The City in Film: Introduction to Urban Studies through Cinema

How do films capture the soul, structure, and struggles of our cities? Cinema does more than document urban life; it actively shapes how we design, perceive, and live in metropolitan areas. This course offers a foundational exploration of urban studies and planning through the lens of global cinema, helping you read the built environment in a whole new way. You will transition from a passive viewer to an active urban analyst, learning to decode architectural choices, spatial politics, and social structures represented on screen. What you'll learn: - Understand foundational urban planning concepts and how they are depicted in narrative film. - Analyze the relationship between cinematic space, architecture, and real-world urban design. - Examine how films represent social inequality, gentrification, and suburbanization. - Apply critical thinking to evaluate how city planning affects communities and human behavior. - Explore modern urban challenges, including sustainable development and smart city technologies, through visual storytelling. This course begins with core definitions of urban theory and cinema studies before diving into thematic readings and film analyses that span historical eras and diverse global cities. It is designed entirely for beginners with no prior background in urban planning, architecture, or film analysis. Start reading today to discover how the stories we tell on screen reflect the cities we build in reality.