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Cities are more important as cultural entities than their mere function as dormitories and industrial sites. Yet, the understanding of what makes a city 'alive' and appealing in cultural terms is still hotly contested - why are some cities so much more interesting, popular and successful than others? In this engaging discussion in the text City Life, Adrian Franklin takes the reader on a tour of contemporary western cities exploring their historical development and arguing that it is the transformative, ritual and performative qualities of successful cities that makes a difference. Here is a n

Contents: 1. Introduction: The importance of the quality of urban life -- 2. Contemporary analysis of quality of life -- 3. Quality of life and competitiveness -- 4. Quality of life and the economy -- 5. Demographics and quality of life -- 6. Urban attributes and quality of life -- 7. Urban amenities and quality of life -- 8. Looking forward -- Index.

"This book introduces readers to the anthropology of urban life in Africa, showing what ethnography can teach us about African city dwellers' own notions, practices and reflections. Social anthropologists have studied city life in Africa since the early twentieth century. Their works have addressed a number of questions that are relevant until today: What happens to rural people who move to the city? What kinds of livelihoods do they pursue? How does city life affect moralities and practices connected with gender roles, marriage, parenthood and intergenerational relations? In which social situations are ethnic and other collective identifications relevant? How do people make a home in the city? What forms of authority and leadership become relevant in urban governance? How do people talk about city life? This book asks what anthropologists have come to learn about Africans' views on city life. It provides a critical acclaim of ethnographies in English, French and German and elucidates anthropology's contribution to understanding city life in Africa. It highlights the significance of female, African and Diaspora scholars for an emerging urban anthropology of Africa. The chapters are organized according to everyday activities of city dwellers: moving, connecting, governing, working, dwelling and wayfinding. The book will be an essential read for students and researchers of social anthropology, African and urban studies, but also for professionals in research and development organizations, thinktanks and other institutions concerned with urban Africa"--

Cover -- Half Title -- Title -- Copyright -- Contents -- PART I: THE CITY OF TOMORROW (AND TODAY) -- 1 Futurecraft -- 2 Bits and Atoms -- 3 Wiki City -- PART II: METROPOLITAN INFORMATION FLOWS -- 4 Big (Urban) Data -- 5 Cyborg Society -- 6 Living Architecture -- PART III: SENSEABLE CITY -- 7 Mobility -- 8 Energy -- 9 Knowledge -- PART IV: LOOKING FORWARD -- 10 Hack the City -- 11 Epilogue -- Notes -- Acknowledgments -- Credits -- Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- Q -- R -- S -- T -- U -- V -- W -- Y -- Z

"This book introduces readers to the anthropology of urban life in Africa, showing what ethnography can teach us about African city dwellers' own notions, practices and reflections. Social anthropologists have studied city life in Africa since the early twentieth century. Their works have addressed a number of questions that are relevant until today: What happens to rural people who move to the city? What kinds of livelihoods do they pursue? How does city life affect moralities and practices connected with gender roles, marriage, parenthood and intergenerational relations? In which social situations are ethnic and other collective identifications relevant? How do people make a home in the city? What forms of authority and leadership become relevant in urban governance? How do people talk about city life? This book asks what anthropologists have come to learn about Africans' views on city life. It provides a critical acclaim of ethnographies in English, French and German and elucidates anthropology's contribution to understanding city life in Africa. It highlights the significance of female, African and Diaspora scholars for an emerging urban anthropology of Africa. The chapters are organized according to everyday activities of city dwellers: moving, connecting, governing, working, dwelling and wayfinding. The book will be an essential read for students and researchers of social anthropology, African and urban studies, but also for professionals in research and development organizations, thinktanks and other institutions concerned with urban Africa"--

The study of early medieval towns has frequently concentrated on urban beginnings, the search for broadly applicable definitions of urban characteristics and the chronological development of towns. Far less attention has been paid to the experience of living in towns.The thirteen chapters in this book bring together the current state of knowledge about Viking-Age towns (c. 800-1100) from both sides of the Irish Sea, focusing on everyday life in and around these emerging settlements. What was it really like to grow up, live, and die in these towns? What did people eat, what did they wear, and h

Remember when our cities and inner-cities weren't dominated by high-rise apartments? This book documents the changes that have come with the globalisation of the Australian city since the 1970s. It tells the story of the major economic, social, cultural and demographic changes that have come with opening up of Australia in those years, with a particular focus on the two biggest cities, Sydney and Melbourne, which have been transformed. But throughout it also looks at how these changes have played out in the smaller capitals and regional centres. How does one of the most urbanised, multicultural countries in the world see itself? This book challenges received ideas about Australia and how it presents itself to the world, and how in turn many Australians perceive and understand themselves. Rather than rehashing old stereotypes about mateship, the Bush or Anzac, this book places the globalised city and its residents at the heart of new understandings of twenty-first century Australia.