How does Upstairs Foco redefine publicity as illustrated by Dr. David Fleming?
In The Space of Argumentation: Urban Design, Civic Discourse, and the Dream of the Good City, Fleming describes his definition of an effective public space, highlighting a need for discourse. In order to encourage necessary engagement and discussion, Fleming believes there are several characteristics that accurately define a good public space, specifically publicity.
Unfortunately in his essay, Fleming focuses only on spaces such as a public street to exemplify publicity.
"Clearly, good public discourse requires territory where all residents have the right to appear, to see and be seen, to hear and be heard," (Fleming 161.)
In doing so, this lack of analysis fails to highlight varying types of publicity, perhaps not necessarily present on a busy, crowded street in a center of a city but often seen in quiet, privatized spaces, that nevertheless allow users to carry out similar levels of discussion addressed by Fleming.
This quiet publicity, referred to as pocketed publicity, is evident in Upstairs Foco, and enables Dartmouth community members to not only carry out discourse found in more public spaces like Downstairs Foco and the street Fleming describes, but to engage in deeper conversations, create stronger relationships, and illustrate personal growth better in the less populated and unique physical environment.
