Paris, Berlin, London, Singapore, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles -- these define "the city" in the world's consciousness. James Donald takes us on a psychic journey to these places that have inspired artists, writers, architects, and filmmakers for centuries. Considering the cultural and political implications of the "urban imaginary, " Donald explores the pleasures and challenges of modern living, contending that the imagined city remains the best lens for a future of democratic community.

How can we think of Chicago without recalling the grittiness of The Asphalt Jungle's back alleys, or...

What sort of institution is education? In this iconoclastic study, James Donald restores the school to its proper place at the heart of post-Enlightenment culture and politics. He traces the emergence of education as an apparatus designed -- forlornly -- to shape the souls of citizens. He also draws illuminating analogies between education and broadcasting, showing how both conjure up publics and structure the everyday lives of individuals. To balance this focus on the institution of cultural norms, Donald emphasizes the dynamics of fantasy and desire in their negotiation. He therefore...

Blending cultural studies and political analysis, this interdisciplinary text both illuminates and furthers debates over 'race' and its meanings in contemporary society as well as in educational and social policy. It is essential reading for all those concerned with discrimination and antiracist policy.

First Published in 1987. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.