Introduction

Issue 54 of the American Studies Journal explores a topic particularly interesting for teachers and students of American Studies: What is it like to grow up in urban spaces in the U.S.? Teaching “the city” is a common topic in the EFL classroom, and “youth culture” another. But both are difficult to tackle. There is always the danger of misrepresenting a topic so vast, creating stereotypes rather than questioning them and establishing a limited view on the subject.