Global Urban Humanities

What does it mean for a human body to experience a city? How do the everyday performances of bodies of different races, genders, and identities operate in the context of urban built form? What is the role of our five senses and emotions in creating a legible city? How are cities embodied in literary texts? How do we interpret the material, archaeological traces left behind by human bodies that are still with us? How can we use our bodies as tools for investigating urban form and experience?
In this wide-ranging colloquium centered loosely on themes of embodiment, speakers from a variety of disciplines will offer perspectives on urban form and experience that are rooted in diverse and sometimes hybrid methodologies.
An important goal of the colloquium is to provide a gathering place where people from different disciplines can learn about each other’s work on global cities. Visitors including artists and practitioners from outside the campus will also contribute their experiments with bodies in urban space.
The colloquium is part of the Global Urban Humanities Initiative, a joint project of the Arts & Humanities Division and the College of Environmental Design. The Initiative, funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, supports interdisciplinary courses, symposia, exhibits and publications.
The course is open to graduate students and advanced undergraduates by approval of the instructor. All lectures are open to the campus and broader community, and drop-in visitors are encouraged.
This colloquium is one of three required courses for the upcoming graduate certificate in Global Urban Humanities. Applications for the certificate are expected to be available in Spring 2017, and students taking this course can count it toward a future certificate.