The main goal of this course is to critically understand the historical process that lead to the urbanization of the city of Buenos Aires considering its multiple influences and circumstances. The course will provide students the basics of the history of Buenos Aires, the different interpretations that have been put forth to explain its development, and several methodological tools to get a historical and cultural knowledge of the city.
Prerequisites:
None
Learning outcomes:
At the end of this course, students should be able to:
Characterize the historical (social, political, economical, and cultural) processes that led to the current make-up of the city.
Analyze the historical turning points which brought forth social and material changes in the city and its inhabitants.
Understand the images that the city creates of itself, both in its material and its social aspects.
Appreciate Buenos Aires´s visible and invisible cultural patrimony and develop an appreciation of it.
Method of presentation:
The course is structured chronologically. It embraces different periods determined by political and social changes occurred in the city and the country. Classes will include introductory lectures, discussions aimed at building and analyzing historical concepts and students criticism of the mandatory bibliography.
Field study:
Trip-fields will also be an important component of this course.
Required work and form of assessment:
The following items form part of the final grade:
Attendance to all classes: More than two and a half unexcused absences will affect the final grade. More than four will result in failure, regardless of the student‟s prior standing. Absent students are responsible for acquiring relevant class notes and handouts from fellow students. Work assigned in a student‟s absence is not to be given a later deadline without prior agreement with the instructor.
Class participation: Students should show they come to class with the mandatory readings done.
They should actively show their critical capacity when working individually or in groups (10%).
Mid-term test: An evaluation based on essay questions on all the mandatory materials analyzed in class. (35%)
Final exam: An evaluation based on essay questions on all the mandatory materials analyzed in the second half of the course. (35%)
Final essay: An essay on a subject related to the urban culture of Buenos Aires. The subject will be chosen by the student and approved by the teacher. (20%)
content:
There is not a single text which covers the totality of contents worked in class. Mandatory material is specified in the following reading schedule. After the schedule you will find a list of optional readings.
Session 1. Presentation. Introduction and Periodization: The city of Buenos Aires and the process of nation-state building. Periodization.
Readings:
AA. VV., Diccionario de Arquitectura en la Argentina. Estilos, obras, biografías, instituciones, ciudades, Jorge Francisco Liernur y Fernando Aliata (directores), 6 tomos, Clarín Arquitectura, Buenos Aires, 2004, pp. 188 – 213. (Available at IES)
Session 2. A colonial town: The conquest and Spanish occupation of the Río de la Plata. Expeditions and creation of Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires´s strategic role for colonial expansion and administration. The Río de la Plata and the increasing relevance of Buenos Aires in mid 18th century: the Viceregal capital and the British invasions.
Readings:
BERNAND, C., Historia de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Fondo de Cultura Económica, 1999, pp. 15-40. LYNCH, J., “La capital de la colonia”, en Buenos Aires, historia de cuatro siglos, dirigida por José Luis y Luis Alberto Romero, Buenos Aires, Editorial Abril, 1983, pp. 31 – 48.
Session 3. Colonial Buenos Aires in fiction:
Readings:
SAER, J. J., El entenado, México – Buenos Aires, Editorial Folios, 1983, pp. 11 – 97.
Session 4. The republican city: Buenos Aires as a revolutionary city. Independence and civil wars. The city and its hinterland. Administration and distribution of urban space following a republican model. The federal city and Juan M. de Rosas´rule.
Readings:
DI MEGLIO, G., ¡Viva el Bajo Pueblo! La plebe urbana de Buenos Aires entre la Revolución de Mayo y el rosismo, Buenos Aires, Prometeo, 2006, pp. 27 – 50.
ALIATA, F., “La ciudad regular. Arquitectura, edilicia e instituciones en el Buenos Aires post- revolucionario (1821/1835)”, in BADINI, G. y L. Mezzabotta, Carlo Zucchi, ingegnere e architeto, Reggio Emilia, 1993, pp. 37 – 61.
