How To Think About Cities

Cities are complex with many dimensions of life playing out and conflicting across their landscapes. Urban policy makers and analysts often attempt to "cut through the noise" by emphasizing a dominant lens, but this approach is misleading and unjust. How to Think About Cities argues for an explicitly hybrid perspective that shifts between different frames for making sense of cities, highlighting how any given stance opens up some lines of inquiry while closing off others. This mosaic view of the city is a welcome read for those in urban studies, geography, and social sciences.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 216 pages
Publication date: 16 December 2022
Publisher: Polity Press

Cities are vibrant, bustling hubs that teem with life and complexity. Within their intricate landscapes, a multitude of dimensions of existence intertwine and clash, encompassing political, cultural, economic, and social aspects. Urban policy makers and analysts often strive to navigate the cacophony of urban dissent by emphasizing a singular lens that purportedly captures the essence of the city. However, How to Think About Cities challenges this tendency, arguing that cities are multifaceted entities that evoke different interpretations and meanings for diverse individuals and communities.

This book delves into the diverse ways of perceiving the functions and landscapes of cities as place frames, emphasizing the ongoing negotiation process to determine which frames best elucidate the city as a place-making entity. Authors Martin and Pierce advocate for a hybrid perspective that shifts between multiple frames, recognizing that each stance offers unique insights while simultaneously limiting others. By viewing cities as sites of contested perspectives, the book promotes a synthetic approach to urban analysis that emphasizes diversity and political potential.

This mosaic view of the city is a valuable resource for scholars and researchers in urban studies, geography, and social sciences who seek to explore the multifaceted tapestry of urban life. It encourages a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics that shape cities, fostering a more nuanced and inclusive approach to urban planning and policy.

Weight: 334g
Dimension: 219 x 138 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781509536191