public sphere

Question

How should we communicate in a democratic society?

The public sphere

The social issue space in which different opinions are expressed, problems of general concern are discussed , and collective solutions are developed communicatively

The Frankfurt school

• birth of critical theory

• Theodore Adorno

• Max Horkheimer

the ideal public sphere

Jurgen Habermas

What was Habermas worried about?

• media had taken over the public sphere

• Commodified the public sphere

• From active debate to passive consumption

• couple centuries back = democracy = great model in how things should be

Habermas “ideal” public sphere

• fills the gap between private life and public authority

• Rational and critical debate = not too emotions and exchange arguments

• The goal is deliberate to change your mind and reach consensus

Habermas “ideal” public sphere 2

• conversations would proceed w out regard for status

• They would focus on the “domain of common concern” = ex. Clean water domain concerns bc it’s everyone’s problem

• They would be inclusive = everyone can join

Feminist critique of the “ideal” public sphere

Nancy Fraser

Feminist critique

• historically most people have been systematically excluded from the public sphere Commodified

• We can’t just set aside our inequalities = power dynamic

• Who decided what is common concern = might not be fixed = DV

Counterpublics

Legitimize and sustain marginalized communities & challenges the “dominant knowledge”

Network counterpublics by Sarah Jackson

Are digital spaces where marginalized groups form alternative public using internet tools like blogs or social media to create counter discourse

Approach to research

Critical

Goals of theory

Social change

Evaluation

Herusum

Critiques

• utility

• Testability

• Test of time