Session 5. Republican Buenos Aires in fiction:
Readings:
ECHEVERRIA, E., El Matadero, 1838.
Session 6. Fieldtrip: Plaza de Mayo
Guest lecturer: Ricardo Watson.
Session 7. From the State of Buenos Aires to the Argentine Republic: The secession of Buenos Aires against the Argentine Confederation. Customs and the capital city. Buenos Aires as seat of the government. The creation of a national government and the export model. Hygienism, inmigration, and urban development. La “gran aldea”.
Readings:
LIERNUR, J. F., “La ciudad efímera”, in LIERNUR, J. y SILVESTRI, G., El umbral de la metrópolis. Transformaciones técnicas y cultura en la modernización de Buenos Aires (1870-1930), Buenos Aires, Sudamericana, 1993.
Session 8. The federal capital city: Federalization of Buenos Aires. The creation of La Plata. Alvear´s model. The South American Paris: French academicism and its variations. The port, the economical boom, and the nineties´ crisis.
Readings:
LIERNUR, J. F., “La construcción del país urbano”, Mirta Z. Lobato (ed.), Nueva Historia Argentina, Tomo 5, (1880-1916), Buenos Aires, Sudamericana, 2000, pp. 407 – 463. (IES)
MARTEL, J., La bolsa, Buenos Aires, 1891, cap. 1
Session 9. Field trip: Plaza San Martín
Session 10. The cosmopolitan city and its manifestations: Growth of urban consumerism, first industrialization, and birth of working class movements. Celebration of centennial of independence in
1910 and the nationalist reaction. Searching for a national and neo-colonial style. New urban culture:
conventillo, tango, and prostitution.
Readings:
GOLDAR, E., “La mala vida”, en VÁZQUEZ-RIAL, H. (dir.), Memoria de las ciudades. Buenos Aires 1880 – 1930. La capital de un imperio imaginario, Madrid, Alianza Editorial, 1996, pp. 228 – 253.
GUY, D., El sexo peligroso, Buenos Aires, Sudamericana, 1991, pp. 174 – 212.
Session 11. The cosmopolitan city in literature:
Readings:
GALVEZ, M., Historia de arrabal, Buenos Aires, 1922.
Session 12. Metropolis: Urban expansion: grid and park. Life in the neighborhoods. Housing crisis. New developments: modern media and mass sports.
Readings:
GORELIK, A., La grilla y el parque. Espacio público y cultura urbana en Buenos Aires 1887-1936, Buenos Aires, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, 1998, Introduction.
Session 13. Metropolis in literature:
Readings:
ARLT, R., Aguafuertes Porteñas, Buenos Aires, 1928.
BORGES, J. L., Cuaderno San Martín, Buenos Aires, 1922. Selection of poems.
Session 14. Midterm exam
Session 15. Modernity in the periphery or the reactive modernization: Export-model crisis. Urban modernization: transformations directed by De Vedia and Mitre. Automobiles and modern life. Domestic market and second industrialization: suburban growth. Social housing as a state policy.
Readings:
SARLO, B. (1988), Una modernidad periférica, Buenos Aires 1920-1930, Buenos Aires, Nueva Visión.
Session 16. Modernity in literature:
Readings:
BORGES, J. L., “La muerte y la brújula”, in Ficciones, Buenos Aires, 1944. BORGES, J. L., “El Aleph”, en El Aleph, Buenos Aires, 1949.
Session 17. Fieldtrip: Palermo Viejo
October 22. The Peronist city: The city and citizenship under Perón. Social housing as state policy. Peronism and its housing policies. Ezeiza: new urban threshold. Linguistic renewal and private collective housing. Rationalism and modern arquitecture.
Readings:
BALLENT, A., Las huellas de la política. Vivienda, ciudad, peronismo en Buenos Aires, 1943-1955, Buenos Aires, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, 2006, Cap. 1.
