Rites of Way: The Politics and Poetics of Public Space (Canadian Commentaries)

There are many ways to approach the subject of public space: the threats posed to it by surveillance and visual pollution; the joys it offers of stimulation and excitement, of anonymity and transformation; its importance to urban variety or democratic politics. But public space remains an evanescent and multidimensional concept that too often escapes scrutiny. The essays in __Rites of Way: The Politics and Poetics of Public Space__ open up multiple dimensions of the concept from architectural, political, philosophical, and technological points of view. There is some historical analysis here, but the contributors are more focused on the future of public space under conditions of growing urbanization and democratic confusion. The added interest offered by non-academic work—visual art, fiction, poetry, and drama—is in part an admission that this is a topic too important to be left only to theorists. It also makes an implicit argument for the crucial role that art, not just public art, plays in a thriving public realm. Throughout this work contributors are guided by the conviction, not pious but steely, that healthy public space is one of the best, living parts of a just society. The paths of desire we follow in public trace and speak our convictions and needs, our interests and foibles. They are the vectors and walkways of the social, the public dimension of life lying at the heart of all politics. There Are Many Ways To Approach The Subject Of Public Space: The Threats Posed To It By Surveillance And Visual Pollution; The Joys It Offers Of Stimulation And Excitement, Of Anonymity And Transformation; Its Importance To Urban Variety Or Democratic Politics. But Public Space Remains An Evanescent And Multi-dimensional Concept That Too Often Escapes Scrutiny. The Essays In Rites Of Way: The Politics And Poetics Of Public Space Open Up Multiple Dimensions Of The Concept From Architectural, Political, Philosophical, And Technological Points Of View. Some Historical Analysis Is Offered Here, But The Contributors Are More Focused On The Future Of Public Space Under Conditions Of Growing Urbanization And Democratic Confusion. The Interest Added To The Volume By Non-academic Work - Visual Art, Fiction, Poetry, And Drama - Is In Part An Admission That This Is A Topic Too Important To Be Left Only To Theorists. Its Inclusion Makes An Implicit Argument For The Crucial Role That Art, Not Just Public Art, Plays In A Thriving Public Realm. Throughout This Work Contributors Are Guided By The Conviction, Not Pious But Steely, That Healthy Public Space Is One Of The Best, Living Parts Of A Just Society. The Paths Of Desire We Follow In Public Trace And Speak Our Convictions And Needs, Our Interests And Foibles. They Are The Vectors And Walkways Of The Social, The Public Dimension Of Life Lying At The Heart Of All Politics.--jacket. Introduction : Rites Of Way, Paths Of Desire / Mark Kingwell And Patrick Turmel -- Masters Of Chancery : The Gift Of Public Space / Mark Kingwell -- We Wuz Robbed / Joe Alterio -- Public Space : Lost And Found / Ken Greenberg -- Architecture And Public Space / Alberto Pérez-gómez -- The Enduring Presence Of The Phenomenon Of The Public : Thoughts From The Arena Of Architecture And Urban Design / George Baird -- Private Jokes, Public Places : An Excerpt / Oren Safdie -- Holistic Democracy And Physical Public Space / John Parkinson -- Public Spaces And Subversion / Frank Cunningham -- Take To The Streets! Why We Need Street Festivals To Know Our Civic Selves / Shawn Micallef -- How Insensitive : An Excerpt / Russell Smith -- Beauty Goes Public / Nick Mount -- Protect The Net : The Looming Destruction Of The Global Communications Environment / Ron Deibert -- The City As Public Space / Patrick Turmel -- ... Walks From The Office For Soft Architecture / Lisa Robertson. Mark Kingwell And Patrick Turmel, Editors. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict Contents 6 Acknowledgements 8 Introduction: Rites of Way, Paths of Desire 10 PART I 20 Masters of Chancery: The Gift of Public Space 22 We Wuz Robbed 42 PART II 46 Public Space: Lost and Found 48 Architecture and Public Space 66 The Enduring Presence of the Phenomenon of “the Public”: Thoughts from the Arena of Architecture and Urban Design 74 Private Jokes, Public Places: An Excerpt 82 PART III 88 Holistic Democracy and Physical Public Space 90 Public Spaces and Subversion 104 Take to the Streets! Why We Need Street Festivals to Know Our Civic Selves 120 How Insensitive: An Excerpt 132 PART IV 140 Beauty Goes Public 142 Protect the Net: The Looming Destruction of the Global Communications Environment 156 The City as Public Space 170 ... walks from the office for soft architecture 184 Contributors 198 Index 202 A 202 B 202 C 203 D 204 E 204 F 204 G 204 H 204 I 205 J 205 K 205 L 205 M 206 N 206 O 206 P 206 Q 207 R 207 S 207 T 208 U 208 V 208 W 209 Y 209 Z 209