Post Ex Sub Dis, Urban fragmentations and constructions

Post, ex, Sub and dis - these are but a few of the prefixes that have been used to compose neologisms for describing the contemporary cityscape in Western Europe and North America. Terms such as posturban space, postsuburbia, exurbia, exopolis, suburban downtown, and disrubia are part of a dizzying collection of often hotly contested labels. The plethora of neologisms demonstrates how difficult it has become to name, map and analyze contemporary cityscape. To many observers, urban evironments and urban society have come to evince a radically chaotic and fragmented structure. This book explores how in recent decades the notion of fragmentation - a mainstay already of reflextions on ruban modernity - has acquired new meanings and how, within the current decentralized and centrifugal context, the urban landscape is constantly being deconstructed and reconstructed, both materially and discursively. Richly illustrated with work by artists and photographers who have visualized various new kinds of urban fragmentation, the volume brings toghether a series of essays on spatial, social, and cultural issues written by distinguished scholars and practioners from unusual variety of disciplines. It wil be especially usefull to students of urban planning, architecture, sociology, literature and the arts.