The Use of Public Space in Mexico

1
The Use of Public Space in Mexico

• Past and Present

2
The 3 Elements of Culture

• In foreign language teaching we attempt to help
  our students understand culture by breaking it
  down into the following three elements
• Products the what of a culture
• Practices the how of a culture
• Perspectives the why of a culture

3
Products

• The products of a culture are what the people
  of the culture produce.
• These products can be tangible or intangible
• For example food, celebrations, clothing, art,
  literature, educational or legal systems

4
Practices

• The practices of a culture are the how
  something is done.
• For example
• What people do
• How they interact with each other
• How they celebrate
• How they act

5
Perspectives

• The perspectives of a culture is the why behind
  what products they produce and the why behind
  the how of their practices. It is the way
  people think. It is the attitudes, beliefs, or
  values of a culture.
• For example
• Why is Mexican candy covered in chili powder?
• Why are tortillas served with every meal?

6
The 3 Elements of Culture

• We will use these three criteria to not only
  understand the overall concept of the use of
  public space, but also to understand each
  product or practice listed for the past and
  present and the perspective behind it.

7
Questions to Ponder

• What is/was done there? Why?
• What happens/happened there? Why?
• How are/were these public spaces used? Why?
• Who do/did we see there? Why?
• Who uses/used these spaces? Why?

8
The Past

• Pyramids/Temples
• Ceremonial Centers
• Markets/Workshops
• Gathering places
• Ball courts
• Gardens/Farming

9
The Present

• Churches/Monasteries/Convents
• Universities
• Parks
• Markets
• Museums
• Government Buildings
• Restaurants/Cafés

10
The Use of Public Space in the United States

• A Comparison

11
Questions to Ponder

• What do we see here in the US in our public
  spaces today, in the past?
• How are these public spaces used today, in the
  past?
• In what ways are/were they used?
• Why do we use them in this way?