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Misael Ortega
Professor Santosh Khadka
English 113B Tu/Th 11:00 am
17 May 2016

Digital and Physical Space

Since the beginning of our planet and way beyond that space has existed, physical space.
We use physical space for different purposes like family space, workspace, eating space and for
everything that falls into physical. As time flew by, a new space has come to evolve, thousands
of years have passed a now we live in a world that now has digital space. The way this was
achieved was with the new technology that we have, this includes technological devices and its
social media apps. A physical space that is public is basically any type of space that can be easily
access I chose the Farmers Market. Same goes with Digital space, there are some things that are
private and some that are public, I chose snap chat because its private. Although Snap Chat and
Farmers Market are completely different spaces, they both share the characteristics of a public
space and third space which they share Leveler which is a place where everyone is equal like a
boss and his employee. Conversation which is somewhere you can communicate with different
people, and Regulars a place that has constant visits (it does not have to be an every day thing
but a constant thing).
Since snap chat is an example for digital space I will show you how it demonstrates
potential of it representing a public space and a third space. In source (2) you can see what snap
chat features, it features moments you can share with your friends in seconds. You can share by
two options, a direct snap with your friends which will only show for a maximum of 10 seconds
that can be replayed only once and be deleted for ever or a snap that can be but for 24 hours in
your story where your friends can see it obviously for 24 hours and be deleted after that time.

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This demonstrates how public it is to everyone. There is also another option which gets featured
in certain locations like Super Bowl, USAs Election Days, Los Angeles Story(things to do),
Soccer games(major sports games), Valentines Day, basically things like that, that can be viewed
by every user of snap chat. It also includes news (CNN), gossip (MTV), Food Network,
National Geographic, ESPN, Comedy Central, and many more. (Source (2))
As for Third space Oldenburg (1999) presents 8 characteristics but I will focus just on
three, which are leveler, conversation, and regulars. I use leveler because its definition gives it
all, it is a place that is open to the general public, were an employee is the same as the boss
(hierarchy does not matter) Anyone can use snap chat as they please because it is free and no one
would feel less than others because they have the same features for every user. Conversation has
a definition that the talk is good, it is lively, scintillating, colorful, and engaging. And in fact
many people choose to snap their friends because they know that the conversation will be good
and many people can be added to the friends list. You can get to know someone who you barley
met at the store and has a snap chat, it all just falls to whether you like engaging a conversation
with that person or not and if not than you can simply just block them and move on with other
friends. The last example is regulars, basically somewhere were you come back it can be hourly,
daily, or weekly its just the matter of time. Snap chat works within anyones availability and
comfort. Snap Chat has these three characteristics that help conclude that snap chat is in fact a
third space.
As for physical space CSUNs Farmers Market makes a great example as a public place
because anyone is allowed there and no one is exempt from it unless giving proper reason. You
see the Farmers Market is a perfect example because I can say that almost everyone has been to
market at least once. Its as public as it can be, lower class has to shop for groceries as do the

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upper class. I interviewed Roxana Sanchez and when asked if the farmers market was a public
or private space Roxana said, I think its public because anyone can come here and they dont
have a sign saying people cant come. I think it was a funny explanation but it is true because it
is not restricted area its open to everyone and anyone.
Now the farmers market is also considered a third space because it fills the 3
characteristics I chose: leveler, conversation, and regulars. I saw that its leveler because like
Roxana said, anyone can come here and they dont have a sign saying people cant come. I
also interviewed Saulo Velasquez and he mentioned how some students bring there parents to
buy at the CSUNs farmer market. This come to show that anyone one is welcomed and feel
equality among other consumers or people around them. When passing by the area of the farmers
market all I heard was lively conversations filled with interesting topics. This means it fulfills the
conversation characteristic. As for regulars the farmers market is once a week on Tuesdays, on
the few people I interviewed mentioned how they always go there on Tuesdays for the food and
the environment. So as a matter of fact the farmers market is a third space.
With points proven I can say that some digital and physical spaces share common
characteristics. Although Snap Chat and Farmers Market are completely different spaces, they
both share the characteristics of a public space and third space which they share Leveler which
is a place where everyone is equal like a boss and his employee. Conversation which is
somewhere you can communicate with different people, and Regulars a place that has constant
visits. Because a third space is a comfortable zone many desire I would recommend the farmers
market or any type of market when you need it and for the more modern people I would
recommend snap chat as a digital space for a third space environment. It has the qualities and
satisfactions of the third space and they can easily be access.

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Works Cited
2.http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/features/best%20Android%20apps%202014/new
%20images/snapchat-970-80.jpg
1.https://cdn2.voxcdn.com/thumbor/MThmxq8xSRmD8l0sq3yMx5zdiJU=/0x0:1019x679/1280x854/cdn0. voxcdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/37660894/snapchat_our_story_tiesto.0.png
3.https://moodle.csun.edu/pluginfile.php/3386442/mod_resource/content/1/Libraries%20as
%20Spaces%20Between%20Us%20Recognizing%20and%20Valuing%20the%20Third
%20Space.pdf
4.Interview Sanchez, Roxana
5.Interview Velasquez, Saulo