Urban Culture Asia

This course will explore the trends and shifts within urban space in Asia. We will look at architecture, public monuments, traffic, road design, and public space. We will survey how urban landscapes in Asia have changed over the years, particularly in relation to colonial histories. We will also examine urban cultures through music, dance and the arts. How does living in an urban space affect its habitants, and how do urbanites express their identities as part of an urban environment? In addition to a final exam, students will write a critical essay that interrogates a particular aspect within urban culture in Asia.