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Ethnic self-presentation

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Santa Fe oriental rug shop done in adobe style

We cannot live in a purely un-self-presentating manner. The Italian immigrants in Boston's North End no doubt played up their Italianness when this helped business with outsiders. In Chicago there is renewed emphasis on ethnic neighborhoods, which have been asked to build markers at their entries. The result brings communal affirmation as well as touristic labeling. This does not transform the neighborhood into themed places, but the self-consciousness they bring and highlight could lead to the doubled self-presentation of a themed place.