Urban Studies Through Film: Focus on Community and Conflict

Many influential films offer complex insights into the challenges and triumphs of modern city life. This course equips you with the critical tools to deconstruct how cinema portrays urban planning, social conflicts, community structure, and cultural identity, transforming how you view both movies and cities. What you’ll learn: * Understand the foundational concepts of cinematic urbanism and spatial narrative analysis. * Analyze how films depict social stratification, community dynamics, and racial tensions within dense urban settings. * Identify and interpret common cinematic techniques used to represent architectural space and urban infrastructure. * Examine the historical relationship between urban planning decisions and their portrayal in contemporary cinema. * Apply critical theory to evaluate narratives of gentrification and displacement in modern film culture. We begin by defining key terms in film analysis and urban sociology, moving into practical exercises focused on dissecting film scenes and narrative structures to reveal underlying societal critiques. This course is designed for absolute beginners in both film studies and urban planning who want to develop strong critical analysis skills; no prior knowledge is required. Start reading today and change how you experience the city on screen.