In Praise of Loitering
A possible remedy to sexual harassment and assault in public spaces is to encourage more people of all kinds to spend time on the streets.
Playing with Consciousness
Out-of-the-ordinary mental states are the goal of many religious rituals, but they’re also important in “playful” situations like kids’ games and fraternal hazing.
Ideal Missing Persons
Overrepresented as victims, missing white women and girls drive ratings and clicks for traditional and internet media.
Potluck Nation
Food in America is a living archive of exchange and adaptation, where “ethnic” cuisines blend and redefine what national identity tastes like.
We Descend from the River
Public spaces are often sites of commemoration of events in the nation’s history. But which public is represented in and served by those spatialized celebrations?
The Promise and Problems of Public Lands: A Reading List
Discover key research on U.S. public lands through scholarly works exploring conservation, Indigenous knowledge, and public policy.
Perspectives on Public Space: A Reading List
This list introduces some of the main debates about public space, from park politics to political protest, public expressions of sexuality to safety and security.
On the Meaning and Value of Public Spaces
What is public space? How is it produced, and why is that production important for our social and political lives?
Amy V. Margaris on the Role of the Archaeologist
Anthropological archaeologist Amy V. Margaris argues that to do our best science, we need a diverse group of practitioners—in the field and in the museum.
When You Know That Loan Won’t Be Repaid
Refusing to loan a friend money can have social repercussions. What strategies do would-be lenders use to make these interactions less fraught?