Title: Toward an urban cultural studies : Henri Lefebvre and the humanities /
Authors: Fraser, Benjamin
Year: 2015
Subjects: Lefebvre, Henri,; Lefebvre, Henri,; Sociology, Urban.; Culture; City and town life; City and town life; Culture; Sociology, Urban.
Abstract: Toward an Urban Cultural Studies is a call for a new interdisciplinary area of research and teaching. Blending Urban Studies and Cultural Studies, this book grounds readers in the extensive theory of the prolific French philosopher Henri Lefebvre. Appropriate for both beginners and specialists, the first half of this book builds from a general introduction to Lefebvre and his methodological contribution toward a focus on the concept of urban alienation and his underexplored theory of the work of art. The second half merges Lefebvrian urban thought with literary studies, film studies and popular music studies, successively, before turning to the videogame and the digital humanities. Benjamin Fraser's approach consistently emphasizes the interrelationship between cities, culture, and capital.
Contents: Why urban cultural studies? Why Henri Lefebvre? -- Henri Lefebvre's recalibrated Marxism : urban alienation and cultural studies -- The work (of art) : putting art at the service of the urban -- The urban dominant : everyday life and the city in textual criticism -- The iconic-indexical city : visions of place in urban films -- Listening to urban rhythms : soundscapes in popular music -- Representing digital spaces : videogames and the digital humanities.