The Global Neighborhoods of Downtown Manhattan

Semester and Year	SU 2012
Course Number	IDSEM-UG1403
Section	001
Instructor	René Francisco Poitevin
Days	Mon,Tue,Wed,Thu
Time	11:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Units	4.0
Level	U
Foundation Requirement

Notes/Restrictions

Three-week Intensive: May 21-June 8.

Description

This course explores the ‘global city’ of New York from the standpoint of three downtown Manhattan neighborhoods: the Lower East Side, Chinatown, and SoHo (South of Houston.) What are the historical and political roots of these communities? What are the social and global economic forces shaping their identity, from architecture and public space to labor markets and community organizing? How is gentrification—and the subprime housing crisis—transforming them? Through lectures, films, theory, literature, and walking-tours of each of these three neighborhoods, students will gain a firsthand understanding of the idiosyncrasies and struggles that make New York City such an unique place.

Course Type

Interdisciplinary Seminars (IDSEM-UG)