8/7/2019 City types
1/4
City types, stratified by class
Background: Charles Dickens was undoubtedly one of the most
important literary
observers of mid-19th century urban life and urban poverty.
Oliver Twist is as much
about mid-19th century London as it is about the story of an
orphan boy. And in my
view, Polanski does a masterful adaptation of the original
novel. Alternatively, I
could have assigned "Gangs of New York" by Martin Scorsese based
on Herbert
Asbury's book. However, I find Scorsese far less successful in
recreating NYC than
Polanski is in recreating London. Of course, you do NOT need to
share my
enthusiasm for this film. The point is, treat the movie as an
interpretation of mid-
19th century London, and analyze it accordingly.
Assignment: This is an urban history course, and hence your
review must focus on
the urban history aspect of Roman Polanski's version of Charles
Dickens's Oliver
Twist. I suggest that you focus on one (or a few closely
related) aspect(s) of thefilm: for instance, how does the film
depict urban poverty; social inequality; urban
space; residential segregation; urban vice; criminality;
migration; gender roles;
sensory experiences like city sounds and smells; clothing; etc.?
These are just
examples: feel free to focus on ANY reasonable subject of your
own choosing.
Importantly, do NOT do ANY outside research for this assignment.
Simply, watch
the film, think about it, choose your own topic(s) of interest,
and then write a
coherent critical analysis of the film from the viewpoint of an
urban historian. This
is your chance to use your imagination, and apply the things you
have learned on
this or other classes about 19th century cities.
Length: 1200-1500 words (about 4-5 double-spaced pages). Please,
do NOT
exceed the word limitation.
Due date: Please, turn in both a print and an electronic copy of
your review. The
assignment is due on March 21 in class (if you cannot make it to
class that day,
make sure to email me your review by 9AM)
Grading: The review is 15% of your final grade. It will be
graded based on the
following criteria:
(1) Thoroughness of your evaluation of the film as an
interpretation of mid-19th
century London: urban society, urban space, poverty, social
problems, builtenvironment, etc.
(2) Overall argument about the film (e.g. does the review have
an insightful and
credible thesis; does it develop an argument; does it
substantiate its points with
evidence and examples; etc.)
(3) Organization of the paper (e.g. is the paper easy to
understand? Does it flow
8/7/2019 City types
4/4
Recreation hoops 45:30
Reading 45:50
separation of class within the urban landscapelike poverty
filth56:07 chess
omnibus
conclusion: underplaying urban integration is not factually
wrong but misses an important part ofthe story
Chimney sweep hauling donkey down street seeing sign, people
leading ponies down street
Two men outside court, Carriage goes by, sign right outside of
courtroom
At night, so time has passed entering residential area paul
revere man leading ot down street
to middle-class home
Ot running away residential area opens on to church at edge of
city. Though not like mexico,
etc., seems unlikely that lower-class religious building would
be on edge
Then horsecarts people in lines people with signs more crowded
backstreets and they have to
walk up stairs more crowded streets, long walk from city center,
vertical WORD all accurate
Nancy going to policemans quarters in nicer part of town
Gated house how would dog have gotten there? So far from
lower-class dwellings
Fighting cocks caf would it have been right next door to
HOME/SHOP???! of the rich men?
all the while horse carriages coming through
Nancy to rich person house
CUT AWAY Scenes in carriage are either in dark or barely show
through window
