HHIS-393: Contemporary Place-Making

What defines a place, and how have our notions of place changed and evolved during the modern and postmodern eras? In this course, we'll examine the cultural, social, political, and economic forces at play in the design of spatial experiences. Beginning with industrialism and the start of the modern age, we'll explore how ideas about the nature of everyday life begin to change paradigms of thought in art, politics, and philosophy; eventually altering both the practice and products of design. Following this thread through to postmodernism, we will examine the ways these shifting ideas continue to develop, and manifest in contemporary design work, paying particular attention to the design elements of place; including: commercial, domestic, civic and recreational spaces. Design as a cultural product, will serve as a framework to investigate and discuss the evolution of place in multiple contexts as experienced by many users. In addition to design examples, we will look at precedents in art, architecture, film and literature. Readings will consist of key theoretical texts of the period. As we unpack the meanings of place, we will develop a critical lens through which we can better analyze and apply to our own work.