This episode continues our theme of the emergence of modernity in 1920s, focusing on the rise of the metropolis. As we’ll see, the metropolis was more than just a big city, it meant experiencing mass society for the first time. For some, this was thrilling, as individuals enjoyed the glitz and glamour made possible by modern life. For others, it provoked deep anxieties about the future, as the individual disappeared into a sea of humanity. Topics covered include: the Dilemma of Life in the Big Apple (0:50); continued urbanization (14:42); Art Deco (21:31); Skyscrapers (27:14); Mass Transit (32:56); Crime (41:59); Fritz Lang’s “M” (48:47); Georg Simmel (53:36); Advertising (1:02:29); The Department Store (1:15:46); Mass Entertainment (1:23:45); Dance Clubs (1:26:58) and movie “Metropolis” (1:32:58).

Image: Nikolaus Braun, Berliner Straßenszene (1921); Berlinische Galerie, Berlin, Germany.