Urban Studies


SHAKESPEARE HIGH
SHAKESPEARE HIGH

Performing Arts  Literature  Urban Studies  Latino Studies  Education  2012 

Executive produced by Kevin Spacey, Shakespeare High is an uplifting documentary that follows a diverse group of California high school students as they prepare for and compete in an annual Shakespeare Festival - a unique program that counts many of Hollywood's biggest stars among its alumni. A celebration of theater and performance, Shakespeare High illustrates the life-changing effect drama programs such as this can have on young people.

BROOKLYN BOHEME
BROOKLYN BOHEME

African-American Studies  Performing Arts  Cinema Studies  Urban Studies  New York City  2012  Directed by Women 

In this inspiring documentary, filmmaker Nelson George explores a singular neighborhood in Brooklyn that gave rise to an African-American arts movement in the late 20th century as vibrant as the Harlem Renaissance. Through interviews with Spike Lee, Chris Rock, Lisa Jones Chapman, Branford Marsalis, Lorna Simpson, and many others, Brooklyn Boheme celebrates the rise of a new kind of African-American artist.

THE INTERRUPTERS
THE INTERRUPTERS

2011  Kartemquin Films  Women's Studies  Urban Studies  Sociology  Peace & Conflict  Latino Studies  Criminal & Law  American Studies  African-American Studies 

From Steve James, acclaimed director of Hoop Dreams, and Alex Kotlowtiz, bestselling author of There Are No Children Here, The Interrupters is an epic documentary work exploring violence in America, a look at an innovative program in which former gang members disrupt violent situations as they happen.

DOUBLETIME
DOUBLETIME

African-American Studies  Children & Young Adult  Urban Studies  American Studies  2011  Directed by Women 

Jumping rope is one of the most timeless and universal forms of play. In the last 30 years, its popularity has moved it from the sidewalk to the stage. Doubletime profiles two championship teams - one suburban white and one inner-city black - for a revealing look inside an exciting new sport and a snapshot of race in America.

BEYOND BABYLAND
BEYOND BABYLAND

2010  Women's Studies  Urban Studies  Sociology  Health  Family Relations  Economics  Death & Dying  American Studies  African-American Studies  Medicine 

Beyond Babyland seeks to understand the causes behind the troubling rate of infant mortality in African-American communities while introducing us to the people and organizations working tirelessly to turn around this tide.

GARBAGE DREAMS
GARBAGE DREAMS

Environmental Studies  Middle Eastern Studies  Labor Studies  Urban Studies  2010  Directed by Women 

For generations, Cairo has relied on the Zabelleen or "garbage people" to collect the city's trash - resulting in the world's most efficient recycling program. A multiple award-winning documentary, Garbage Dreams considers the environmental and social repercussions when the city suddenly decides to outsource their trade to multinational waste disposal companies.

WADE IN THE WATER, CHILDREN
WADE IN THE WATER, CHILDREN

2009  Urban Studies  Sociology  Psychology & Psychiatry  Media Studies  Health  Education  Cinema Studies  Anthropology  American Studies  African-American Studies  Directed by Women 

Through a passionate mixture of private videos, uncensored interviews and school-day adventures, the young children of Singleton Charter Middle School, the first school to open in New Orleans after Katrina, have created a revealing portrait of urban youth at the heart of an ongoing American crisis.

THE SOLITARY LIFE OF CRANES
THE SOLITARY LIFE OF CRANES

Architecture  Urban Studies  Sociology  2009  Directed by Women 

Part city symphony, part visual poem, The Solitary Life of Cranes explores the invisible life of a city, its patterns and hidden secrets, seen through the eyes of crane drivers working high above its streets. Referencing both Ruttmann and Vertov as well as Jane Jacobs' "The Death and Life of Great American Cities," it's a beautiful meditation on how our existence is shaped by the spaces we inhabit.

A PLACE TO LIVE: the story of triangle square
A PLACE TO LIVE: the story of triangle square

LGBTQ  Aging / Gerontology  Urban Studies  Architecture  2009  Directed by Women 

What does it mean to be gay and old in America? A Place to Live: The Story of Triangle Square addresses this issue by following the construction and development of the country's first affordable housing facility for LGBT seniors.

