USSY 287H - Cityscapes in 20th-Century and Contemporary Visual Culture

Institution:

Case Western Reserve University

Subject:

Description:

This seminar will explore the dynamic meanings of modern and contemporary urban environments through visual representation. What does a city look like? As great complex entities of constant change, we will see that cities have been portrayed in a myriad of ways. What social ideals have engaged the vision of architects, urban planners, and landscape designers in the making of the metropolis since the late 19th century? How have artists interpreted major cities as sites of modernity, technological advancement, civilization and cultural vanguard; or, in contrast as sites of failed experiment? How can forms of representation help us envision the entirety of urban spaces of diverse geographies, including typically un-aesthetic forms of fringe areas, the abandoned zones of prior use, and infrastructures? What recent developments in convergent media might be employed as catalyst for achieving an enhanced understanding of the interrelationship of urban structures, spaces, and human need? Our chief objective is to begin to comprehend the enormity of these questions. Thus, we will view and discuss selected examples of architecture, design, art, photography, film and video, in essence sampling the roles they have played in the process of conceiving and imagining the design and significance of cities. Our examination of visual material will be organized over the course of the semester according to three major overlapping themes: the utopian and visionary city, the visual culture of cities, and the emerging city. The methods by which we will seek to interpret the visual component of our studies in the three categories will be adapted from the perspectives of visual culture, urban studies, urban design and landscape urbanism, and architectural history. Prereq: Passing letter grade in a 100 level first year seminar in USFS, FSSY, FSCC, FSNA, FSSO 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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