Urban America

3 units

The city is a crucial frame for understanding the nation's cultural, economic, social, political and ecological concerns. In this course, students and instructor will discuss its importance in shaping American society and consider urban environments as living, breathing, contracting, and expanding regions in the landscape. Questions of race, class and gender will be explored in an attempt to understand the current configuration of American cities, and to allow students to engage meaningfully with the continual transformation of urban space. The class will also pay particular attention to the role played by popular imagination in the formation of public policy, civic spatial arrangement, suburban development, and urban historical geography. Interrogation of the dramatic changes in American urban spaces from the late colonial period to the 21st century will enable students to discuss changes they wish to see and theorize about those yet to come. In addition to lectures, relevant films and literature, and analysis of maps and primary sources, will drive class discussion through a variety of engaging themes concerning the fascinating evolution of the American city.