Pre-Drafting Materials

Before beginning Project 3, we engaged in the literature discourse of spatial design and listened to podcasts regarding space to familiarize ourselves with the topic. There were three pre-draft assignment, ranging from a written response, an audio tour of a chosen space and a photo exhibit.

(1) Reading Response to Fleming

In David Fleming’s article “The Space of Argumentation”, he advances the claim that rhetoric and urban design are connected- one cannot exist without the other also existing. He notes that social discourse depends on an ideal space, specifically based on the features of size, density, securitiy, publicity, identity and heterogeneity. Through a larger size and density, there will exist an organized, close space where intellectual growth will stem from due to diversity of contact. Security is ideal because it promotes shared regulation of what is allowed to happen in a space, building a balance between privacy and discourse. This leads to good publicity in a space; specifically, Fleming uses publicity as a means of moral consequences when participating in conversations, encouraging thoughtful opinions. Finally, identity is necessary in space, particularly a sense of belonging so that every individual may say their piece and encourage heterogeneity of ideas. Fleming sets these standards so groups may grow towards better communities and functional social systems that are not full of discrimination or violence.

(2) 3-min Audio Tour

Above is the audio file I submitted before drafting my essay. I take my audience on a 3 min audio tour of the spatial design, features and environment of Dartmouth’s hockey arena.

(3) Interpretive Photo Exhibit

Interpretive Photo Exhibit of Thompson Ice Arena

Professor Van Kley’s Photo Exhibit Feedback

Based on our conversation in class, your project seems to be in a strong position. Some notes for you to the left. I’ll encourage you to make Fleming’s account of ID an explicit part of the project. I think your plans for the website sound quite promising, although the broad scheme you sketched in class might end up being hard to execute in WordPress.