ICONOGRAPHY AND LOCATIONAL CONFLICT FROM THE UNDERSIDE: FREE SPEECH, PEOPLE'S PARK, AND THE POLITICS OF HOMELESSNESS IN BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA

In: POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY QUARTERLY, Band 11, Heft 2, S. 152--169

Abstract

A NARRATIVE ACCOUNT OF THE HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY OF STRUGGLE IS DEVELOPED SHOWING THAT LOCATIONAL CONFLICT IS SYMBOLIC CONFLICT OVER THE CONSTRUCTION OF MEANINGS WITHIN PARTICULAR LANDSCAPES. THE CONGRUENCE OF ISSUES IN BERKELEY, AND CENTERED AROUND THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, UNDERSCORES THE COMPLEXITY, AS WELL AS THE IMPORTANCE, OF THE SYMBOLIC NATURE OF CONFLICT OVER THE USE AND CONTROL OF SPACE. THIS PAPER REVOLVES AROUND THE NOTION THAT USING PUBLIC SPACE AS A POLITICAL, SOCIAL AND SHELTER BASE BY THOSE EXCLUDED FROM THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS IS UNDERSTOOD BY THOSE PEOPLE AS A LEGITIMATE AND RIGHTFUL USE OF PUBLIC SPACE.