtown, making the community a more vibrant, inclusive, and interesting place to live and do business. After experiencing softer and less militant approaches to resistance, members of the Atlanta Arts Alliance adopted fresh approaches to the meaning of “Art,” and ways that creativity became more representative of the multicultural Atlanta community. Many members shifted away from positions of cultural exclusivity into a realm that appealed to a more diverse population.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Abilene Christian University, 2000. / Includes abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 145-150).

Understanding the nature of private-public interaction within a development process provides crucial insight into the workings of a new development from the initial vision all the way to post-construction property management. The private and public sectors must work together as partners in the development process, understanding the goals of one another while remaining flexible in their own decision making in order to create a development that best meets the vision of both parties. By studying Cedar Park Town Center and Midtown Commons, located in Cedar Park, Texas and Austin, Texas, respectively, we can grow a greater understanding of how the private-public interaction involved in these cases affected two pioneering mixed-use projects in Central Texas. Utilizing personal interviews as well as documentation from both public and private sources, detailed information was gathered regarding the process and interaction used by private and public parties in both developments. / text