Lineages of the global city : occult modernism and the spiritualization of democracy / Shiben Banerji.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Banerji, Shiben, author.

Series:

Lateral exchanges

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

City planning--Philosophy--Social aspects--History--20th century.

City planning.

Cities and towns--Philosophy--Social aspects--History--20th century.

Cities and towns.

Architecture and globalization--History--20th century.

Architecture and globalization.

Occultism--Influence--History--20th century.

Occultism.

Brotherliness--Religious aspects--Theosophy--History--20th century.

Brotherliness.

Modern movement (Architecture)--History--20th century.

Modern movement (Architecture).

Democracy and architecture--History--20th century.

Democracy and architecture.

Physical Description:

xiii, 324 pages, 12 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color), plans (some color) ; 27 cm.

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Austin : University of Texas, 2025.

Summary:

"In his new manuscript, Shiben Banerji examines the movement toward 'global cities' in the first half of the twentieth century, particularly as an outcropping of occult philosophies like Theosophy that worked toward what practitioners called 'universal brotherhood.' Drawing on music, art, literature, and science, Theosophy imagined a path of self-improvement that would combat social and economic alienation. Accordingly, the view of the city that it helped foster was expansive: a city that could democratically encompass all genders, ethnicities, religions, and species. Banerji's study works to recuperate this forgotten chapter of urban design history through an examination of interlinked moments in the globalized pursuit of universal brotherhood"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Summoning global subjects : a methodological note

Unifying science, 1905-1913 : De Bazel's World Capital and Andersen's World-Centre

Financializing debt, 1927

1933 : Otlet and Le Corbusier's Cité Mondiale

Saving empire, 1924-1933 : Besant's world-empire

Conserving nature, 1920-1935 : Griffin's Castlecrag

Globalizing democracy, 1938-1949 : Mahony's Magic of America.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Banerji, Shiben. Lineages of the global city.

ISBN:

9781477331408

1477331409

OCLC:

1453618809