17. Suburban sluttery

     

         Updikes's Couples is still the shocking vision of '60s

         suburban sluttery, the raw imperfection of the 

         world in its stark nakedity.

16. Industrial quantities

       Updike's character is vulgarian, a crass, priapic lower bourgeois 

       who gobbles up whatever pleasures America offers

       him--sex, gun, drugs and glof--in such industrial quantities

       that may almost make him happy. 

15. Iconic overkill

      Dubai is the last word in iconic overkill, a place of egotism with humanity denied.

14. Cult of hyper mobility

     

      Detroit is a city fueled by the cult of hyper mobility.

13. Dubious monument

   

      “Dubai is a dubious monument to big-must-be-beautiful. It is a city designed by autocrats            and architects”. [Source: The Hindu, March 21, 2009]

12. Culture of brokeness

   A lot of young Americans grew up in a culture of brokeness, 

    divorce and drugs.

   

11. Architectural reticence

   

   The premises of the Gulin Swiming Association on the west bank of

   Li River [China] is the epitome of architectural reticence.