SOCI 2150 Study Guide - Backpack, Attention
Document Summary
5 basic norms of a public realm action guide how we act; how we fill in the blanks (script: cooperative movement. How: size up circumstances + options, act. If we must, make self small, say sorry/excuse me. Special script people must also do something special. Americans usually go towards the right (normalized: civil inattention: Mutual noticing among co-presents essential ex. sitting on a bus and staring at people. Expected in public realm (expected to be seen). Yet normative constraints on mutual noticing (not disattention; simply normative disinterest) Practiced in every realm; on buses, restaurants, bars, sidewalks, physician, dentist, hospital. Forms of dis-interested noticing: expressionless face: blank, fleeting stare. Non-invitational: ritual regard; avoids overload polite, not social shut down, know how to act/react. Consequences: co-presence without co-mingling awareness, but no engagement or direct contact courtesy, unspoken, without direct contact. Audience for activity are part of situation. Hegel alive, working public realm; compromise (black and white = grey)
