ABSTRACT
The aim of this chapter is to re-center material space in the performance of democracy while acknowledging that the production of space relies on both conceptual and material realms. One of the goals of the paper is to test a rubric for assessing the "publicness" of a physical space by amending Lessig's model for virtual space. The chapter elaborates on what is meant by public space and why it is so important for democratic societies. The media transmission of messages from material to virtual space is key. A shift from material to more conceptual notions of public space reflects a societal shift away from face-to-face communication in favor of virtual social networks. Earlier researchers have argued for a careful analysis of sites of resistance to strengthen our conceptions of democracy. Following Irazábal, the chapter focuses on ordinary places that host extraordinary events.
