Reading Notes for Le Bon & Simmel

Students

First of all I was really excited to hear the level of involvement in lecture yesterday. It looks like things are starting out well for this course, keep up the good work. I'm going to do my best to reciprocate that by staying ahead of the reading load so as to give you some thoughts/questions to help you along the way.

Here are some thoughts to keep in mind when reading Le Bon.

• What is a crowd for Le Bon? What constitutes a “psychological crowd” for Le Bon, as opposed to a mere gathering of people? (2-4)
• What is the "psychological law of mental unity of crowds"? (5)
• What are the 3 key characteristics of organized crowds? (9-11)
• As you read from here on out, keep a running list of the main ways in which Le Bon describes crowds [hint he calls them impulsive on p18]. What do these descriptions have in common?
  
• In your own words, attempt a summary statement of how Le Bon sees city life, or the urban experience, through his theory of crowd behavior.
  
• Le Bon's essay is a excellent example of Prof. Martin's advice to read to understand first, and then criticize. Most notably, Le Bon has some awfully outdated views of gender and race. How do these inform his theory of crowd psychology? What associations does Le Bon make between men and women's psychological states, or Anglo-Saxon vs. Latin?

Simmel is similarly concerned with the mental or psychological effects of metropolitan living, yet offers a contrasting view to Le Bon's conclusions.

**NOTE Simmel can be very difficult to read--skim the first paragraph and concentrate beginning with the bottom line of page 409.

Similar to how you read Le Bon, keep a running list of how Simmel argues that city life affects its residents (esp 410-17)

• What aspects of a person does the city life enhance, and what aspects does city living discourage?
• How are urban psychological traits linked to the "money economy" (411)?
• How does Simmel's view of crowds contrast with Le Bon (418)? What is Simmel's view of urban "freedom"?
• What is the significance of the specialized nature of work in the city? How does that affect individuals?
  

After you come to understand each author's point of view, then develop your own position. Which of these contrasting theories makes sense to you? Or do you disagree with both? Try to commit your thoughts to paper, as these readings are an excellent first opportunity for you to practice laying out an author's argument, and then making your own case. Remember that both of these theories concentrate on human action, that living in the city makes people behave in a particular way.