Reading the City: Film Analysis for Urbanism

Many films use the urban landscape as more than just a backdrop; they capture profound social, economic, and political shifts. This course teaches you how to decode these cinematic narratives and understand the relationship between film and the built environment. By the end of this course, you will possess a strong foundational understanding of key urban theory concepts and the critical skills necessary to interpret how film reflects, critiques, and shapes our understanding of the modern city, sprawl, and globalization. What you'll learn: * Understand foundational urban theory concepts, including anomie, industrialization effects, and suburbanization patterns. * Analyze how film portrays critical social themes like race, class, gender, and economic inequality within dense urban spaces. * Practice identifying cinematic techniques used to represent architectural change and the outcomes of urban planning decisions. * Evaluate the representation of contemporary urban challenges, such as housing crises, digital surveillance, and environmental justice in modern cinema. * Apply critical reading skills to interpret the political and cultural dimensions of global city representations. The course begins by defining key terminology in urban studies and film theory before moving through chronological case studies examining different eras of urban development. Practical exercises guide you in applying theoretical concepts to detailed written analyses of specific film scenarios. This course is designed for absolute beginners interested in film studies, urban planning, sociology, or cultural history. No prior knowledge of film analysis or urban theory is required. Start reading to unlock the hidden stories embedded in the cinematic city.