Session 18. The Peronist city in literature:
Readings:
CORTAZAR, J., “Casa Tomada” and “Ómnibus”, in Bestiario, Buenos Aires, 1951.
Session 19. Goliath´s head – Developmentalism and military dictatorships: Limits of industrial growth. Economic and political pendulum: growth, crisis, adjustment, and repression. Great urban architectural ventures of developmentalism. Terror in the city: military dictatorship and social and urban fragmentation. De-industrialization and the annihilation of the working class movement.
Readings:
AUYERO, J y Rodrigo Hobert, “‟¿Y esto es Buenos Aires‟. Los contrastes del proceso de urbanización”, Daniel James (ed.), Nueva Historia Argentina, Tomo 9, (1955-1976), Sudamericana, Buenos Aires, 2003, pp. 213 – 244. (IES)
Session 20. Discussion on final essays
Session 21. The global village: The return of democracy. Recovering public spaces. The end of central planning. The city of the many services and attractions. Neoliberal policies and urban fragmentation during the nineties: Puerto Madero. Rediscovery of the urban past and the growth of patrimonialism. Buenos Aires, autonomous city. The metropolis and marginality: city of contrasts.
Readings:
GORELIK, A., Miradas sobre Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Siglo XXI, 2004, pp. 175 – 255.
Session 22. The global village in literature:
Readings:
GAMERRO, C., Las Islas, Buenos Aires, Simurg, 1998, pp. 9 – 42.
Discussion on final essays
Session 23. Fieldtrip: Puerto Madero
Session 24. Review session units 7-10. Essays due.
Session 25. Final exam
Session 26. Discussion of graded essays. Conclusions.
Recommended readings:
AA. VV. Buenos Aires, historia de cuatro siglos, José Luis/Luis Alberto Romero. Editorial Abril: Buenos Aires, 1983.
AA. VV. Diccionario de Arquitectura en la Argentina. Estilos, obras, biografías, instituciones, ciudades, Jorge Francisco Liernur/Fernando Aliata, 6 tomos. Clarín Arquitectura: Buenos Aires, 2004.
AA. VV. Historia de la vida privada en la Argentina. Fernando Devoto/Marta Madero, 3 tomos. Taurus: Buenos Aires, 1999.
LERNUR, Jorge Francisco. La Arquitectura en la Argentina del siglo XX. La construcción de la modernidad. Fondo Nacional de la Artes: Buenos Aires, 2001.
VÁZQUEZ-RIAL, H. Memoria de las ciudades. Buenos Aires 1880 – 1930. La capital de un imperio imaginario. Madrid: Alianza Editorial, 1996.
The main goal of this course is to critically understand the historical process that lead to the urbanization of the city of Buenos Aires considering its multiple influences and circumstances. The course will provide students the basics of the history of Buenos Aires, the different interpretations that have been put forth to explain its development, and several methodological tools to get a historical and cultural knowledge of the city.
None
At the end of this course, students should be able to:
The course is structured chronologically. It embraces different periods determined by political and social changes occurred in the city and the country. Classes will include introductory lectures, discussions aimed at building and analyzing historical concepts and students criticism of the mandatory bibliography.
Trip-fields will also be an important component of this course.
The following items form part of the final grade:
There is not a single text which covers the totality of contents worked in class. Mandatory material is specified in the following reading schedule. After the schedule you will find a list of optional readings.
Session 1. Presentation. Introduction and Periodization: The city of Buenos Aires and the process of nation-state building. Periodization.
Readings:
AA. VV., Diccionario de Arquitectura en la Argentina. Estilos, obras, biografías, instituciones, ciudades, Jorge Francisco Liernur y Fernando Aliata (directores), 6 tomos, Clarín Arquitectura, Buenos Aires, 2004, pp. 188 – 213. (Available at IES)
Session 2. A colonial town: The conquest and Spanish occupation of the Río de la Plata. Expeditions and creation of Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires´s strategic role for colonial expansion and administration. The Río de la Plata and the increasing relevance of Buenos Aires in mid 18th century: the Viceregal capital and the British invasions.
