As I write this, a wrecking crew is hard at work demolishing what is left of the legendary Cabrini-Green housing complex. As it says on it's wikipedia page, this housing complex became the symbol for all the problems associated with housing projects. As far as popular media is concerned, it will always make me think of Good Times and Candyman.
This is a classic television program. I've seen it in syndication and enjoy it, but I've always felt a little uncomfortable with the way in which this show uses the terrible social problem of poverty as a way in which to market the characters. If you look at this in contrast with All in the Family (another Norman Lear creation) I think working with these themes makes sense. Good Times is a classic show that can't help but show it's age. I think it's worth mentioning that nothing mentioned in the title song is ideal, or good for that matter, yet the message is 'ain't we lucky we got 'em.' In other words, be happy with what you have and don't try and improve you station in life. (IMHO)
Candyman, on the other hand, uses Cabrini-Green to a much different effect...
In case you haven't seen it, the Cabrini-Green housing project is central to the plot of this film. The Virginia Madsen character is a student researching urban legends who comes upon the legend of the Candyman, who may or may not be a real killer living in the Cabrini-Green housing projects.
Look at the imagery related to Cabrini-Green used in the Candyman trailer as opposed to the same setting in the Good Times opening. These are the same buildings, and Candyman was even filmed on location at times. It's interesting that the social meaning that these buildings held can be used for both horror and comedy. In both cases the housing project's implicit meaning connects it with poverty and other social ills. Also notice at what point the Hancock tower is shown in both of these. What does it mean that this building is shown in relation to Cabrini-Green? What purpose might the juxtaposition of these buildings serve?
In any case, the last of the Cabrini-Green buildings is being torn down right now, but the legacy that that particular landmark carries is likely to continue.
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