166-255 Sociology of Urban Experience

Note

Available as 166-355 at 3rd-year level.

Credit Points

Coordinator

Prerequisites

Normally, 25 points of first-year Sociology.

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

This subject introduces sociological explorations of social practice, relationship and identity in the urban context. Grounded in sociological analyses of urban experience (from Weber, the Chicago School to contemporary urban sociology), key dimensions explored are the sociology of neighbourhood (with reference to gender and community studies), the suburban experience, forms of spatial practice from graffiti and gangs, modes of local mobilisation of resources from ethnic networks to urban social movements, forms of constituting public spaces, young people and children's experience of place, and the contemporary experience of urban poverty. The subject examines a number of case studies, as well as engaging with the urban sociology emerging in Latin America and Asia. The subject involves a team-based fieldwork exercise.

Assessment

Literature review, essay and fieldwork report totalling no more than 5,000 words

Prescribed Texts

• L. Bryson, An Australian newtown: life and leadership in a working-class suburb. Ringwood: Penguin (1972).
• R. Sennett, The Conscience of the Eye: the design and social life of cities. 1990.
• M. Auge, Non-places. Verso, London, 1995.
• M. Berman, All that is solid melts into air. N.Y.: Viking Penguin, 1988.