Readings:
BERNAND, C., Historia de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Fondo de Cultura Económica, 1999, pp. 15-40. LYNCH, J., “La capital de la colonia”, en Buenos Aires, historia de cuatro siglos, dirigida por José Luis y Luis Alberto Romero, Buenos Aires, Editorial Abril, 1983, pp. 31 – 48.
Session 3. Colonial Buenos Aires in fiction:
Readings:
SAER, J. J., El entenado, México – Buenos Aires, Editorial Folios, 1983, pp. 11 – 97.
Session 4. The republican city: Buenos Aires as a revolutionary city. Independence and civil wars. The city and its hinterland. Administration and distribution of urban space following a republican model. The federal city and Juan M. de Rosas´rule.
Readings:
DI MEGLIO, G., ¡Viva el Bajo Pueblo! La plebe urbana de Buenos Aires entre la Revolución de Mayo y el rosismo, Buenos Aires, Prometeo, 2006, pp. 27 – 50.
ALIATA, F., “La ciudad regular. Arquitectura, edilicia e instituciones en el Buenos Aires post- revolucionario (1821/1835)”, in BADINI, G. y L. Mezzabotta, Carlo Zucchi, ingegnere e architeto, Reggio Emilia, 1993, pp. 37 – 61.
Session 5. Republican Buenos Aires in fiction:
Readings:
ECHEVERRIA, E., El Matadero, 1838.
Session 6. Fieldtrip: Plaza de Mayo
Guest lecturer: Ricardo Watson.
Session 7. From the State of Buenos Aires to the Argentine Republic: The secession of Buenos Aires against the Argentine Confederation. Customs and the capital city. Buenos Aires as seat of the government. The creation of a national government and the export model. Hygienism, inmigration, and urban development. La “gran aldea”.
Readings:
LIERNUR, J. F., “La ciudad efímera”, in LIERNUR, J. y SILVESTRI, G., El umbral de la metrópolis. Transformaciones técnicas y cultura en la modernización de Buenos Aires (1870-1930), Buenos Aires, Sudamericana, 1993.
Session 8. The federal capital city: Federalization of Buenos Aires. The creation of La Plata. Alvear´s model. The South American Paris: French academicism and its variations. The port, the economical boom, and the nineties´ crisis.
Readings:
LIERNUR, J. F., “La construcción del país urbano”, Mirta Z. Lobato (ed.), Nueva Historia Argentina, Tomo 5, (1880-1916), Buenos Aires, Sudamericana, 2000, pp. 407 – 463. (IES)
MARTEL, J., La bolsa, Buenos Aires, 1891, cap. 1
Session 9. Field trip: Plaza San Martín
Session 10. The cosmopolitan city and its manifestations: Growth of urban consumerism, first industrialization, and birth of working class movements. Celebration of centennial of independence in
1910 and the nationalist reaction. Searching for a national and neo-colonial style. New urban culture:
conventillo, tango, and prostitution.
Readings:
GOLDAR, E., “La mala vida”, en VÁZQUEZ-RIAL, H. (dir.), Memoria de las ciudades. Buenos Aires 1880 – 1930. La capital de un imperio imaginario, Madrid, Alianza Editorial, 1996, pp. 228 – 253.
GUY, D., El sexo peligroso, Buenos Aires, Sudamericana, 1991, pp. 174 – 212.
Session 11. The cosmopolitan city in literature:
Readings:
GALVEZ, M., Historia de arrabal, Buenos Aires, 1922.
Session 12. Metropolis: Urban expansion: grid and park. Life in the neighborhoods. Housing crisis. New developments: modern media and mass sports.
Readings:
GORELIK, A., La grilla y el parque. Espacio público y cultura urbana en Buenos Aires 1887-1936, Buenos Aires, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, 1998, Introduction.