THE GAME OF CHANGE
THE GAME OF CHANGE

American Studies  American History  African-American Studies  Urban Studies  2008 

When the Loyola basketball team started four African-American players in 1963 they were suddenly thrust into the national spotlight. The Game of Change reaches far beyond sports, demonstrating this particular event's significance in the battle for race equality in a largely segregated country.

THE UNFORESEEN
THE UNFORESEEN

Environmental Studies  Architecture  American Studies  Cinema Studies  Economics  Urban Studies  Political Science  2008  Directed by Women 

An urgent, beautifully crafted examination of urban sprawl and its impact on the environment, The Unforeseen is a critically-acclaimed, award-winning documentary from director Laura Dunn and executive producers Terrence Malick and Robert Redford.

GIULIANI TIME
GIULIANI TIME

New York City  Media Studies  Criminal & Law  Urban Studies  Terrorism Studies  Political Science  American Studies  2007 

Could this man be the next President of the United Sates? This incisive documentary examines Rudolph Giuliani's rise to power, his policies, and their effect on the city he referred to as the 'Capital of the World.'

HAVANA: the new art of making ruins
HAVANA: the new art of making ruins

Anthropology  Urban Studies  Latin-American Studies  Art History  Architecture  2007  Cuban Studies 

From Buena Vista Social Club to Hollywood blockbusters, Havana's crumbling architecture has been romanticized in countless movies. But what about the people who must live in these buildings? A unique thought-provoking portrait of Havana's inhabited ruins and their curious blend of magic and decay.

LAST HOUSE STANDING
LAST HOUSE STANDING

Urban Studies  Cultural Studies  Asian Studies  Directed by Women 

As China continues its unprecedented economic growth, Last House Standing captures the poignant story of an elderly man caught between his country's past and future.

BUILDING THE GHERKIN
BUILDING THE GHERKIN

Architecture  Urban Studies  Europe  Environmental Studies  Business  Directed by Women 

Can a single building impact the career of an architect, the image of a global company and the future of a major city? Building the Gherkin chronicles the design, planning and construction of the controversial Swiss Re building, dubbed 'the erotic gherkin' by the British press.

THE HEALING GARDENS OF NEW YORK
THE HEALING GARDENS OF NEW YORK

Urban Studies  New York City  Psychology & Psychiatry  Sociology  Environmental Studies  Criminal & Law  African-American Studies  Directed by Women 

A wonderful film that illustrates the significance of gardens and green spaces in the face of ever growing urbanization and development.

LIFE IN A BASKET
LIFE IN A BASKET

Urban Studies  Sociology  American Studies  Directed by Women 

We’ve all seen homeless people pushing shopping carts down the street, shopping carts packed to the brim with all kinds of "junk." But what’s actually inside those shopping carts anyway?

NOT FOR SALE
NOT FOR SALE

Sociology  Puerto Rican Studies  Latino Studies  Urban Studies  Architecture  American Studies  New York City  Directed by Women 

Chronicles life on East Seventh Street in New York City and its transformations. Residents share their memories of what used to be an immigrant lower-class neighborhood.

THE AMERICAN DREAM: PUERTO RICANS AND MEXICANS IN NEW YORK
THE AMERICAN DREAM: PUERTO RICANS AND MEXICANS IN NEW YORK

Urban Studies  Spanish Language  Sociology  Puerto Rican Studies  New York City  Latino Studies  Latin-American Studies  American Studies  Directed by Women  Immigration 

This documentary examines two migrant experiences, one from the Caribbean and one from Latin America, which comprise an important part of the Hispanic experience in New York.

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META-MECANO: THE CREATION OF THE JEAN TINGUELY MUSEUM

Urban Studies  Europe  Art History  Architecture 

This video follows the sculptures of the late Jean Tinguely (1925-1991), one of Europe’s most popular artists, as they are transported from his Swiss studio to their new home at the Museum of Basel.

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