ASSESSMENT 2: APPLIED ANALYSIS
Task
Within a topic of your choice, critically analyse how concepts of the public have structured attitudes and behaviour. In particular, pay attention to –
(a) criteria for categories derived from these concepts, and
(b) their normative implications
(c) division and its effects
(d) steps taken to address division
You may, but do not have to, give your essay a title of your own choice. Any title will not be included in the word count.
Word limit: 3, 000 words.
Note: essays can exceed the word limit by 10%, but no more.
The essay counts for 70% of the marks for this module.
Your work should:
1. Demonstrate a clear and critical understanding of theoretical constructions of the public relevant to your subject.
2. Show an ability to critically apply that understanding to the analysis of attitudes and behaviour in respect of your topic.
3. Present clear arguments for the conclusions and insights you seek to draw, grounded in evidence specific to your subject area.
4. Be clearly structured, presented and organised.
Divided Publics?
Handout
WEEK 7.1 CHOOSING AN APPLIED ESSAY TOPIC – SOME
GUIDANCE
Initial steps
Locate an area where the notion of “the public” is an important organising concept. This might be explicit, for example the public sector, public interest, public health, or public art. It might also be implicit, for example the environment, regeneration partnerships, or political morals.
How is the term “the public” used?
NB: this investigation is sociological, as well as conceptual, so the following dimensions of use are important to consider –
Differences over time – has usage changed over time?
Differences across people – who uses it and how?
So, for example, the same group of people may use the term differently over time, or different groups may use it differently. Note that these usages might not always be explicit – they may have to be inferred.
Relate use of “the public” to framework & theories of ‘the public’ we’ve looked at:
1. Is it part of a dichotomy? Or is there more than one category? Or is it a continuum?
2. Criteria: What determines what is public, and what is private? Is this a clear criterion?
3. Dimensions
i. Interest – end of action
ii. Agency – scope of action
iii. Access – object of action
NB: Different usages and, as we have seen, different theories of the public may emphasise one or more of these dimensions, and/or de- emphasise others e.g. ‘sociability’ versions of the public, such as Sennett’s, downgrade interests in favour of (personal/impersonal) roles.
4. Normative implications – how is the particular notion of the public you have chosen used to justify action, or restrict or guide behaviour?
Action and behaviour could include an organisation or group’s policy, but might not. What purposes does this categorisation serve?
This framework will help make clear the versions of “the public” advanced in the sphere you’ve chosen. However, be careful here. At this stage you are trying to accurately represent views expressed in the world.
Where these are ambiguous or unstated, you should not seek to cram them into your framework. Simply note the scope of ambiguity or gap in articulation.
Once you have identified the different descriptive and normative uses of “the public” in the sphere in which you are interested, you can then use the framework to relate those uses to the theories of “the public” we’ve been looking at in the conceptual part of this course.
Again – don’t expect the fit to be perfect. Viewpoints advanced by particular individuals or groups might combine elements of different approaches, or might slip from one to another over time. Moreover, you may come across novel formulations of “the public.”
Noting how these deviate from the models we have been looking at will help you think about their implications, however. Note these different features.
They will be important in your analysis.
This process of relating uses of “the public” in the area in which you are interested to theories of “the public” will allow your analysis to be informed by your knowledge of the commitments, strengths and weaknesses of these different models, and whether “real world” uses conform or deviate from these models. In doing this, you will bedrawing on your critical knowledge and discussion of the commitments of these models in our lectures and seminars.
You should then use these elements to assess and explain the influence of notions of “the public” on action and behaviour within the area you have chosen.
Consider in particular any divisions, and how these relate to the way in which the public is conceived. What effect have these divisions had? Do they threaten the dominant conception of the public? In what way?
Similarly, consider any steps to address these divisions, and their underlying conceptions of the public. Or, if no steps have been taken, try to explain why this might be, again relating to the underlying dimensions of the public that are important have been taken, try to explain why this might be, again relating to the Divided Publics?
