Borges and the City

Abstract

How do we interact with cities? How do we go about comprehending and learning about them, and why is it important that we try to decipher them? This thesis analyses the works of Jorge Luis Borges in an attempt to broaden and deepen the ways we think about the city. In addition to close reading, this thesis also puts Borges in conversation with a wide range of other experts, including anthropologists, architects, urbanists, and philosophers. Specifically, I explore the themes of identity and infinity, through the lens of Borges, as they relate to the urban experience and the art of living in cities.