Fleeing the City : Studies in the Culture and Politics of Antiurbanism

This collection of essays explores the phenomenon of antiurbanism: the antipathy, fear, and hatred of the city. Antiurbanism has been a pervasive counter-discourse to modernity and urbanization especially since the beginning of industrialism and the dawning of modern life. Most of the attention on modernity has been focused on urbanization and its consequences. But as the essays collected here demonstrate, antiurbanism is an equally important reality as it can be seen as playing a crucial role in cultural identity, in the formation of the self within the context of modernity, as well as in the root of many forms of conservative politics and cultural movements. Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 6 List of Figures......Page 8 List of Tables......Page 10 Introduction......Page 12 Part 1 Theorizing Antiurbanism......Page 18 One: What is Antiurbanism? A Theoretical Perspective......Page 20 Two: Antiurbanism in the United States, England, and China......Page 46 Three: The Origins of Antiurbanism......Page 64 Part 2 Antiurbanism in History and Literature......Page 80 Four: Pastoral Ideals and City Troubles......Page 82 Five: Boys in the City: Homoerotic Desire and the Urban Refuge in Early Twentieth-Century Germany......Page 102 Six: Antiurbanism, New York, and the Early Twentieth-Century American National Imagination......Page 122 Part 3 Antiurbanism in Society and Politics......Page 148 Seven: Imagining the Urban Poor: Poverty and the Fear of Cities......Page 150 Eight: Americans, Urbanism, and Sprawl: An Exploration of Living Preferences......Page 172 Nine: Fundamentalism and Antiurbanism: The Frontier Myth, the Christian Nation, and the Heartland......Page 220 Ten: Against Safety, Against Security: Reinvigorating Urban Life......Page 242 List of Contributors......Page 260 C......Page 264 M......Page 265 U......Page 266 Z......Page 267 These Essays Explore The Phenomenon Of Antiurbanism: The Antipathy And Fear Of The City. Antiurbanism Has Been A Pervasive Counter-discourse To Modernity And Urbanization Especially Since The Beginning Of Industrialism And The Dawning Of Modern Life. What Is Antiurbanism? A Theoretical Perspective / Michael J. Thompson -- Antiurbanism In The United States, England, And China / Robert A. Beauregard -- The Origins Of Antiurbanism / James A. Clapp -- Pastoral Ideals And City Troubles / Leo Marx -- Boys In The City : Homoerotic Desire And The Urban Refuge In Early Twentieth-century Germany / Elena Mancini -- Antiurbanism, New York, And The Early Twentieth-century American National Imagination / Angela M. Blake -- Imagining The Urban Poor : Poverty And The Fear Of Cities / Roger A. Salerno -- Americans, Urbanism, And Sprawl : An Exploration Of Living Preferences / Emily Talen -- Fundamentalism And Antiurbanism : The Frontier Myth, The Christian Nation, And The Heartland / Eduardo Mendieta -- Against Safety, Against Security : Reinvigorating Urban Life / Don Mitchell. Edited By Michael J. Thompson. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This collection of essays explores the phenomenon of antiurbanism: the antipathy and fear of the city. This collection of essays explores the phenomenon of antiurbanism: the antipathy and fear of the city