Module: HIS6113-20 The City in Global Contexts

Level: 6

Credit Value: 20

Module Tutor: 

Module Tutor Contact Details: 

1. Brief description and aims of module:

This module focuses on the relationship between cities, culture, and society from a historical perspective, from ancient settlements to the great city states of the Renaissance to contemporary conurbations. It explores the myth of the city, its reimagining in art, literature and film; the realities of urban growth and city politics; fear of the city and the city as an agent of change. It considers the economic power of the city, and its function as a place in which to store money, from the building of Bath to the Cities of London and Westminster, New York and Paris. Most of the world’s population live in or on the edges of cities: how does the city look from the inside, and how does it lure us in from the outside? How might an understanding of the city in the past help us to think about, and contribute to, the cities of the future?

This module combines broad survey with detailed case studies, and is underpinned by an examination of theoretical and methodological issues associated with the study of the city.

2. Outline syllabus:

The content of this module is flexible, and will reflect current as well as historical themes. It will include a variety of topics such as: 

• Urban History and Urban Studies 

• What is a city?

• Global forms of urbanity

• Cities through time

• Living, dwelling, inhabiting

• Moving to the city

• Making, remaking and managing cities

• The city and the country

• Cities, power and politics

• Urban cultures and countercultures

• Contested cities, crime, fear and gated communities

• Placemaking, regeneration, gentrification, ghettoisation 

• Megacities and imaginary cities

• The city in art, literature, film and culture 

• Future cities?

3. Teaching and learning activities:

Group lectures and workshops, small group seminars, one-to-one tutorials, drafting, feedback and response to feedback.

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: CW

• Description: City Case Study: change in or through time

• % Weighting: 100%