Perspective is seeking papers on urban public spaces by
anthropologists. In our global present, the volume's focus is on
elucidating contemporary approaches and representations of public
spaces, with the hope of furthering discussion on current
understandings of what constitutes the "public" from an
anthropological perspective.
Most approaches within scholarly work on spatiality take into account
the forces of advanced capitalism in holding its own cultural logic to
shaping, transforming, redefining the public spaces of our cities.
Rootlessness, spacelessness, temporality, multi-locality and
multi-dimensionality have become catchphrases for the fragmentation of
public spaces in an age of globalised crisis, virtual interactions,
and limitless desire for homogenized environment and relations. As
Setha Low suggests, the loss of the public may be equated with a loss
of politics: the creation of a "public" necessitates spirited,
dialogical engagements with individuals and processes. Such a notion
of the "public" remains the archetype and very ideal of democracy; it
is a political and moral imperative that allows for a multiplicity of
public discussions, now compromised with the advent of a privately
held vision of the world.
The very understanding of "public" comes under scrutiny in the
contemporary context. Given the high level of complexity and variety
of fields and subjects, how do current anthropologists' works situate
and refine understandings of what is "public"? In particular, the
volume seeks research that addresses the changing form of public
spaces as a result of social media, environmental/community movements,
and tensions created by global/local understandings of the public, the
public/private dialectic and political/economic policies, with an
interest in how these public spaces are represented by different
social actors. The editors also seek submissions that address new
methodologies and encourage theoretical reflection, particularly in
reference to non-traditional or emerging forms of public space brought
about by community activism, sustainability issues, and technological
public spaces/spheres (such as the use of social software). Inherent
here is the question of how people seek opportunities to produce
public space, and to materialize their ideals of "the public".
This is a call for contributions of papers to this volume In Search of
the Public Space; an Anthropological Perspective. We seek work from
students, scholars and researchers from across the social sciences,
whose work consists of rich theoretical reflection or ethnographic
research that present diverse approaches to public space and
consequently enhance our notions of the "public". We are seeking 25
pages papers to be submitted by March 1st, 2010, for possible
inclusion in this edited volume. A 500 words abstract is to be
submitted by January 31st, 2009.
Nathalie Boucher
Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Centre Urbanisation
Culture et Société
nathalie.boucher@ucs.inrs.ca
Jean Chia
University of Alberta
jean.chia@ualberta.ca
Daniel Tubb
Institute of Political Economy, Carleton Univeristy
dtubb@connect.carleton.ca
