For the first time, more human beings today live in cities than in villages worldwide, and urban populations are expected to only grow. This course will explore the social and cultural dimensions of the modern urban form by examining how cities have been written about in the past and how to write about cities in the future. Students will read classic pieces of writing on modern cities as well as new works that break away from old forms and erase the divisions between such genres as cultural criticism, ethnography, and reportage. They will learn how to write field notes, do interviews, use archival sources, and structure a long-form essay.
If the course fills, students may email Margo Bresnen, Journalism Program Manager, at mbresnen@princeton.edu to be put on a waitlist. Please include a paragraph explaining your interest in the course.
