EMC: Abstract: Social Life of Small Urban Spaces, The

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Social Life of Small Urban Spaces, The

• 1981 ----- color ----- 58 min ----- vhs
• William H. Whyte's film, like his book, is about the open spaces of cities and why some of them work for people while others do do not. It is based on direct observation of what people do: their rituals in street encounters, for example, the tendency to reciprocal gestures in street conferences, the rhythms of the three-phase goodbye. A time-lapse study of crowding shows how people instinctively determine the carrying capacity of an urban space. Also looks at people's sitting behavior: the high-design artifacts they don't use, the ledges and benches they do, and such tremendous trifles as spaces two backsides deep and internal corners for people in groups.
• Topics: (Cities and Towns, Psychology: Social, Urban Planning/Restoration)

		Educational Media Collection risimiki@u.washington.edu Modified: January 11, 2007