URBS 387 - Representing American Cityscapes

Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)

(Same as ART 387) From the visual and written descriptions of Tenochtitlán, the capital of the Aztec Empire (today’s Mexico City), to Google Maps, this course explores representations of American cities from the colonial encounter to the present. Visual and written interpretations of urban landscapes have shaped the practice of planners, builders, artists, and activists in cities across the Americas. Introducing students to philosopher Henri Lefebvre’s theory of space as materially, socially, and symbolically produced, the course invites students to reflect critically on the role of representation in the meaning of built environments in North and Latin American cities.

Prerequisite(s): Permission of the instructor.

One 2-hour period.

Course Format: CLS