The Parking Lot Polka

Often when we think about “public”, we think about ourselves as a member of a community or group of people. We may think about parks where we play and relax or city halls where we voice our thoughts and concerns. Or maybe we think about “public” in terms of information, the status updates we make, blogs we comment on, web pages we read, all in all, it’s obvious that “public” is a term that is incredibly broad and encompasses so much. So what exactly embodies a public “sphere” where people participate, share, access information, and invite others into the conversation? Is it simply at public parks? Libraries? Schools? Yes and no. All are regularly considered public spheres however, in some cases, as Chelsea beautifully explained there are private components within that sphere. Public and private aren’t often mutually exclusive. For instance, I observed Cal State San Bernardino’s parking lot. From first appearances, we might not necessarily recognize a parking lot as a public sphere but, boy is it! Students are able to access this space, other students have the opportunity to use it as well, and there is a sharing of space. Information is giving to you in this space, like, “Stop”, “Exit”, “Staff Parking”, and “30-minutes only”. Yet, as much as it is public, there still are private components; “Staff Parking” is for THE STAFF, “30-Minute Parking” for those planning to be in the spot 30 minutes or less. There are limits to this access within the public sphere of the parking lot. And the space within a person’s car is “private” but, once they roll down those windows and blare Miley Cyrus around the parking lot, they have “shared” information about themselves and their musical preference. They have unconsciously invited people into their very own car. Someone in the parking lot could tell them to “TURN THAT SHIT DOWN” or simply sing along; they have “invited” and given people an “opportunity” to “participate” in their dialogue. As I observed the parking lot I couldn’t help but think about what we consider public and private. Is it really possible for something to be exclusively private or exclusively public or can both spheres fluctuate between the two at different points of time or instances?