Visions of the City: Utopianism, Power and Politics in Twentieth Century UrbanismVisions of the City is a dramatic history of utopian urbanism in the twentieth century. It explores radical demands for new spaces and ways of living, and considers their effects on planning, architecture and struggles to shape urban landscapes. The author critically examines influential utopian approaches to urbanism in western Europe associated with such figures as Ebenezer Howard and Le Corbusier, uncovering the political interests, desires and anxieties that lay behind their ideal cities. He also investigates avant-garde perspectives from the time that challenged these conceptions of cities, especially from within surrealism. At the heart of this richly illustrated book is an encounter with the explosive ideas of the situationists. Tracing the subversive practices of this avant-garde group and its associates from their explorations of Paris during the 1950s to their alternative visions based on nomadic life and play, David Pinder convincingly explains the significance of their revolutionary attempts to transform urban spaces and everyday life. He addresses in particular Constant's New Babylon, finding within his proposals a still powerful provocation to imagine cities otherwise. The book not only recovers vital moments from past hopes and dreams of modern urbanism. It also contests current claims about the 'end of utopia', arguing that reconsidering earlier projects can play a critical role in developing utopian perspectives today. Through the study of utopian visions, it aims to rekindle elements of utopianism itself. A superb critical exploration of the underside of utopian thought over the last hundred years and its continuing relevance in the here and now for thinking about possible urban worlds. The treatment of the Situationists and their milieu is a revelation. David Harvey, Distinguished Professor of Anthropology, City University of New York Graduate School |
Contents
RESTORATIVE UTOPIAS | |
MODERNIST CALLS TO ORDER | |
DREAMS OF CITIES AND MONSTERS | |
SITUATIONIST ADVENTURES | |
In quest of new spaces | |
LIFE WILL RESIDE IN POETRY | |
PARTISANS OF POSSIBILITIES | |
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Visions of the City: Utopianism, Power and Politics in Twentieth Century ... David Pinder Limited preview - 2013 |
Common terms and phrases
ambiences André Breton Andreotti and Costa Anthology architects architecture argued artistic Asger Jorn associated avant-garde Babylon Bataille Bauhaus Breton Cambridge capitalist century chapter characterised Chtcheglov City of Tomorrow Cobra conceptions connected Constant context Corbusier Corbusier's creative critical critique cultural Dérive desire détournement developed discussed dominant dreams earlier Ebenezer Howard emphasised essay everyday explore figure future Gallizio garden city garden city movement geography Guy Debord Henri Lefebvre Ibid ideal ideas imagination interest Ivan Chtcheglov Knabb Le Corbusier letterists London manifesto Mark Wigley McDonough Michèle Bernstein modern movement modernist organisation originally published painting Paris perspectives political possibilities Potlatch present projects psychogeographical published in French Radiant City radical relation reprinted in Potlatch revolution revolutionary significance Situationist International social space society spectacle suggested Surrealism surrealists theme Theory trans transformation unitary urbanism urban space utopian utopian spaces utopian thought utopian visions Wigley writings