Cities of signs: learning the logic of urban spaces

Abstract

Signs exist as fundamental markers of the urban landscape. Whether in the form of street signs offering directions, the air-brushed promises of advertising media or the vandalized détournements of street art, signs pervade urban spaces and provide a tangible 'text' upon which the logics of both cities and ourselves are written. Cities of Signs charts the way that signs exist as key elements of contemporary urban space and explores what it means to live within these spaces, amongst cities of signs. This refreshing take on the way that urban space is lived and experienced provides a timely contribution to the literature in urban studies, sociology and education alike. In decoding the cultural production at play in urban environments, Hickey presents a dynamic approach for understanding how culture is produced and consumed within the cityscape.