Like all people, urban newcomers make their presence, backgrounds, identities, and ambitions visible in cities through the languages they speak, the houses they inhabit, and the garments they wear. In doing so, newcomers transform neutral, anonymous spaces into individualised and meaningful places – places that are intriguing, valuable and varied but not always easily understood or accessible. In the English-language minor ‘Amsterdam Citymakers: Urban newcomers, cultural representations and placemaking’ students investigate these places and the cultural representation of such groups as migrants, internationals, gentrifiers, and students, in Amsterdam and cities elsewhere, in past and present. 

Using the concepts of space and place (cultural geography) and representational theory (cultural studies), the five modules of the minor consider how urban newcomers create meaningful places in and through architecture, art, literature and language. Students will also observe less successful examples of urban placemaking, ones where different urban identities, aspirations and needs clash. Next and more practically, students are invited to explore and research urban places of their own – workplaces or schools, for example, or public spaces –, experiment with placemaking tools and make recommendations for improvement. The culturally diverse city of Amsterdam serves as a case study but other cities and urban settings will also be explored. A three-day excursion to Brussels is a compulsory component of the minor. Students are expected to bring a critical yet open-minded view to different societies and cultures. 

Minor modules (6 ECTS each): 

Module 1: Exploring urban art and architecture                                   

Module 2: Seeing urbanity in literary and visual texts                             

Module 3: Languages and communication in urban places                        

Module 4: Cities, gamification and virtual placemaking                            

Module 5: Professional skills in urban settings and workplaces

By the end of this minor, students will:

- have a select overview of major concepts, terms and tools connected to placemaking, urban newcomers and material, visual and literary/linguistic cultural representation;

- understand how urban newcomers are represented in/through literature, visual texts and language.

- be able to apply some basic notions of placemaking to evaluate and improve places in relevant urban and/or professional contexts;

- be able to carry a small practice-based research project in an urban context centred around placemaking; 

- have further developed spoken and written presentation and English language skills at CEFR B2/C1 level;

- have developed more sensitivity towards the material, visual and linguistic presence and heritage of newcomers in cities;

- be more aware of how their personal stances and backgrounds influence views on (non-western) newcomers and societal issues at.

English language proficiency at CEFR B2 (speaking and writing) and C1 level (reading and listening).

Minimaal aantal studenten: 15
Maximaal aantal studenten: 25

English language proficiency at CEFR B2 (speaking and writing) and C1 level (reading and listening). 

Reading and viewing materials, to be provided through Brightspace.

Two full days a week, preferably on Wednesdays and Fridays. See HvA timetable for details.  

CONTACTTIJD:
Five modules of 100-150 minutes each

Module 1: Exploring urban art and architecture, 6 ECTS, online documentary.

Module 2: Seeing urbanity in literary and visual texts, 6 ECTS, visual/literary analysis essay. 

Module 3: Languages and communication in urban places, 6 ECTS, research project. 

Module 4: Cities, gamification and virtual placemaking, 6 ECTS, creative/design project.

Module 5: Professional skills in urban settings and workplaces, 6 ECTS, placement/practice-based project.

Resits are available for every summative assessment. 

Questions about this minor? Contact David Geneste: d.j.geneste@hva.nl

Questions about the Kies-op-maat procedure?
Contact Lia Stip: minoren-foo@hva.nl

Applications will be processed in the order of receipt of signed learned agreements