Christopher and Lisa Leinberger present a history of popular television shows reflecting and predicting how Americans chose to live.
"There have been two crucial times over the last 60 years when TV shows switched settings, reflecting society’s shifts in the way we have invested in infrastructure and real estate. We are in the middle of the second structural shift right now, which started in the mid-1990s. TV helped to predict that change," write the Leinbergers.
The list has two criteria: "prime-time situation comedies and dramas (no daytime TV, sports, news or reality shows)" and "the built environment — walkable urban or drivable suburban — must play a significant, though generally subtle, role in the show."
Here are a couple of examples of what they came up with, among the six examples of television eras described in the article:
- "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" (1951-1966) for era #3: "Drivable suburban living lionized (late 1950s through the late 1960s)"
- "The Sopranos" (1999-2007) for era #6: "Growing dysfunction in the suburbs (late 1990s to the present)"
FULL STORY: How TV Predicted America’s Moves From City to ‘Burbs and Back Again
An Urbanist Agenda for Education
An opinion article by Angie Schmitt addresses the neglect of education policy in the urbanist political platform, and proposes two specific education policy goals for urbanists to get behind.
Majority of Americans Prefer Larger Homes and Longer Trips, Survey Says
The percentages have fluctuated on either side of the pandemic, but most Americans prefer to live in communities with larger houses, located farther away from schools, stores, and restaurants, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey.
Public Perceptions of Sprawl and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Urban density has a bad reputation.
Rethinking Redlining
For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself
The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.
US Senate Reverses California EV Mandate
The state planned to phase out the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035, a goal some carmakers deemed impossible to meet.
Trump Cuts Decimate Mapping Agency
The National Geodetic Survey maintains and updates critical spatial reference systems used extensively in both the public and private sectors.
Washington Passes First US ‘Shared Streets’ Law
Cities will be allowed to lower speed limits to 10 miles per hour and prioritize pedestrians on certain streets.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions