Public sociability: social interaction and public spaces

Abstract

As its central theme of reflection, this article has a phenomenon still little explored by geography, public sociability, that is, the different forms of social interaction that occur in the public spaces of cities. Although little studied by geographers, academic disciplines such as sociology and anthropology, for example, have seemed increasingly engaged in the discussion of this important and relatively neglected theme, whose problem evokes, directly or indirectly, the political, social, economic, cultural, temporal and spatial spheres of public life in our cities. By highlighting the importance of the spatial dimension for the study of public sociability, we propose a theoretical reflection on the theme of public meetings and disagreements. In the final considerations, the article suggests that we need to abandon the ideas of “linear evolution” and “linear regression” in time and space, of public life, public sphere, public spaces, and public behaviors, very popular ideas in specialized bibliography.

Keywords:
Public sociability; Public spaces; Encounters