Session 13. Metropolis in literature:
Readings:
ARLT, R., Aguafuertes Porteñas, Buenos Aires, 1928.
BORGES, J. L., Cuaderno San Martín, Buenos Aires, 1922. Selection of poems.
Session 14. Midterm exam
Session 15. Modernity in the periphery or the reactive modernization: Export-model crisis. Urban modernization: transformations directed by De Vedia and Mitre. Automobiles and modern life. Domestic market and second industrialization: suburban growth. Social housing as a state policy.
Readings:
SARLO, B. (1988), Una modernidad periférica, Buenos Aires 1920-1930, Buenos Aires, Nueva Visión.
Session 16. Modernity in literature:
Readings:
BORGES, J. L., “La muerte y la brújula”, in Ficciones, Buenos Aires, 1944. BORGES, J. L., “El Aleph”, en El Aleph, Buenos Aires, 1949.
Session 17. Fieldtrip: Palermo Viejo
October 22. The Peronist city: The city and citizenship under Perón. Social housing as state policy. Peronism and its housing policies. Ezeiza: new urban threshold. Linguistic renewal and private collective housing. Rationalism and modern arquitecture.
Readings:
BALLENT, A., Las huellas de la política. Vivienda, ciudad, peronismo en Buenos Aires, 1943-1955, Buenos Aires, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, 2006, Cap. 1.
Session 18. The Peronist city in literature:
Readings:
CORTAZAR, J., “Casa Tomada” and “Ómnibus”, in Bestiario, Buenos Aires, 1951.
Session 19. Goliath´s head – Developmentalism and military dictatorships: Limits of industrial growth. Economic and political pendulum: growth, crisis, adjustment, and repression. Great urban architectural ventures of developmentalism. Terror in the city: military dictatorship and social and urban fragmentation. De-industrialization and the annihilation of the working class movement.
Readings:
AUYERO, J y Rodrigo Hobert, “‟¿Y esto es Buenos Aires‟. Los contrastes del proceso de urbanización”, Daniel James (ed.), Nueva Historia Argentina, Tomo 9, (1955-1976), Sudamericana, Buenos Aires, 2003, pp. 213 – 244. (IES)
Session 20. Discussion on final essays
Session 21. The global village: The return of democracy. Recovering public spaces. The end of central planning. The city of the many services and attractions. Neoliberal policies and urban fragmentation during the nineties: Puerto Madero. Rediscovery of the urban past and the growth of patrimonialism. Buenos Aires, autonomous city. The metropolis and marginality: city of contrasts.
Readings:
GORELIK, A., Miradas sobre Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Siglo XXI, 2004, pp. 175 – 255.
Session 22. The global village in literature:
Readings:
GAMERRO, C., Las Islas, Buenos Aires, Simurg, 1998, pp. 9 – 42.
Discussion on final essays
Session 23. Fieldtrip: Puerto Madero
Session 24. Review session units 7-10. Essays due.
Session 25. Final exam
Session 26. Discussion of graded essays. Conclusions.
AA. VV. Buenos Aires, historia de cuatro siglos, José Luis/Luis Alberto Romero. Editorial Abril: Buenos Aires, 1983.
AA. VV. Diccionario de Arquitectura en la Argentina. Estilos, obras, biografías, instituciones, ciudades, Jorge Francisco Liernur/Fernando Aliata, 6 tomos. Clarín Arquitectura: Buenos Aires, 2004.
AA. VV. Historia de la vida privada en la Argentina. Fernando Devoto/Marta Madero, 3 tomos. Taurus: Buenos Aires, 1999.
LERNUR, Jorge Francisco. La Arquitectura en la Argentina del siglo XX. La construcción de la modernidad. Fondo Nacional de la Artes: Buenos Aires, 2001.
VÁZQUEZ-RIAL, H. Memoria de las ciudades. Buenos Aires 1880 – 1930. La capital de un imperio imaginario. Madrid: Alianza Editorial, 1996.