Cities Are For People, and Cats?

2017

After a week of serious issues it’s time to relax and think about kitty cats. We invite you to sit back and enjoy shorts on urban ecology and the feature-length documentary film, “Kedi”, a charming film about the life of feral cats in Istanbul, Turkey. Seriously, though, the topic of cats in the city is serious business – it connects to crucial concerns about urban ecology, sustainability and the interrelations between the animals of the city, the built environment, people, and how those people treat not only the cats, but also other people.

Panelists

Ron Sundstrom (Moderator)

Professor of Philosophy and African American Studies, University of San Francisco

Peter Brastow

Senior Environmental Specialist, City of San Francisco Department of the Environment

Jeffrey Paris

Associate Professor of Philosophy, University of San Francisco

Jonathan Young

Wildlife Ecologist, Presidio Trust

Films

Kedi
Istanbul | 2016 | 79 mins. | Directed by Ceyda Torun
Hundreds of thousands of Turkish cats roam the metropolis of Istanbul freely, wandering in and out of people’s lives, claiming no owners, and living between two worlds, neither wild nor tame. The cats are the mirrors to the people, allowing them to reflect on their lives in ways nothing else could. Critics and internet cats agree — this cat documentary will charm its way into your heart and home as you fall in love with the cats in Istanbul.

Partners