What connects us to a place (such as our hometown or the country we come from)? How might our experiences of spatial organization shape our notions of self, how we interact with others, and our sense of community? This seminar foregrounds the constructs of “place” and “space” in order to approach histories of architecture and the built environment through a critical and socially engaged lens. The goals of this interactive and discussion-based seminar are to 1) explore the history of philosophical thinking related to how humans experience designed spaces and the power of place in social, cultural, and political organization 2) provide students with tools to critically engage with the everyday places in which we live, work, and socialize. 

 

Each class meeting will consider a type of space, spatial relationship, and/or a specific place (such as the home, the shopping mall, the nation, the UNESCO heritage site) paired with weekly readings by authors that utilize concepts of space and place to consider issues including authorship, agency, class, race, and gender struggles.

 

Requirements for the seminar are to complete weekly readings, come to class ready to actively participate in discussion, and work on an independent final project. There is no final examination.

 

The language of the class is English.