USSO 285O - Cities (Deconstructed)

Institution:

Case Western Reserve University

Subject:

Description:

This seminar will look at the history of cities, real and imagined, in terms of deconstruction, both in the sense of physical destruction and literary analysis. We will explore how societies have brought about, and reacted to, the destruction of buildings, neighborhoods, and entire cities at the hands of economic development, terrorism, war, neglect, decay, and natural disasters such and fire, flood, and earthquake. In addition we will read cities themselves as texts. Architecture, public parks, billboards, graffiti, surveillance cameras, sidewalks and alleys all contribute to the discourse of what a city means. Part of that discourse includes the depiction of cities in the creative arts. We will examine works of fiction, still photography and motion pictures, art installations, and music that imagine, or comment on, the deconstructed city. Through lecture, discussion, textual analysis, multimedia presentations, and writing assignments, including a research project in which students will be asked to write a cultural biography of a building, Cities (Deconstructed) will help students confront these questions, and will prepare them to make informed decisions about sustaining the built environment. Prereq: Passing letter grade in a 100 level first year seminar in USFS, FSSO, FSCC, FSNA, FSSY or FSCS. Prereq or Coreq: FSTS 100.

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.case.edu

Phone Number:

(216) 368-2000

Regional Accreditation:

North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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