Blockbusting: meaning, definitions and examples

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blockbusting

 

[ หˆblษ’kหŒbสŒstษชล‹ ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

real estate

Blockbusting is a practice in real estate by which individuals or companies induce homeowners to sell their properties at lower prices by instilling fear that racial or ethnic minorities will soon move into the neighborhood. This often leads to a quick turnover of properties and can result in demographic shifts in urban areas. The method exploits racial tensions and leads to segregation, often causing economic decline in the communities affected. Blockbusting was especially prevalent in the mid-20th century in the United States.

Synonyms

property manipulation, racial steering, real estate discrimination.

Examples of usage

  • The neighborhood suffered from blockbusting as agents targeted fear of new families moving in.
  • Blockbusting tactics were used to lower property values and then resell to a new demographic.
  • Many communities were impacted by blockbusting during the 1960s and 1970s.
Context #2 | Noun

entertainment

In the context of entertainment, blockbusting refers to a film that is highly successful and generates a significant amount of revenue. These films often have massive budgets and extensive marketing campaigns to attract large audiences. Blockbusters can create cultural phenomena and may impact future film production strategies. The term generally applies to movies that achieve significant box office success and often feature high-stakes drama, action, or adventure.

Synonyms

box office success, hit, smash.

Examples of usage

  • The summer is always filled with blockbusters at the cinema.
  • Directors aim to create a new blockbuster that will capture audiences worldwide.
  • Her movie just became a summer blockbuster, breaking previous box office records.

Translations

Translations of the word "blockbusting" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น bloqueio

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคฌเฅเคฒเฅ‰เค•เคฌเคธเฅเคŸเคฟเค‚เค—

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Blockbusting

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ blockbusting

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฑะปะพะบะฑะฐัั‚ะธะฝะณ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ blockbusting

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใƒ–ใƒญใƒƒใ‚ฏใƒใ‚นใƒ†ใ‚ฃใƒณใ‚ฐ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท blockbusting

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ blockbusting

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท blockbusting

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋ธ”๋ก๋ฒ„์ŠคํŒ…

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุงู„ุจู„ูˆูƒุจุณุชูŠู†ุบ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ blockbusting

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ blockbusting

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅŒบๅ—็ˆ†็ ด

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ blockbusting

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ blockbusting

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฑะปะพะบะฑะฐัั‚ะธะฝะณ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ‘แƒšแƒแƒ™แƒ‘แƒแƒกแƒขแƒ˜แƒœแƒ’แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ blockbusting

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ blockbusting

Etymology

The term 'blockbusting' has its roots in the real estate sector, deriving from the combination of 'block' and 'bust'. The word 'block' refers to a street or neighborhood area, while 'bust' indicates breaking or shattering something. The origins of blockbusting as a real estate practice date back to the 1950s and 1960s in the United States, when racial segregation was rampant. Real estate agents utilized fear tactics to exploit racial prejudices, convincing white homeowners to sell their properties quickly as minorities moved into their neighborhood. As urban renewal programs and civil rights movements progressed, this practice became more visible and was heavily criticized for promoting racism and inequality. In addition to its real estate connotations, the term has also expanded to the entertainment industry to denote films with massive financial success, particularly after the establishment of summer blockbuster seasons in the late 1970s. This evolution of meaning reflects the impact of entertainment on cultural trends and economic conditions.