ARCH OF NYC LEISURE INDUSTRY

This class examines venues in New York City constructed specifically for entertainment, recreation, and relaxation. Organized typologically, it covers parks, playgrounds, theaters, performing arts complexes, World’s Fairs, hotels, department stores, and museums from the perspective of architectural history and urban planning, while taking into account issues such as class and race, private and public patronage, the city’s transition from industrial hub to global cultural capital, and the financial and social impact of the entertainment industry on the people of New York. Above all, it explores the ways in which places of play, recreation, and escape have shaped and continue to reshape the identity of the city that never sleeps. The 4-credit course includes numerous class trips, some of which will take place beyond regular class time.