Critical Urban Issues

Geography 633 / American Studies 633

Fall 2004

Wilkeson 108, Fridays 9 - 11:40 am

Dr. Meghan Cope, Associate Professor of Geography

Objectives:

This course was designed to be flexible. The same material is never included twice. The idea is that new, exciting, and innovative research and theory are constantly emerging in the area of urban studies (including lots of disciplines) and there is a value in working through several new books with a group of people with varied backgrounds and areas of expertise.

The goals of the course are:

• explore ‘cutting edge’ urban theories, ideas, and places;
• engage in critical discussion around themes, issues, processes, and relations that are revealed through cities and their forms;
• exchange thoughts and views with people coming to the topic of urbanism from many different directions;
• use the course discussions, readings, and writing assignments to push one’s own work further.

Structure:

Critical Urban Issues is a seminar format, which means everyone participates in discussions. Each week we will have two ‘facilitators’ who will provide us with some guidance through the readings by raising questions, identifying themes, and getting us back on track when we wander. I will also jump into this role, as appropriate.

Each week everyone except the facilitators will submit a ‘critique/question’ via UB Learns by 10:00 am on Thursdays. These will help the facilitators for that week gather our thoughts and stimulate discussion. I have also found that we are all better readers when we know we have to produce a short critique or question! The critique/question does not need to be more than a paragraph.

Writing:

There are two main assignments for the course. The first is a fairly standard ‘mid-term paper’ (approx. 8-10 pages) for which I will assign a question (to be distributed Oct. 1). This is due in the middle of the semester (Oct. 15th) and will be based entirely on the readings up to about that point. The other assignment, the ‘final paper’ has two parts: a one-page proposal due Nov. 5 and the final paper itself due Dec. 15. This paper is a chance for you to follow an urban interest of yours, write part of your thesis/dissertation that relates to what we looked at in the course, explore a tangential point that was raised in the readings, or whatever you want it to be, as long as it relates to urbanism and has some connection to the topics we read about. In the proposal you will outline what you plan to do and provide a short bibliography of supplemental readings, and then you and I will meet to discuss your ideas. The final paper will vary in length, but you can assume it will be in the 10-20 page range. We will have short, informal presentations on your final papers in our last class meeting, Dec. 10 – you should be mostly done but still open to suggestions and comments from the rest of us.

Evaluation:

• Critique/Questions: 15%

• Class participation: 15%

• Mid-term Paper: 30%

• Final paper proposal: 5%

• Final Paper: 30%

• Final Paper In-class presentation: 5%

The Books: (available at Talking Leaves)

• Blomley, N. 2003. Unsettling the City: Urban Land and the Politics of Property. NY: Routledge.

• Cerwonka, A. 2004. Native to the Nation: Disciplining Bodies and Landscapes in Australia. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.

• Defilippis, J. 2003. Unmaking Goliath: Community Control in the Face of Global Capital. NY: Routledge.

• Mitchell, D. 2003. The Right to the City: Social Justice and the Fight for Public Space. NY: Guilford.  

• Rae, D. 2003. City: Urbanism and Its End. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

Click here for the reading schedule, facilitator info, and snack sign-up.