What makes a city come alive? In this course, we explore how cities have taken shape across history and around the world, from the first urban experiments in the Ancient Near East to the capitals of medieval East Asia to Boston’s ever-changing landscape. We also consider places that stretch our very idea of what a “city” can be, like the Xingu settlements of the Amazon. Through maps, artworks, and photographs, we’ll discover how people experience, imagine, and design urban space. With its global scope and focus on both planned and emergent dimensions of urban form, this class invites you to look at cities through fresh eyes and to ask how the past continues to shape the urban worlds we move through today.

Units: 1

Max Enrollment: 25

Prerequisites: None

Distribution Requirements: ARS - Visual Arts, Music, Theater, Film and Video

Typical Periods Offered: Spring

Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Fall

Notes: