Urban Studies and Planning: Analyzing the City in Film

How we build our cities shapes how we live, but how we portray those cities in cinema reveals our deepest societal hopes and anxieties. This text-based course introduces you to the intersection of urban studies and film, using cinematic representations to decode real-world urban planning principles. You will learn to read the screen as an archive of architectural history, social policy, and spatial design. By examining films depicting urban landscapes, you will develop a critical framework for analyzing physical environments, zoning, housing inequalities, and the future of sustainable cities. This course bridges the gap between creative storytelling and technical urban design, giving you a fresh perspective on the built environment. What you'll learn: - Understand the core concepts of urban planning, spatial design, and architectural history - Analyze how films depict social stratification, gentrification, and infrastructure development - Evaluate the impact of transit-oriented development and public spaces on community well-being - Examine modern smart-city concepts, sustainable architecture, and inclusive urban design - Apply critical thinking to real-world urban policy challenges through cinematic case studies We start with the foundational definitions of urban theory and visual analysis before moving into thematic readings on housing, transportation, and utopian/dystopian urban futures. The course concludes with practical frameworks for applying these insights to contemporary city planning issues. This course is designed for beginners, aspiring urban planners, architects, film enthusiasts, and anyone curious about how cities shape human behavior. No prior experience in film studies or urban design is required.