ANTH 122. Urban Ethnographies

As key players in the global economy, cities are becoming the focus of a growing number of studies that show how urban life is shaped by the complex interplay of global, national, and local processes. In this class, we look at urban ethnographies (texts and films) through space and examine how the representation of the city has changed over time. These ethnographies are conducted in Western cities such as New York, London, and Paris as well as cities in other parts of the world such as Cairo, Casablanca, Bombay, São Paolo, and Shanghai. We read these ethnographies to (1) discuss different techniques and approaches used to study urban cultures and identities, (2) examine how the collection of data relates to anthropological theories and methods, and (3) explore how research in cities shapes the field of cultural anthropology. In our discussions, we also explore important urban problems such as poverty, gangs, violence, and homelessness.
Theory and methods course.
Social sciences.
2 credits.
Spring 2018. Ghannam.
Catalog chapter: Sociology and Anthropology
Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/sociology-anthropology

Access the class schedule to search for sections.