Toward an Urban Cultural Studies: Henri Lefebvre and the Humanities (Hispanic Urban Studies)

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. Cover 1 Title 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Contents 8 Acknowledgments 10 Introduction 12 Part I Theoretical Ground 28 Chapter 1 Why Urban Cultural Studies? Why Henri Lefebvre? 29 Chapter 2 Urban Alienation and Cultural Studies: Henri Lefebvre鈥檚 Recalibrated Marxism 52 Chapter 3 The Work (of Art): Putting Art at the Service of the Urban 77 Part II Textual Variations 100 Chapter 4 The Urban Dominant: Everyday Life and the City in Textual Criticism 101 Chapter 5 The Iconic-Indexical City: Visions of Place in Urban Films 127 Chapter 6 Listening to Urban Rhythms: Soundscapes in Popular Music 149 Chapter 7 Representing Digital Spaces: Videogames and the Digital Humanities 174 Conclusion 200 Notes 202 References 249 Index 272 Front Matter....Pages i-x Introduction....Pages 1-16 Front Matter....Pages 17-17 Why Urban Cultural Studies? Why Henri Lefebvre?....Pages 19-41 Urban Alienation and Cultural Studies: Henri Lefebvre’s Recalibrated Marxism....Pages 43-67 The Work (of Art): Putting Art at the Service of the Urban....Pages 69-91 Front Matter....Pages 93-93 The Urban Dominant: Everyday Life and the City in Textual Criticism....Pages 95-120 The Iconic-Indexical City: Visions of Place in Urban Films....Pages 121-142 Listening to Urban Rhythms: Soundscapes in Popular Music....Pages 143-167 Representing Digital Spaces: Videogames and the Digital Humanities....Pages 169-194 Conclusion....Pages 195-196 Back Matter....Pages 197-277