Ok so I've been doing some research for college (which is insane cause I haven't actually done anything yet!) and I came accross this cool thing called "Proxemics" which is basically our use of personal space based on our cultural backgrounds...
...and this guy Edward T. Hall devised 4 approximate interpersonal zones that people in middle class America (in the 50s and 60s) kinda just instinctively abide by:
...and this guy Edward T. Hall devised 4 approximate interpersonal zones that people in middle class America (in the 50s and 60s) kinda just instinctively abide by:
- Intimate = 6 - 18 inches - for embracing and whispering...
- Personal = 1.5 - 4 feet - for conversations among good friends...
- Social = 4 - 12 feet - for conversations among aquaintances...
- Public = 12 feet and Beyond - for public speaking...
And I think it's really cool cause it shows how comfortable people of different cultures, sex, class etc relate to each other and interpret each other.
We all carry around our own little "bubble" of personal space that we guard at all times against invasion or instrusion...
I'm gonna try and come up with some sort of installation piece or manipulate some space using this theory - it'll be art performing a social experiment/demonstration. I can play with how people interact with the piece depending on how close (as they percieve it) they are to certain elements and stuff...it's gonna be cool...I hope...
