Urbs Ir Civitas: Lewiso Mumfordo Urbanistika
Urbs and Civitas: Urbanism of Lewis Mumford

Summary/Abstract: The processes of urban growth became the alfa and omega of large cities in post-communist Lithuania; however, a critical and analytical discourse of these processes is still forming in Lithuanian intelectual and academic circles. The article discusses the concepts of Lewis Mumford, one of the most important urban philosophers and critics of the last century. My article discusses the following topics in Mumford: his concept of city’s historical growth and expansion, his interpretation of city culture as expression of civilizing processes, his analysis of the cycles of city’s rise and decline, the prospects of limits of growth and renewal of megalopolis, the impact of technological processes and consumer mentality on city culture, his undestanding of anti-city as urban entity that is incapable of performing its functions. I claim that the reflection on and critical analysis of Mumford’s concepts and critique of the city might be usable and effective instrument in establishing a discourse on the development of contemporary Lithuanian cities.

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