What do you experience when you walk through a city? And how do writers grapple with the thrills, disappointments, and contradictions of urban life? In this course, we’ll read different accounts of walking in urban settings to understand how the pedestrian gives and finds meaning in cities. We’ll ask questions like: how does the practice of walking help us make sense of ourselves and the space around us? how can physical experiences make and produce places? how does walking shape our experience of the metropolis? Readings will include texts by Italo Calvino, Giorgio Bassani, Anna Maria Ortese, Elena Ferrante, Teju Cole, and others.

Due to the high demand for R&C courses we monitor attendance very carefully. Attendance is mandatory the first two weeks of classes, this includes all enrolled and wait listed students. If you do not attend all classes the first two weeks you may be dropped. If you are attempting to add into this class during weeks 1 and 2 and did not attend the first day, you will be expected to attend all class meetings thereafter and, if space permits, you may be enrolled from the wait list