This seminar takes a close look at six iconic yet profoundly distinct cities: Istanbul, Mexico City, Moscow, New York, Nusantara (Indonesia’s nascent capital), and Paris. Moving beyond a chronological account, we explore how power, conflict, and ever-evolving approaches to urban design are etched into their material and symbolic fabric. Each of these cities is not only a palimpsest but also a living argument for specific trajectories and forms of urban life. We investigate how competing visions—imperial ambitions, nationalist projects, and capitalist forces—clash and coalesce to shape urban space. For instance, how do the Byzantine, Ottoman, and Republican layers of Istanbul—a city straddling continents and empires—interact, collide, and become selectively remembered or erased in the modern metropolis? Meanwhile, Nusantara presents a radical contemporary experiment: can a planned capital consciously avoid the pitfalls of congestion, inequality, and environmental degradation that plague Jakarta? What historical lessons from other planned cities apply, and what unforeseen social dynamics might emerge? We use a diverse range of sources—including literature, media, visual representations, and primary documents from politicians, urban planners, and residents—to investigate these questions.
Enrollment limited to first-year students. Students enroll concurrently with HUMS 0299, Six Global Perspectives Lab.