This introductory general education course explores the field of urban humanities before the backdrop of the Nordic model of sustainability through a case study of the city of Copenhagen. Bridging the traditional divisions between urban and rural, historic Copenhagen, which means “merchant’s harbor,” has always been an intersectional space for commercial but also transcultural exchanges. The sense or meaning of space and place in Copenhagen is forever under the negotiation of culture and identity. The bicycle and the windmill are common symbols of the city’s commitment to mobility, accessibility, sustainability, carbon consciousness and pragmatic urban planning. At its core, our case study of Copenhagen as a sustainable urban space will ask to what extent does urban design and planning center the human being versus other stakeholders? We will investigate how the city’s human-centered design, planning and general sustainability are reflected in Scandinavian cultural traditions in literature, history, film, television, architecture, design, urban planning, and beyond. Upon successful completion of this course, students will satisfy a General Education requirement in Literary and Cultural Analysis in the Arts and Humanities Foundation Area.
MW 12:30-1:45 Pub Aff 2317