Frank Eckardt Livres

In today‘s discourse, culture is seen as related either to anthropology or the arts. As contemporary societies have changed their urban fabric, culture calls for an approach that goes beyond the dichotomy of the arts and the social. Can the cultural sphere provide a new understanding of the dynamics of urban life? By looking at a broad range of aspects of urban life and urban culture, this book provides insights into different disciplinary approaches to the relationship between city and culture. It is an attempt to find a contemporary way of research questions on what culture in cities means. The fundamental question is: how can culture be re-established as a liberating force for their citizens and how can planning and academics contribute to this process? However, the question on how culture can either be contributing or limiting individual lives is never to be a completely answered question. Culture remains diverse. "Im aktuellen Diskurs wird „Kultur“ entweder als Teil der Anthropologie oder als Teil der Kunst betrachtet. Im Hinblick auf den Wandel städtischer Strukturen in gegenwärtigen Gesellschaften legt der Begriff der Kultur ein Verständnis nahe, das die Trennung von Kunst und Sozialem hinter sich lässt. Kann das kulturelle System ein neues Verständnis der Dynamik urbaner Lebenswelten liefern? Unter Berücksichtigung eines breiten Spektrums an Aspekten urbanen Lebens und urbaner Kultur gibt dieses Buch einen disziplinen-übergreifenden Einblick in die Beziehung von Stadt und Kultur. Es ist ein Versuch, mittels eines zeitgemäßen Forschungsansatzes die Frage zu erörtern, was Kultur in Städten bedeuten kann. Die zentrale Frage lautet: Wie kann Kultur als freiheitliches Moment der Bürger wiedergewonnen werden, und wie können Stadtplanung und Wissenschaften an diesem Prozess teilhaben? Eine endgültige und eindeutige Antwort auf die Frage, ob Kultur individuelle Freiheiten befördert oder einschränkt ist dabei nicht möglich. Kultur ist und bleibt facettenreich.

Content: New information and communication techniques have significant influences on urban life. In this book, international and interdisciplinary research, projects and considerations about the emerging 'Mediacity' are presented. Contributions from scientists, artists, and architects from 14 different countries are analyzing, researching and creatively approaching the cultural, social, political, and economical phenomena of the encounter between media and urban space. The Editor: Frank Eckardt is professor for 'Sociology of Globalization' at the Bauhaus University in Weimar, Germany. He holds a PhD in Political Science. His main field of research is urban studies. Since 2004, he ist the coordinator of the research project 'Mediacity'.

This collection explores the intersection of urban planning and the experiences of minority communities. Contributions include an examination of graffiti in Devon as a reflection of acquired minority culture, and a study of music as a contact zone that facilitates negotiation of minority spaces. The historical context of ethnic minorities in Alexandria is discussed, highlighting Nubians and their urban experiences. Visual essays illustrate the contrast between vast regions and confined spaces, while a cultural history of Armenians in Isfahan provides insight into urban minority dynamics. The everyday strategies of asylum seekers in Leipzig are analyzed, alongside issues of exclusion and control within the European context. Legal practices against the houseless in Germany are critically questioned, emphasizing the impact on public safety and order. The discourse on diversity and inclusion in Jordan is presented, as well as representation and participation challenges in Neukölln, Berlin. The architectural evolution of European mosques is examined in relation to urban participation and exclusion. Lastly, the effects of urban renewal policies on minority communities in Mexico City are discussed, emphasizing the need for inclusive strategies in urban development.

The ongoing crisis in Europe has dramatic impact on the life in many Southern European cities: Unemployment, social deprivation, poverty, political instability, severe cuts in the welfare state budgets and a wide spread feeling of despair have eroded much of the social foundation of the cities. In this book, contributors from Spain, Greece, Portugal and Italy provide an insight into the complex interference between the different aspects of the crisis. They show that the recent urban crisis is not purely a result of the budgetary problems of the nation state (»austerity urbanism«) but needs to be seen as multiple contestations. The Crisis of the City is therefore understood as a result of a changing nation state, cultural diversity, challenged urban planning and politics and a globalized economy.

Cities are undergoing a profound transformation in their economic basis. The emergence of a knowledge society and of service industries has reshaped the urban fabric in its architectural and social appearance. This book looks at case studies in different cities in Europe to analyse the causes and effects of the post-industrialisation of urban life. It represents a first insight into the transdisciplinary research to understand more about the ongoing changes in our cities.

Since the appearance of the post-colonial migrants and the guestworkers in the European societies, the cities have been the place to organize the social peace between people with different social and cultural backgrounds. Today’s diversity however seems to be more related to the transnationalisation of urban life and the increasing opportunities of networking and acting in a globalizing world. This book contains case studies with regard to different aspects from an observable ethnically diverse city. With contributions by authors of various disciplines and theoretical discourses, this volume enriches the understanding of the complexity of contemporary cities in Europe with a growing social, cultural and ethnical diversity.

This book looks at the consequences and implications of an emerging new way of local politics in Europe. With the term 'governance', changes in the political and social constitution of cities are analysed. Based on theoretical and empirical studies by scholars from ten countries, different aspects of 'urban governance' will be presented.

“MEDIACITY: Situations, Practices and Encounters” investigates how the social settings and spaces of the city are created, experienced and practiced through the use and presence of new media. It takes the position that new media enables different settings, practices and behaviours to occur in urban space. Contributions from academics, practitioners and activists from disciplines such as Media Studies, Architecture, Urban Studies, Cultural and Urban Geography and Sociology present a critical reflection on the processes, methods and impacts of technologies in urban space.

Weimar and Krakow, though differing in population, hold significant symbolic value for their national cultures. In the face of a complex historical backdrop, both cities have re-emerged, re-evaluating their roles within their national urban landscapes. Intellectuals, visitors, and residents alike are drawn to these remarkable cities, which embody the essence of European urban life. They contribute to Europe's identity through their cultural richness, showcasing the contradictions and contrasts inherent in urban existence. Life in these cities has always been a quest for new opportunities and a better life, intertwining themes of freedom and conflict, happiness and struggle. As one navigates the myriad stories and fragments of their histories, a deeper understanding of how the past shapes the present emerges. Exploring the narratives these cities hold allows for a richer appreciation of their unique and shared experiences. This work focuses on the tales that define Weimar and Krakow, revealing both the extraordinary and the simple aspects of life in these magical places. Ultimately, it invites readers to discover the enchantment woven into the fabric of these cities and the people who inhabit them.

The consequences of the industrial transition with regard to its social, political and architectural effects are the issue of this book. Today, the basis of urban growth lies more in the hands of those who consume and therefore organize their social potential. As the consumption city is not simply one new industry that comes next, the mixture of different life styles is the necessary matrix for revitalization of urban life. Difference and diversity are challenging manifold the management of this transition, wherefore no blue print for the urban regeneration can be produced. Consumption valorizes the cultural capital of every place and transmits it to the market. Drawing on the unique history of the place, the diversification of the post-industrial city requires a specific approach addressing the local in its characteristic potentials and threats.