Histories of American Cities

This course surveys urbanism in the U.S. from the colonial era to the present. During these years, industrialization, urbanization, and mass migrations, all fueled by an expanding market economy, transformed the built environment. Students learn about ambitious urban plans, exceptional architects, and iconic buildings, but also about everyday spaces, such as shopping malls, suburbs, and highways. Questions about race, gender, inequality, and militarism as they relate to urban space are explored. Students unpack the meaning of terms such as Modernism, democracy, and American and consider them in a global context, especially the geopolitical relationship between North and South America. They also engage topics in critical preservation, such as ecological conservation and curatorial practices.