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----- 2nd CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS ----- Paradigmatic Cities? A two-day conference organised by the RGS-IBG Urban Geography Research Group Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th November 2006 Scottish Trade Union Congress, Glasgow, Scotland *** See attached (1) registration form; (2) conference flyer; and (3) directions to venue*** Spaces are still available! Please forward to any interested parties ______________________________________________________________ Urban studies has a long history of identifying particular cities as emblematic of urbanism more generally. Through such processes certain cities have emerged as 'obligatory points of passage' within the urban studies literature: whether because apparently emblematic of particular 'urbanisms' (for example, Paris as the birthplace of urban modernism, or Los Angeles as the eponymous 'post-metropolis') or of more specific processes (for example, revanchism = New York, diversity = Toronto). Such tendencies have come in for sustained critique in recent years. Where some have launched what might be termed a 'thin critique' (challenging the paradigmatic status of one city, only to substitute that city for another), others have mounted a more serious challenge to the identification of 'paradigmatic' cities per se. Yet despite these critiques, tendencies remain in the urban studies literature to focus disproportionately on a small number of cities, as well as to identify newly paradigmatic places (witness the re-emergence of a 'Chicago School' at this year's AAG). This two-day event aims to provide a forum for discussion and debate around the epistemologies and politics of paradigmatic thinking in urban studies, policy and practice. To help foster discussion the event will be organised around a combination of Key Note addresses, shorter position papers and group discussion. Confirmed Key Note Speakers include: Juliet Davis, Canterbury School of Architecture Rob Imrie, King's College, London Donald McNeill, King's College, London Jenny Robinson, Open University Registration: £50 (Postgraduate/unwaged: £10) Those interested in participating should complete and mail the attached registration form, with registration fee enclosed, to: Urban Geography Research Group C/O Jennie Middleton Department of Geography King's College London Strand London WC2R 2LS ____________________________________ **Deadline for registration: 20 October 2006** ____________________________________ Questions can be directed to any of the following: Jennie Middleton, King's College London ([log in to unmask]) Jon May, Queen Mary, University of London ([log in to unmask]) Gesa Helms, University of Glasgow ([log in to unmask]) Scott Rodgers, King's College London ([log in to unmask]) Information and attachments can also be downloaded from: http://www.urban-geography.org.uk