Reading the City

This century will be referred to as the Urban Century. In 1900, 10% of the world population lived in cities. In 2007, 50%.; and in 2050, 75% are estimated to live in cities. For the first time in history, more people in the world will occupy cities than rural areas. As urbanism flourishes across the globe, the nature of the city is being reinterrogated and reinvented.

Overall, the cultural affects of globalism all contribute to the form, space and experience of the contemporary city. In North America, economic interests are inspiring development strategies that tend towards “bundled” developments materialized in the form of large residential/commercial complexes, megamalls integrated with new infrastructure, edge city developments and the most odious American trend: the gated community. Within Asia, rapid urban development is accompanied by increased social stratification and the erasure of existing fabric. Rural to urban migrancy is radically altering the demographics of cities, challenging the conception of communities within these spaces. In Europe, technology and shifts in the political conceptions of nationhood are contributing to new conceptions of territory. In all of these contexts, the manner in which cities are perceived, inhabited, and experienced is changing.

The very idea of what makes a city is one that demands continuous investigation. This seminar will focus on thriving, shrinking and emergent modern cities. Conceived of as a series of probes, a different city will be read each week through the lens of a theme. Themes to be explored include: the phenomenal city, the imagined city, the natural city, the virtual city, the hybrid city, the institutional city, the pirate city, and the city of the non-economy.

Objectives
The seminar seeks to ground students in contemporary theories of urbanism. Critical reading, analysis and writing will be developed through the coursework.

Format
Weekly readings on a city, short lecture, active discussion, weekly-student presentations, term paper.