Inert Cities
Globalization, Mobility and Suspension in Visual Culture
Published on 1. October 2014
Book
Paperback/Softback
256 pages
978-1-78076-973-8 (ISBN)
Description
We usually associate contemporary urban life with movement and speed. But what about those instances when the forms of mobility associated with globalized cities - the flow of capital, people, labor and information - freeze, or decelerate? How can we assess the value of interruption in a city? What does valuing stillness mean in regards to the forward march of globalization? When does inertia presage decay - and when does it promise immanence and rebirth? Bringing together original contributions by international specialists from the fields of architecture, photography, film, sociology and cultural analysis, this cutting-edge book considers the poetics and politics of inertia in cities ranging from Amsterdam, Berlin, Beirut and Paris, to Beijing, New York, Sydney and Tokyo. Chapters explore what happens when photography, film, mixed media works, architecture and design intervene in public spaces and urban communities to disrupt speed and growth, both intellectually and/or practically; and question the degree to which mobility is aspirational or imaginary, absolute or transient. Together, they encourage a re-assessment of what it means to be urban in an unevenly globalizing world, to live in cities built around mythologies of perpetual progress.
Reviews / Votes
'This thoughtful and richly illustrated collection is edited by two of today's foremost scholars of the visual culture of the city. It offers a novel re-visioning of the city - and - an arresting range of urban visual expression, the relevance of which cannot, and should not, be ignored.' Jane M. Jacobs, Director, Division of Social Science, Yale-NUS College 'Inert Cities explores the rich diversity and importance of stillness, slowness and deceleration in our urban spaces and art. Filled with unexpected events and ideas, this is a very timely and highly original publication.' Iain Borden, Professor of Architecture and Urban Culture, Bartlett School of Architecture, University College LondonMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Illustrations
49 bw integrated
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Weight
406 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78076-973-8 (9781780769738)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Stephanie Hemelryk Donald | Christoph Lindner
Inert Cities
Globalization, Mobility and Suspension in Visual Culture
E-Book
10/2014
I.B. Tauris
€28.49
Available for download
Stephanie Hemelryk Donald | Christoph Lindner
Inert Cities
Globalization, Mobility and Suspension in Visual Culture
E-Book
10/2014
1st Edition
I.B. Tauris
€28.49
Available for download
Persons
Stephanie Hemelryk Donald is Australian Research Council Future Fellow and Professor of Comparative Film and Cultural Studies at the University of New South Wales. Christoph Lindner is Professor of Media and Culture and Director of Amsterdam School for Cultural Analysis at the University of Amsterdam. He is a founding member of the Amsterdam Centre for Globalization Studies, the Netherlands.
Content
1. Introduction: Globalization and Interruption
Stephanie Hemelryk Donald (UNSW) and Christoph Lindner (University of
Amsterdam)
PART 1 - STILLNESS
2. Urban Photography as Interruption
Shirley Jordan (Queen Mary, University of London)
3. 'At the still point of the turning world': The Paradox of the Urban Portrait
Hugh Campbell (University College Dublin)
4. Parkour and the Stilled Image
Bill Marshall (University of London)
5. Holding Patterns: Affirming Stillness for Commuting Subjects
David Bissell (Australian National University)
PART 2 - DECELERATION
6. Viennese Inertia: Deceleration and Local Identity Construction
Heide Kunzelmann (University of London) and Elisabeth Mayerhofer (Vienna)
7. Decelerating Global Amsterdam: Amnesiac Urbanism and Architectures of Immobility
5
Christoph Lindner (University of Amsterdam)
8. Inertia and the Everyday during the Seige of Beirut
Claire Launchbury (University of Leeds)
PART 3 - SLOW MOTION
9. Children and the Global City: Disguising Decay in Chinese and European Film
Stephanie Hemelryk Donald (University of New South Wales)
10. Intermedia, Scale, and Postmodern Lisbon
Lucia Nagib (University of Leeds)
11. Slow Motion Pictures: Casting Inertia in Contemporary Berlin Films
Andrew Webber (University of Cambridge)
12. Afterword
Laura Mulvey (Birkbeck, University of London)
Stephanie Hemelryk Donald (UNSW) and Christoph Lindner (University of
Amsterdam)
PART 1 - STILLNESS
2. Urban Photography as Interruption
Shirley Jordan (Queen Mary, University of London)
3. 'At the still point of the turning world': The Paradox of the Urban Portrait
Hugh Campbell (University College Dublin)
4. Parkour and the Stilled Image
Bill Marshall (University of London)
5. Holding Patterns: Affirming Stillness for Commuting Subjects
David Bissell (Australian National University)
PART 2 - DECELERATION
6. Viennese Inertia: Deceleration and Local Identity Construction
Heide Kunzelmann (University of London) and Elisabeth Mayerhofer (Vienna)
7. Decelerating Global Amsterdam: Amnesiac Urbanism and Architectures of Immobility
5
Christoph Lindner (University of Amsterdam)
8. Inertia and the Everyday during the Seige of Beirut
Claire Launchbury (University of Leeds)
PART 3 - SLOW MOTION
9. Children and the Global City: Disguising Decay in Chinese and European Film
Stephanie Hemelryk Donald (University of New South Wales)
10. Intermedia, Scale, and Postmodern Lisbon
Lucia Nagib (University of Leeds)
11. Slow Motion Pictures: Casting Inertia in Contemporary Berlin Films
Andrew Webber (University of Cambridge)
12. Afterword
Laura Mulvey (Birkbeck, University of London)