Human Geography

UCL

In today's rapidly urbanising world, cities are at the forefront of human development and progress. However, this urbanisation process is far from uniform, with each city offering unique challenges and opportunities. But what truly defines a city? What makes it more than just a physical place?

This course seeks to redefine our perception of cities, exploring them as the epicentres of the interplay between 'natural' and social relations that extend far beyond their physical boundaries. We'll dive into the multifaceted world of urban studies literature, examining what urbanisation means to governments, businesses, and the people whose lives are intricately linked with the ever-changing urban landscapes and ecosystems.

The aim is to explore all the possible perspectives from which we can address the cities we live in, not as something closed or bounded - which, politically, lays the ground for critiques of exclusivity. The city has long been a strategic site for the exploration of major subjects confronting society.

This interactive course takes an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the complexities of cities in the modern world. Through a series of diverse seminars, we will explore an array of urban topics, from the influence of political uncertainty to the critical role of infrastructure and power dynamics within urban spaces.

We will study these by analysing three world cities as case studies and getting to do some fieldwork while you’re at it. By examining these diverse urban landscapes, you'll gain valuable insights into how cities function in different global contexts.

The module will culminate in a participatory team project which invites students to examine cities as places that are not 'given' or static but always in an open-ended process of transformation, influenced by human interactions and the environment.

19 August 2024 - 23 August 2024

25 PROGRAMME PLACES

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: