The Importance of Studying Cities and Urban Landscape in Light of COVID-19

Early Thinkers and the Negative Effects of Cities

Question
In the introduction to this course, you learnt that early thinkers downplayed the importance of cities for its ills. Specifically, the works of early sociologists portray the city as a “dangerous place where the traditional values of social life – a sense of community and caring for other people – were systematically torn apart” (Macionis & Parrillo 2014: 12).

·  Examine how the rapid spread of COVID-19 worldwide underscores the concerns of these early thinkers.

·  Discuss how the point(s) you have raised inform in fact the importance of studying cities and the urban landscape more generally.

Provide a balanced and interconnected response across both parts of the question, answering them as one coherent essay. Make sure to apply to your discussion at least one theory of urban sociology covered in Chapter 2 of your Study Guide