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public sphere

The “public sphere” refers to a social realm in which private citizens come together to discuss matters of common concern to form public opinions.

A portion of the public sphere comes into being in every conversation in which private individuals assemble to form a public body.

“a sphere which mediates between society & state, in which the public organizes itself as a bearer of public opinion.”  Habermas

  • often oriented toward governing institutions

  • facilitates argument by providing forums for citizen interaction.

The public sphere refers to a space created through discourse.

  • a social space generated when citizens gather to discuss issues of mutual concern.

  • space in a metaphorical not physical sense.

The public sphere does not refer to an institutional structure or physical location.

  • discourse may occur in clubs, workplaces, homes, governmental settings, street corners, etc.

TV narrative analysis

1.  Assess the kinds of critiques offered by media reviewers – nature of online discourse

  • Established media critics:  Upon what basis are shows evaluated?  What concerns and issues are raised?
  • Fan discourses – what are the pleasures
  • Critical resistance?  Challenges to mainstream representation?

 

2.  Analyze narrative meanings  (also characters, settings)

  • In what ways does the narrative reflect dominant discourses – beliefs, values, myths, worldview?
  • Conversely, in what ways (if any) does it interrupt, resist?
  • What stories aren’t told?

 

3.  Formulate alternatives

  • What stories do you want to tell?
  • How might you shift the narrative?  Mobilize critical viewer response?

culture jamming

act:

  • interrupt, subvert messages (memes) of dominant corporate, consumer culture
  • appropriate, reframe media meanings/content/forms using irony, satire
  • jar audience emotions to reexamine unquestioned conformist premises
  • take over public/private space
  • challenge corporate-state including surveillance practices, lack of transparency

modes:

  • visual – graphic design, Adbusters, Barbara Kruger, graffiti, Banksy, defacing billboards
  • media criticism – Jean Kilbourne, Killing Us Softly, Sut Jhally, Dreamworlds
  • music – sampling, mash-up, illegal downloading
  • performance — Jon Stewart, Utube parody, Reverend Billy, Guerilla Girls, flash mobs
  • hacktivism — Anonymous, Wikileaks-Julian Assange, Chelsea Manning, Edward Snowden
  • critical public discourse through meme-shifting:  @# “Black Lives Matter
  • public space — Critical Mass monthly Friday rush hour bike rallies, UK Reclaim the Streets, Los Indignados (Spain), Occupy

improv theater

act:  naming the problem, telling the story, bearing witness

modes:  improv theater, dialogue circles, Popular Education, Consciousness Raising (CR) groups in the 1970s women’s movement

goal:  critical consciousness – awareness something is wrong, agency to articulate the problem

social change strategies

(broad) strategies for social change

education

legal reform

direct action

alternative institutions

stages of social change

  1. Naming the problem, telling the story

  2. Analyzing why?  Root causes

  3. Root solutions:  What we need/want, political demands, visioning alternatives

  4. Strategies for change:  How to build political power for system change