About the book
After centuries of colonial rule, the end of Angola’s three-decade civil war in 2002 provided an irresistible opportunity for the government to reimagine the Luanda cityscape. Awash with petrodollars cultivated through strategic foreign relationships, President José Eduardo dos Santos rolled out a national reconstruction program that sought to transform Angola’s capital into what he considered to be a modern, world-class metropolis. Until funds dried up in 2014, the program—in conjunction with sweeping private investments in real estate—involved mass demolitions of vernacular architecture to make way for high-rise buildings, large-scale housing projects, and commercial centers. The program thus underestimated the values enshrined in the materials and designs of Luanda’s existing “informally” constructed neighborhoods, or musseques.
The Aesthetics of Belonging explores the political significance of aesthetics in the remaking of the city. Claudia Gastrow’s archival and ethnographic work, which includes interviews with city planners, architects, nonprofit leaders, and urban dwellers, shows how government infrastructure projects and foreign-inspired designs came to embody displacement and exclusion for many. This, Gastrow argues, catalyzed a countermovement, an aesthetic dissent rooted in critically reframing informal urbanism as Indigenous—a move that enabled the possibility of recognizing the political potential of informal settlements as spaces that produce belonging.
Editions of The Aesthetics of Belonging
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781469682174
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781469682181
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469682211
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469682228
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469682198
- PDF
- ISBN 9781469682204
Read an Excerpt
After centuries of colonial rule, the end of Angola’s three-decade civil war in 2002 provided an irresistible opportunity for the government to reimagine the Luanda cityscape. Awash with petrodollars cultivated through strategic foreign relationships, President José Eduardo dos Santos rolled out a national reconstruction program that sought to transform Angola’s capital into what he considered to be a modern, world-class metropolis. Until funds dried up in 2014, the program—in conjunction with sweeping private investments in real estate—involved mass demolitions of vernacular architecture to make way for high-rise buildings, large-scale housing projects, and commercial centers. The program thus underestimated the values enshrined in the materials and designs of Luanda’s existing “informally” constructed neighborhoods, or musseques.
The Aesthetics of Belonging explores the political significance of aesthetics in the remaking of the city. Claudia Gastrow’s archival and ethnographic work, which includes interviews with city planners, architects, nonprofit leaders, and urban dwellers, shows how government infrastructure projects and foreign-inspired designs came to embody displacement and exclusion for many. This, Gastrow argues, catalyzed a countermovement, an aesthetic dissent rooted in critically reframing informal urbanism as Indigenous—a move that enabled the possibility of recognizing the political potential of informal settlements as spaces that produce belonging.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Aesthetics of Belonging about?
After centuries of colonial rule, the end of Angola’s three-decade civil war in 2002 provided an irresistible opportunity for the government to reimagine the Luanda cityscape. Awash with petrodollars cultivated through strategic foreign relationships, President José Eduardo dos Santos rolled out a national reconstruction program that sought to transform Angola’s capital into what he considered to be a modern, world-class metropolis. Until funds dried up in 2014, the program—in conjunction with sweeping private investments in real estate—involved mass demolitions of vernacular architecture to make way for high-rise buildings, large-scale housing projects, and commercial centers. The program thus underestimated the values enshrined in the materials and designs of Luanda’s existing “informally” constructed neighborhoods, or musseques.
The Aesthetics of Belonging explores the political significance of aesthetics in the remaking of the city. Claudia Gastrow’s archival and ethnographic work, which includes interviews with city planners, architects, nonprofit leaders, and urban dwellers, shows how government infrastructure projects and foreign-inspired designs came to embody displacement and exclusion for many. This, Gastrow argues, catalyzed a countermovement, an aesthetic dissent rooted in critically reframing informal urbanism as Indigenous—a move that enabled the possibility of recognizing the political potential of informal settlements as spaces that produce belonging.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Aesthetics of Belonging?
Society and Social Sciences > Society and culture: general > Social groups, communities and identities > Ethnic studies / Ethnicity
Where can I read a sample of The Aesthetics of Belonging?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781469682174
How long is The Aesthetics of Belonging and how many pages does it have?
The Aesthetics of Belonging has 240 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Aesthetics of Belonging?
Claudia Gastrow
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The Aesthetics of Belonging is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781469682174) and paperback(ISBN 9781469682181) and ebook(ISBN 9781469682211) and ebook(ISBN 9781469682228) and ebook(ISBN 9781469682198) and pdf(ISBN 9781469682204)
Where can I buy The Aesthetics of Belonging online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy The Aesthetics of Belonging from below
Where can I buy The Aesthetics of Belonging?