Urban Studies

Believe it or not, the three articles for week one (including the short online article “Imaginary Metropolis”) in your reading are related. Even more, they are related to the short 3-page article by Ivan Illich for week three, “Dirt of Cities.” In one way or another they are all concerned with the rise, fall, and rebirth of cities. They are about the narrative of the city. The story of the city and the history of the city. They are about the existence and meaning of the city. Sociologist Peter Berger might say cities are a product of “social construction.” We think cities into being.

Write a sentence indicating the “big idea” for each of the first three articles (we’ll get to Illich’s Dirt of Cities later). That is, in a sentence, write the main point – the thing you think the author is wanting us to think, believe, value, or do. Just one sentence and not one of those long run-on sentences either.

Three clear, concise sentences.

Pick one of the three ideas that you find most compelling. Why do you find this one compelling? What are the implications if we take the author seriously? Does it [the “big idea”] matter?

Four quick parts – a sentence for each of the three articles and a handful of sentences regarding the article you found most compelling.

You should be able to do this in no more than 300-500 words. This prompt is 242 words long.