New Elective - Second Eight Weeks

Need a second eight weeks course?  Check out this new offering by Prof. Isern.

DECOLONIZING THE URBAN PLACE

7 Case Studies from the Global South

ARCH 592 DUP

Special Problems in Urbanism

Credits: 3 hrs

Day: Monday

Time: 10:00 AM - 11:50 AM

Room: 102 A ARCH

This course meets the Graduate Urban Concentration Requirement

Open for Graduate Students and Upper Level Undergraduate Students

This course will examine seven cities in the Global South through detailed case studies to enhance our understanding of how the contemporary globalised world has been shaped by this region. We will delve into the ontological and epistemological tensions between the Global North and Global South, exploring the complex interrelations beyond traditional architectural definitions of urbanity. This investigation will consider how colonial legacies, global and internal migrations, technological innovations, and adaptations to climate change, among other paradoxes, reveal the significant role of the Global South.

The primary aim of this course is to critically assess the dynamic processes and structural forces shaping urban spaces in the Global South and their global interconnections. Central to our study will be the themes encompassed within Urban Decolonial Narratives, both in theory and practice.

We will engage with prominent historical, theoretical, and practical texts, juxtaposing these with lesser-known local narratives and oral histories. This interdisciplinary approach is designed to foster a comprehensive understanding and to demonstrate the relevance of the course to students from architecture, planning, landscape, and related fields. The course will include written and design elements (in the broader sense), allowing students to formulate and develop their critical narratives.