Tra Utopia Urbana e Apocalisse Ambientale: Los Angeles in “Ecology of Fear”

Francesco Barbalace

Abstract


Between Urban Utopia and Environmental Apocalypse: Los Angeles in “Ecology of Fear”.


This paper examines the book "Ecology of Fear" by Mike Davis, published in 1998, which explores the transformations of the city of Los Angeles. The text highlights the social and economic changes of the period, focusing on globalization and the environmental impacts of global capitalism. Davis critiques the idyllic representation of Los Angeles as a city in harmony with nature, revealing contradictions in urban planning and cultural narratives. The author examines the complex relationship with the territory, focusing on urban sprawl, social inequalities, and collective fears related to the wild and environmental disasters. The article aims to elucidate the sociological significance of this work, highlighting the theoretical connection with certain research strands that demonstrate the ambivalence of the concepts of environment and nature. It illustrates how the theme of environmental apocalypse structures the identity of the city of Los Angeles, also through the study of various cultural products. 


 

Keywords


Ecology of Fear | Mike Davis | Social Imaginary | Environmental Apocalypse| Urban Space

Full Text:

PDF

References


Amendola G. (2003), La Città Post-Moderna. Magie e paure della metropoli contemporanea, Roma-Bari, Editori Laterza.

Castoriadis C. (1975), L’insitution imaginaire de la société. Paris, Editions du Seuil; Tr. it. L’istituzione immaginaria della società, Milano-Udine, Mimesis, 2022.

Davis M. (1990), City of Quartz. Excaving the future in Los Angeles, New York, Verso Books.

Davis M. (1998), Ecology of Fear, Metropolitan Books, New York; Tr. It. Geografie della paura. Los Angeles: l’immaginario collettivo del disastro, Milano, Feltrinelli, 1999.

Descola P. (2005), Par-delà nature et culture, Paris, Editions Gallimard; Tr. It. Oltre natura e cultura, Milano, Raffaello Cortina Editore, 2021.

Fisher M. (2007), Capitalist Realism: Is There No Alternative?, United Kingdom, Zero Books; Tr. It. Realismo Capitalista, Roma, Nero, 2009.

Marzo P.L., Mori L. (a cura di), (2018), Le vie sociali dell’immaginario. Per una sociologia del profondo, Milano-Udine, Mimesis.

Park R. E., Burgess E.W., McKenzie R.D., (1967), La città, Milano, Edizioni di Comunità.

Poe E.A. (1845), The City in the Sea; Tr.it. La città nel mare, Milano, Aldo Martello Editore, 1956.

Vidali P. (2022), Storia dell’idea di natura. Dal pensiero greco alla coscienza dell’antropocene, Milano-Udine, Mimesis.

Zampieri P.P. (2019), “Il Complesso di Caino, la tensione di Abele” in Marzo P. L. e Mori L. (a cura di) (2019), Le Vie Sociali dell’immaginario. Per una sociologia del profondo, Milano: Mimesis.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.7413/2281813819586

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Im@go. A Journal of the Social Imaginary - Biannual - Edizioni Mimesis