Many of the movies nominated for Oscars this year gain a great deal of thematic and storytelling meaning from their locations.
"Over the past five years, roughly three-quarters of movies nominated for best picture or screenplay have been place-centered," according to Jenny Schuetz.
The story is no different this year, with place-centered nominees like "If Beale Street Could Talk" (New York City in the 1970s), "The Favourite" (18th century England), and "Black Panther" (set in what Schuetz describes as "the meticulously created fictional country of Wakanda").
Urban location also factor heavily among the place-centered movies in 2019. "Among the 2019 nominees, primarily urban movies are 'BlacKkKlansman' (Colorado Springs, Colo.), 'If Beale Street Could Talk,' and 'Roma' (Mexico City)."
"Non-urban movies include the 'Ballad of Buster Scruggs' (American West), 'The Favourite,' and 'First Reformed' (small town in upstate New York)," adds Schuetz.
Maps and further analysis of the themes place can conjure for a film are also included. Schuetz also offers a pick for the clear 2019 winner of "Best Picture in an Urban Setting" (click through to find out what it is).
FULL STORY: And the Oscar for “Best Movie in an Urban Setting” goes to…
New Film, Set on a Philly Bus, Celebrates the Magic of the Latino Community
The Latino community gathers on a bus, and joy ensues, in the new short film "La Guagua 47."
And the Feel-Good Oscar Goes To...
Discussing some of the most pro-urban movies ever made.
Megalopolis: An Urban Planner’s Review
The sprawling film offers a bleak vision of city-building that minimizes the impacts of top-down development on everyday citizens.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
Test News Post 1
This is a summary
Test News Headline 46
Test for the image on the front page.
Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
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.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service