The first text by author Carl Abott introduces the concept of ‘migratory cities’ supplemented by examples and comprehensive analysis of media from the science-fiction genre. He introduces examples such as Armada, which is a city consisting of a flotilla of ships together, Snowpiercer, life on a perpetually moving train in a world wrought by natural disaster, and the constantly moving, grinding Earth in the novel Inverted World etc. He shifts the perspective of cities being natural confluence of people congregating at an area for their livelihood from the perspective of a technocrat, to a living, breathing, moving machine.
Through the reading, the other-worldly nature of these “nomadic cities” is backed by subsequent consequences of rapid urbanization such as rising sea levels, problems with the climate, reliance on technologies and complex energy requirements and sources. This elaboration of migratory cities linking to urbanization showcases the thousands of possible urban futures for the human race. With the rapid technological advancements, these science-fiction works portray what a possible relationship between humans the city could be. Anthropomorphizing what is normally the “background,” by positioning the way the city functions in the forefront, the author symbolizes the impact of human activity on land, encouraging us to consider what steps could possibly be taken to ensure that the traces of mankind do not make these apocalyptic dystopias become reality.
Rishima Mathur
3035841996
I appreciate how you tried to explore the idea of cities as being ‘alive’ in the films discussed in the essay. Perhaps you can further explore the effect of spatial settings playing the role of characters in film.