Urban Studies through Cinema: Analyzing the City in Film

Cities are not just backdrops in movies; they are active characters that shape narratives, reflect social struggles, and project future realities. This text-based course guides you through the intersection of urban planning and cinema history, helping you decode how films depict urban development, social stratification, and architectural change. You will learn to analyze the representation of metropolitan spaces across different cinematic eras, understand foundational urban studies concepts like gentrification and public space through written film analysis, examine how modern smart cities and urban sustainability are projected in contemporary cinema, and deconstruct the social and cultural layers of cinematic cities. The course begins with core urban planning definitions and film analysis techniques before moving to deep readings of classic and modern urban films. Designed for beginners in film studies, urban planning, or cultural geography, this course requires no prior background. Start reading today to discover how the silver screen reconstructs our urban world.