Urban Studies and Planning: Analyzing the City in Film

Films do more than entertain; they serve as powerful historical records and critiques of our urban environments. This course introduces you to the intersection of urban studies, planning, and cinema, helping you read the built environment through a cinematic lens. You will learn to analyze how cities are portrayed on screen and how these representations reflect real-world planning challenges, social stratification, and architectural movements. By the end of this course, you will be able to critically evaluate urban spaces, identify key planning concepts in cinematic narratives, and apply these insights to modern urban design challenges. What you'll learn: Understand the foundational concepts of urban planning and spatial analysis through cinema; Analyze how film portrays gentrification, public housing, and urban decay; Evaluate the relationship between architectural design and social structures on screen; Identify key historical shifts in urban development from the industrial era to modern smart cities; Apply critical thinking to real-world planning scenarios inspired by cinematic case studies. The course begins with foundational definitions of urban theory and cinema studies before moving into thematic readings of specific urban landscapes and modern planning paradigms. This course is designed for absolute beginners, aspiring urban planners, and film enthusiasts, with no prior background in architecture or planning required. Start exploring the hidden narratives of our cities today.