Topic 2: Urbanism as a way of American life

Urbanism as a way of American life

American tradition

Today, we will explore American urban sociology by focusing on the early Chicago School scholars, such as Robert Park and Louis Wirth.

Read this short chapter by Wirth.

• • • Louis Wirth, “Urbanism as a Way of Life” in  The City Reader, Pages 96-104
      • • This chapter is available at City Tech’s library. Please make sure you have your library barcode to be activated.
        •  Click this link  The City Reader. You will need CUNYFirst credentials. If the link does not directly bring you to the chapter, please go to page 96.

When you read it, think about how Wirth understood urbanism as a distinct way of life.

• • Key words: urbanism (numbers of population, density of settlement, and heterogeneity of inhabitants and group life)

Reading Jane Jacobs

Today, we will learn about Jane Jacobs’ battle with Robert Moses.

Watch this documentary below: ” Jane Jacobs vs Robert Moses: Urban Fight of the Century”

• • Read: Jane Jacobs. “The Uses of Sidewalks: Safety,” in The City Reader, Pages 105-109
    • • This chapter is available at City Tech’s library.
      • Jane Jacob’s “The Uses of Sidewalks: safety” in The City Reader is available at City Tech’s library.
      • Click this link  The City Reader and go to Page 105.
      • While reading it, think about:
        1. Who and what makes the neighborhood/city safe
        2. How we can analyze a contemporary city by using Jacobs’ analysis?

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