The conception of a city may appear to be overly abstract and beyond human intervention. Hence, Nottingham and Dublin are ideal sites in order to examine the creativity and invention necessary in urban development. They possess the mechanisms for human society, from the Viking period to the modern globally engaged metropolis where change happens. However, our cities are under threat. Economic, political and cultural shifts have meant that our cities are no longer the hives of activity they once held. Indeed, they are also sites of inequality and peril. The advent of the global pandemic in 2020 brought new challenges to urban living as we were confronted with the problem of what makes cities so dynamic: connectivity. To address the challenges we face, this module will explore the historical, literary, social and political character of the urban environments found in Nottingham and Dublin. Taking in a perspective that encompasses hundreds of years, drawing upon the examples of these cities the module is informed by the past, guided by the present and focused on the future of our cities. We will look at cities in all their complexity to understand these sites as ‘living places’ which require engagement and care. If we are to solve the major problems we face in the world today regarding sustainability and equality, we need to rethink our cities. This module will use an interdisciplinary approach to the urban environment and enable students to shape the places they live in.
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