HU300/SS361
R. Wener, L. Kozol, E. Chesla
Mondays,
2:00-4:50
Spring
2001
CITIES:
RECREATING THE COMMUNITY,
RECREATING
THE SELF
COURSE
DESCRIPTION
In
this interdisciplinary course, we will investigate the complex question
of how to create effective city spaces. Using a series of case studies
from the Rudy Bruner Award for Excellence in the Urban Environment, we
will explore what makes the city "work": how innovative people
have redesigned the places in which they live, work and play. Physical
space, in turn, helps to construct the inner lives of its inhabitants --
their dreams, thoughts, fears, anger, desires, attachments. These feelings
are best recorded in works of art. As we discuss the model community projects,
we will analyze stories, poems, essays, paintings, and music that engage
similar issues. We will look at the overt and hidden connections between
people and nature, people and each other, and people and their multiple,
interlocking histories within the city. We'll also consider how to make
the city a safer place and how to empower citizens to make positive changes
in their neighborhoods.
REQUIRED
TEXTS
Because
this course combines materials from both the humanities and social sciences,
all reading materials will be made available to you in a xeroxed booklet
(and in supplemental xeroxes, as needed) and/or on the course website.
COURSE
REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION
Reading
Responses20%
Classwork
and Participation20%
City
Story20%
Methodology
Project10%
Case
Study (group project) 30%
Reading Responses. Most
weeks you will be asked to submit a response to one or more of the readings
assigned for discussion. Your
reading responses should be a cross between a journal entry and an essay,
an informal but thoughtful exploration in which you respond to the text. To
prepare your responses, consider the following questions:
o What
do you find interesting, thought-provoking, unusual, or moving in the text?
o What
ideas, images, characters, situations, or narrative strategies fascinate
or trouble you?Why?
o What
do you think of the characters?Why?
o Do the
characters transform as the story unfolds? Are changes in fortune or circumstance
accompanied by a new understanding of the self or of the surrounding world?
o How
does the story � its characters, scenarios, conflicts � relate to our world
today?To you personally?
o What
questions does the text raise about our cities? our society?
o What
makes the text powerful?
o Your
reading responses should be thoughtful and show careful reflection.Avoid
summaries; instead, explore ideas. Feel free to ask questions and attempt
to answer them in your response.
Reading responses should be 2-3 pages double spaced and are due at the
beginning of class.If you miss a
class but wish to submit a reading response, you may send it via email.
Classwork and Participation. We
will begin each class with a short project related to that week�s topic.
You might, for example, be asked to free write about an issue raised in
one of the readings, to make connections between two or more texts, or
to explain how one of the ideas in the texts relates to your neighborhood. There
are a total of 13 class meetings; you will be responsible for a minimum
of 10 in-class projects. In
addition, we ask that you participate regularly and thoughtfully in class
discussions and group projects. The
course website will also offer opportunities for class participation.
City Story. You
will be asked to create a city �story� � a poem, short story, video, photo
essay, collection of profiles, etc. In the course, we discuss many imaginative
works, now is your chance to generate an original piece, to share your
private vision or narrative of city life. Before generating your project,
you will write a short proposal defining what you plan to do. When the
projects are complete, you will each present yours to the class to be discussed
and admired.
o
Methodology Project and Case Study. Your
group project will be to form a team of 3-4 to conduct your own case study
modeled after the Rudy Bruner Awards. Your
job will be to develop a deep understanding of an effective New York City
metropolitan area "urban place" -- how it came about, how it affects its
community, how and why it succeeds, how it might be further recreated to
further improve city life.
Once you select your site, your team will conduct a study of the space
and work with an instructor to evaluate the physical design of the space;
the political, financial, and overall planning processes that took place
to create the space; and the effects (both actual and intended) of the
space on the community.