Art and Public Space
Who 'owns' public space? Public space is never neutral, even though it is theoretically owned 'in common,' but rather reflects the particular ideology of those who construct it. Thus, in a sense we all own public because we have a hand in how it is used and we are all owned by public space in the sense that the locations in which we dwell limit and define our social interactions. "One of the main trends in philosophy is to see the public sphere as a form of social reality, and less as an act of creation whose results would be negotiated intersubjectively" (Gheorghe 317).
Marxists see the demarcation of spaces into public and private arenas as a way to negotiate power relationships. Anyone who doubts this should consider the extent to which desirable real estate is determined by proximity to privileged social spaces: an apartment with a view of Central Park in New York City is an excellent example of this phenomenon: even though the park is public, to 'possess' a private view is a sign of social superiority. Having a certain kind of room in a hotel, flying first class, and the ability to occupy specific 'spaces' separate from the public confers a certain social prestige. Even certain seemingly 'public' spaces are clearly policed by class dynamics. Although a store is technically a public space, the ability to buy the items within the store determines one's sense of belongingness.
Conversely, not possessing a certain status can get someone evicted even from...
Art Culture: Public Space Art Public art like that of Koon's Train (2011), Serra's Tilted Arc (1981), Lin's Vietnam Veterans Memorial (1981), and James' Sea Flower (1978), ignite discussion to the point of its modification, re-arrangement, or removal. The reason for this controversial treatment of public art is its ability to embrace a variety of aesthetic practices. The adoption of different aesthetic values like poster art, outdoor sculpture, earthworks, multimedia projections,
CONTESTED PUBLIC SPACE: MEMORIES & HISTORY Contested Public Space: Memories and History Das Denkmal fur Die Ermordeten Juden Europas The Memory Landscape. Mary's is a large old-style brick church belonging to the council of the Hanseatic city of Lubeck. On the floor at the rear of the church, broken pieces of two large bells remain where they fell during an air raid in World War II. The third largest church in Germany, it took
conception and function of public space change as historical shifts influence the delineation between public and personal rights and property. Boyer states that there is an underlying tension in the application of reference to historical styles present in the creation of public spaces, representing nostalgic yearning for past times remembered as greater than the articulation of the present. Boyer also references Walter Benjamin's theory that "all history writer in
Chicana/O Art Affects Private and Public Space Public arts became the most noticeable form of Chicana/o art, starting from the 60's. Signs from the Heart: California Chicano Murals editors, Eva Cockcroft and Holly Barnet-Sanchez, state that an artwork that is truly "public" offers society a symbolic illustration of its collective beliefs, together with a continued reassertion of its collective self-image. The movement's artistic expressions include posters, murals, street processions, performances, and
Memories and History Aya Sofia's Rich History One should look no further in one's search for the most long-standing symbol of religion, culture, and history than the Aya Sofia. The building, found within the heart of a massively cultural city, has stood for over a thousand years, withstanding civil and foreign wars, outbreaks of plague, and even earthquakes. Located only miles from the North Anatolian Fault -- one that can be likened
One other area of the world which is currently experiencing some major problems related to archeological excavations in public places is the Middle East, particularly Israel and within its capital city of Jerusalem. In this case study by Yigal Bronner and Neve Gordon, the main area of dispute lies with "the way archeology is being used in Silwan, a Palestinian neighborhood in the oldest part" of Jerusalem, where excavations, under
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