Cultural images of Boston range from its venerable arts and music institutions to the seamy underworld portrayed in the film The Departed. As in many cities, these polar extremes mask a rich spectrum of urban cultures.
Featuring, from left to right, Rebecca Ostriker (Arts Editor, The Boston Globe), Associate Professor Charles Merzbacher (Film, College of Communication), and Professor Merry White (Anthropology, College of Arts & Sciences), The Cultural City panel will explore the diversity and dynamism of culture in Boston and other cities, from neighborhood cultures to food, theatre, film, music, literature, and museums.
Can urban culture be promoted in a manner true to a city’s roots and inclusive and accessible to all? Panelists will focus on how urban culture is defined and promoted and the role culture serves in urban economics, politics, and daily life. When do cities promote specific cultural resources, such as museums and symphonies, and when do they promote neighborhood cultures? Which facets of a city’s cultural reputation are “authentic,” and which are manufactured?
Join us on Tuesday, April 7th, from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Initiative on Cities, 75 Bay State Road. Complimentary lunch will be served starting at 12:15 p.m.