Recreating the Metropolis

Recreating the Metropolis

The topography of Berlin can be examined as a microcosm of German history and memory. The presences and absences of the German monarchy, the Weimar Republic, the National Socialist dictatorship, the so-called Cold War division (capitalist West versus socialist East), and finally, the reunified Federal Republic all mark the urban fabric of Berlin. Its urban context has been written, erased and rewritten by these ruptures and continuities. As a laboratory of modern urban development, Berlin has affected political, socio-economic, cultural and technological trends of the last two hundred years.
The course will devote time to important urban issues, both historical and actual: the relationship of municipal and state government in city planning; the impact of new technology on urban development; the city as an imperial or (post-) colonial power center; demographic challenges (shrinking versus expanding cities); the emergence of specific urban movements (Garden City, modernism, postmodernism, "Critical Reconstruction," “Right to the City”); contrasting patterns of racism, poverty, and immigration; and the impact of global warming.
Different images and maps will be presented throughout the lectures to familiarize the students with particular districts and stories of the city. Additionally, the film screenings and related discussions aim to solidify the social imaginations of students on the historical and contemporary narratives of the German capital. Moreover, walking tours and site-specific excursions will portray the ruptures and continuities of Berlin. Last but not least, small projects relying on the movies and discussions intent to encourage the students to discover different parts of the city and to reflect on the daily urban practices.

Course leader

Barış Ülker received his PhD in Sociology and Social Anthropology from the Central European University in 2012. He was a visiting scholar at the Humboldt University, Howard University and Columbia University throughout his studies.

Course aim

Different images and maps will be presented throughout the lectures to familiarize the students with particular districts and stories of the city. Additionally, the film screenings and related discussions aim to solidify the social imaginations of students on the historical and contemporary narratives of the German capital. Moreover, walking tours and site-specific excursions will portray the ruptures and continuities of Berlin. Last but not least, small projects relying on the movies and discussions intent to encourage the students to discover different parts of the city and to reflect on the daily urban practices.