Cities are growing rapidly, are vastly unequal, facing socio-economic and ecological crises, often dangerous (from brutal and slow forms of violence), and are made up of many competing interests, values and agendas. Often approaches to addressing these issues move quickly from high level data to solution, not always adequately considering the complexities of different scales beyond economic and technical fixes. However, urban challenges are not the sum total of how cities can be understood or are experienced. Cities are also places where people imagine and make social, cultural and political lives and are inspired by embodied and emotive impulses. Culture, technology and society are inextricably intertwined in human-non-human entanglements, where bodies, technologies and environments intersect in real, imagined and virtual worlds.
With a shared fascination with these arrangements, textures and interconnections, the Culture, Technology and Society cluster comprises of an interdisciplinary collective of researchers and creative practitioners interested in four interconnected themes:
1) the ways in which socio-cultural and technological infrastructures shape solidarities, mobilities and socialities of urban residents
2) the role of cultural politics, belonging and wellbeing in cities
3) the bodies, technologies and data ethics related to knowledge production
4) inter/trans-disciplinary, collaborative, and creative modes and methods of conducting, communicating, and mobilising applied research through knowledge solidarities
Objectives of the Culture, Technology and Society cluster:
The African Centre for Cities (ACC) aims to generate credible new knowledge on the drivers of urban crises in African cities and to develop systemic solutions. This involves conducting rigorous research using both qualitative and quantitative methods, contributing high-quality, peer-reviewed academic literature, and ensuring the knowledge produced is relevant locally and globally. The ACC focuses on identifying key issues such as rapid urbanization, poverty, and inadequate infrastructure, understanding the complex interplay of socio-economic, political, and environmental factors, and developing holistic approaches to address these root causes. Their work translates into actionable policies and sustainable development practices tailored to the unique contexts of African cities, enhancing local capacity and fostering collaborative efforts among various stakeholders.
