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In connection with an ongoing American Studies research project in the University Alliance Ruhr, the seminar will study urban "scripts" - the term we use to designate both the self-descriptions employed by cities in their branding efforts and the recipes or blueprints for urban development - and particularly the ways in which such scripts globally "travel", both within and between regions such as North America, Europe and East Asia. Guiding principles such as “creative”, “sustainable", or “socially inclusive” urban development can each be seen as "scripts" that are associated with particular narratives, images, figures of speech and thought. Such scripts can be generic as well as culturally specific, but they frequently travel without being sufficiently adapted to specific cultural contexts. In the seminar, we will both discuss a number of theoretical texts on the notion of scripts and conduct our own research projects on specific scripts and and the way they have travelled. A reader containing an initial selection of texts and materials will be available in the copyshop Reckhammerweg from early February onwards. Participants are expected to have read at least the texts marked with an (x) for the first session. Everyone who has read these texts by the first session is guaranteed a place! |
