Public Space

Public Space

Public Spaces are all around us. Anywhere from a shopping mall to a small town park, both of which are public spaces. A point of reference the first author made was that most public spaces look the same. Like for example, a grocery store looks about the same everywhere you go. The layout for one, no matter what company is usually the exact same. You walk in, produce is first, then meat, then the deli, then the dry goods, then the baking things, then the cereal, then the freezer section, then last but not least the dairy section. Am I right? Thought so. The same idea goes to most public spaces, such as buildings, parks, doctors offices, hospitals, etc. Churches are also known as public places. Religion is very important to a lot of citizens in the United States, and if was not for churches we would not have a public gathering place in order to spread the word of God to others. Malls are also public places. Oh lord, where do I begin. Shopping malls have become a phenomenon. I believe the cities are competing on which city can have the biggest and greatest mall of all time. As time has progressed though, shopping malls have subsided to more of an outdoor shopping mall experience where the stores are all self standing and are not under one big roof. Another thing that we do not think about is our behavior when we are in a public space. Cell phones for example, people have become way more lenient than how they were four years ago. It astonished me that twenty nine percent of people approved of people using their cell phone while in a restaurant and over seventy six people use their cell phones will behind the wheel of a vehicle. The entire idea of public space is different from what it used to be, but honestly, I like the change that is happening.