EURO202 The Culture of the European City

Overview

The study of twentieth-century literary and film texts in the context of contemporary urban Europe, with particular reference to Paris, Prague, Berlin, Madrid, St. Petersburg and Bucharest.

The study of twentieth-century literary, film and performance texts in the context of contemporary urban Europe, with particular reference to Paris, Marseille, Madrid and Barcelona. Will your career in cultural studies, media, international law, education, global commerce, international languages, literary studies or history involve Europe and its many cultures or even take you to study there? EURO202 The Culture of the European City opens the way to an understanding of the complexity of selected European-city cultures within their varied social, political and historical contexts.

About this paper

Prerequisite

36 points at 100-level or above

Restriction

COML 201, EURO 302

Schedule C

Arts and Music

Eligibility

Suitable for all students with an interest in major European cities and their literary, intellectual, visual art and screen cultures. All material is taught in English.

Contact

languages@otago.ac.nz

Teaching staff

Dr Moira Fortin Cornejo

Dr Adelso Yanez

Associate Professor Antonie Alm

Paper Structure

This paper takes students on a journey through four iconic European cities: Paris, Madrid, Marseille and Barcelona, drawing on a wide range of materials, including literary texts, films, street performances and art, to analyse how these cities shape and are shaped by imagination, cultural influences and social interactions. Students will also be introduced to the concepts of psychogeography and dérive as tools for interpreting and navigating urban spaces.

The paper consists of two one-hour lectures and one tutorial per week over 13 weeks. Weeks 2-8 will be devoted to an in-depth analysis of Paris and Madrid, focusing on themes such as love, connection, diversity and the role of cities as fictional characters. Weeks 9-12 shift the focus to Marseille and Barcelona, exploring themes such as street performance, art and their impact on the urban experience. The first and last weeks of the course provide an introduction to key concepts and an opportunity to reflect on the insights gained throughout the semester.

Textbooks

The course readings and other supporting materials are available online in Blackboard and/or through the library. You may occasionally wish to purchase one or the other text.

Graduate Attributes Emphasised

Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Lifelong learning, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Information literacy, Research.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.

Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this paper will gain:

1. A capacity to relate examples of European urban experience with literary texts, the society of spectacle, and intellectual cinematographic culture since the 20th Century.
2. An understanding of the role of literary, film or other discourses regarding the relationship between European urban spaces and human experience since the 19th Century.
3. Competence in discussing how the European urban culture reflects and influences broader social, political, and cultural dynamics related to emotions and behaviors.
4. Develop writing skills for a nuanced analysis of the complexities proposed by Guy Debord's theory and the contradictions inherent in urban literary, theatre expression and screen culture.

Assessment details

1. Weekly reflective journal entries on course readings, discussions and personal urban experiences
2. Psychogeographic mapping project of a selected area in one of the cities studied
3. Analysis of a text, film or other media through the lens of psychogeography
4. Final creative project (e.g. short film, photo essay or multimedia presentation) exploring a specific aspect of the urban experience in one of the cities studied

Timetable