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Title SPATIAL LEGIBILITY: A STUDY OF THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE SELECTED CHARACTERS AND KARACHI IN THE WORKS OF OMAR SHAHID HAMID AND SAMIRA SHACKLE

Author(s) AYESHA KALSOOM

Abstract Title: Spatial Legibility: A Study of the Interaction between the Selected Characters and Karachi in the Works of Omar Shahid Hamid and Samira Shackle. This study delves into the intricate relationship between imageability and legibility in urban environments, with a particular focus on hyper-mediated cities. It critically examines the concept of phantasmagoria within urban literature, analyzing two significant novels: The Party Worker by Omar Shahid Hamid and Karachi Vice: Life and Death in a Contested City by Samira Shackle. The primary objective of this research is to comprehend how phantasmagoria affects the legibility of Karachi as an urban space. Through a detailed textual analysis, this study explores the mental representations and perceptions of Karachi's inhabitants as depicted in these fictional narratives, placing emphasis on the city's strategies to desensitize and manipulate the human sensorium. By employing the theoretical perspectives of urban scholars such as Kevin Lynch, Libero Andreotti, and Nadir Lahiji, this research offers a critical analysis of the selected texts, drawing out key insights into the construction of spatio-temporal images of Karachi. The findings of this study contribute to the broader academic discourse on urban legibility, highlighting the significant role of phantasmagoria in shaping and influencing perceptions of urban spaces. Ultimately, this study enhances our understanding of how sensory manipulation and mediated imagery in literature reflect and impact the legibility of urban environments, particularly within the context of Karachi.

Type Thesis/Dissertation MS

Faculty Languages

Department English

Language English

Publication Date 2024-07-29

Subject Literature

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