Seminar description
Cities have been described as places of desire and places of fear. They pulse with life, bringing together people from different class, gender, and ethnic backgrounds, simultaneously giving rise to a sense of freedom and oppression, a sense of belonging and alienation.
This course will explore the city as a physical reality that shapes our lives, but is also a projection of our deepest imaginings. Through readings of philosophical and sociological texts by influential theorists of the city, we will consider various ancient and modern conceptions of urban space and subjectivity. Alongside these theoretical readings, we will also examine literary and filmic representations of the city as a space of desire, memory and power.
All readings and class discussions are in English.
Get to know your professor
Hang-Sun Kim
You can call me…
Prof. / Dr. Kim
For my undergraduate degree…
I studied French and German Languages & Literatures.
My hometown is…
Toronto, ON
I am surprisingly good at…
Remembering faces
Fun fact:
I come from a polyglot family, where it’s not unusual to hear three different languages in one sentence.
A fun fact about my field of study is…
The idea of self-cultivation through education originates in the German tradition of Bildung.
In a sentence, what you’ll learn in my course:
To look at your urban environment with fresh eyes and recognize the subtle features that make it more or less livable.
My first-year seminar in a few words:
- thought provoking
- discover the area you inhabit
One of my favourite things about teaching first-year students is…
Their openness and enthusiasm for learning.
My best advice for those starting their first year…
Stay curious, keep an open mind, and take as many courses as you can consider outside your field.
NAME: Chelsea Rochman.