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City Futures (ABPL20045)
Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5Not available in 2019
Overview
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What is the future of the polis? Exploration of past and present conditions of urban ordering and development inform understanding of 21st century challenges for cities and urban societies. This subject critically examines imagined city futures from historical and contemporary perspectives, incorporating concepts and approaches from utopian literature, critical urban theory, popular media and technology and philosophy to explore how the ‘city’ is understood as a physical realm, a social realm, and an imagined realm. Students will be able to speculate upon the future of the polis, and their place in shaping or being shaped by the urban condition. The subject also encourages students to consider radical approaches to city shaping and tangible strategies for creating more utopian cities.
Intended learning outcomes
Upon completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- Critically analyse historical and contemporary views of cities and civilization as utopian or dystopian;
- Explore cultural, environmental, economic, social, and political contexts of urbanism historically, today, and in the future city;
- Identify the forces that influence the way cities are imagined historically and today, and how these imaginations are articulated and/or negotiated;
- Critically analyse the role of utopia today in terms of how it is imagined and applied, and what factors obstruct the realisation of utopian ideals if such ideals are relevant;
- Suggest ways that the city could be changed, influenced or recreated to embed value-laden ideas about the ‘good city.’
Generic skills
Upon completion of this subject, students should have enhanced their skills in:
- Critical reading and analysis of literature and theory;
- Critical analysis of social, cultural and political contexts;
- Development of logical arguments;
- Written and verbal communication of an academic standard;
- Report-writing skills and experience in proposing design or policy interventions that reflect values and contexts.
Last updated: 19 March 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Completion of 100 points of first and/ or second year subjects including at least 50 points at first year level from approved subjects in your home faculty.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 19 March 2024
Assessment
Additional details
- Individual class paper equivalent to 1000 words due week 5 (25%)
- Individual weekly mind mapping exercise work book equivalent to 1500 words due week 10 (35%)
- Group presentation (15 minutes) due week 11 or 12 (10%)
- Group report equivalent to 5,000 words (1200 each) due first week of examination period (30%)
Last updated: 19 March 2024
Dates & times
Not available in 2019
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 19 March 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
There is no prescribed texts. Prescribed and recommended weekly readings and other digital resources will be available on the LMS.
- Subject notes
Bachelor of Environments- Urban Design and Planning major (BE-UDPL) students who are interested in ABPL20045, may enroll in PLAN30001 Planning Scenario and Policy Workshop. Please check PLAN30001 for eligibility and requirements
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Informal specialisation Environments Discipline subjects Major Urban Design and Planning - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 19 March 2024