This is a literature based work. By writing this paper I wanted to get a basic impression of
the theories about “The Public” as developed in urban sociology. I used Lyn Lofland´s
book “The Public Realm” and Louis Wirth´s article “Urbanism as a way of life” as my
main references. To give some deeper impact on classical social theories, I added the
basic items from Habermas “Strukturwandel der Öffentlichkeit” (The Structural
Transformation of the Public Sphere) and some basic ideas of Simmel's Sociology1. To
get more information about the development of “the public” in sciences, I used a book
called “Öffentlichkeit. Geschichte eines kritischen Begriffs” (The Public. About the
History of a critical term).
I was impressed by the pragmatic and frequent examples that Lofland uses to explain her
theories. At my home university, the Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg, it is unusual to
give an example for every written item. It is more often the case, like at the end of a
“Hauptseminararbeit”2, that one basic example is given for an actual topic (European
Union, etc). The aim of examples given in students’ homework is to show, that the often
complex social theories have been profoundly understood by the student. Though I found
Lofland's style of giving many examples to her readers very positive, I will go on writing
my paper in the way I have learned: without many examples and based on theoretical
perspective of social structures. Due to this decision, my wo rk may differ from the exams
handed in by American students.
1 Simmel, Georg. Soziologie. Untersuchungen über die Formen der Vergesellschaftung. Fünfte Auflage.
(1908) 1968. Drucker & Humblot. Berlin. And: “Simmel on the city” in: Gottdiener, Mark. Hutchinson,
Ray. The New –Urban- Sociology. Second Edition. (1994) 2000. Mc Graw-Hill Higher Education. Boston.
Chapter 6: The Rise of Urban Sociology
2 Take home exam of Graduate Students with 20 to 30 pages
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- I Prologue
- The term "public"
- Urban life
- II Prologue
- Chapter 6: The Rise of Urban Sociology
- 1 The term "public sphere"
- Urban life
- Epilogue
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
The paper explores the concept of "The Public" as developed in urban sociology, drawing on the works of Lyn Lofland, Louis Wirth, and other influential theorists. It aims to provide a theoretical overview of the public sphere, its historical development, and its role in urban life. The paper also examines the relationship between public and private spaces, and the emergence of urbanism as a distinct way of life.
- The concept of the public sphere and its significance in urban sociology
- The historical evolution of the public sphere, including its relationship to the Enlightenment and the rise of modern cities
- The relationship between public and private spaces in urban life
- The impact of industrialization and urbanization on the development of public spaces and social interactions
- The distinct characteristics of urban life and the individual's experience within the city
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The paper starts by introducing the concept of the public sphere, emphasizing its distinction from private spaces and its importance in urban sociology. The chapter discusses the term's evolution and its various applications, from describing physical spaces to characterizing social behaviors. The historical development of the public sphere in Western Europe is explored, highlighting its emergence in public spaces like cafes, salons, and public meetings.
The second chapter examines the relationship between urban life and the public sphere. It explores how the rise of industrialization and urbanization transformed social interactions and led to the formation of distinct urban societies. The chapter discusses the characteristics of cities, such as their density, heterogeneity, and lack of traditional social ties.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The paper primarily focuses on the following keywords: public sphere, urban sociology, public space, private space, urbanism, industrialization, urbanization, social interaction, Enlightenment, social theory, Habermas, Lofland, Wirth.
- Quote paper
- Sarah Pust (Author), 2001, The Urban Public in Sociological Perspective, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/24811
