The poet of LA's urban: Mike Davis

Abstract

Mike Davis's relationship to urban studies involved a combination of positivist analysis, history, and poetics. His contribution to the City of Quartz is assessed from this triple perspective. His role as the poet of LA's anguishing and complex nature takes its place alongside more conventional academic scholars, filmmakers, musicians, and artists. His contribution to urban social science in general, and to LA studies in particular, will be enduring.