School of Social and Political Science

Description

The idea of public space has been transformed in recent decades, with restrictions on movement and interaction in public; with the retraction of lives into the home and private space; with private space made public through internet relationships; with social distancing, remote work, and the cities’ space occupied, during COVID lockdown, by so-called “essential” workers; with the restriction of gatherings and political demonstrations in public space.

These and other recent changes require that we revisit the very concept of public space. New or newly urgent transformations include the occupation of squares and public spaces; the demand for spaces of conversation and expression for those without a voice; the transition of private matters into the public realm through verbal expression; and the expression and circulation of public issues within popular cultures. As a result, the question of public space is increasingly intertwined with that of private spaces, such as the home or individual subjectivities.

Co-organised by the Edinburgh Centre for Medical Anthropology (EdCMA).