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First Assignment

Three Key Ideas discussed in this text:

1) The definition of community provided clears a lot of things up for me. At first I was struggling to find a comprehensive definition of community, but there always seemed to be exceptions. Having two separate definitions (spatial/institutional and identity base) really helps my understanding of what this class addresses. 

2) I was struck by the assertion that most community based public works seek to create a community consciousness. The author described this action as paternal. I think so much charity is done out of this mind set. That the paternalism is patronizing. I see that in myself when I go to offer help, that I have something that I think someone else needs. I have to step back and see whether or not they might actually want it. I hope in this class we address how socially responsible work can engage communities without a colonial approach.

3) I find it fascinating that in many of the projects described the person who is “the artist” is not practicing traditional art. Their major contributions to their projects are leadership and knowledge, and that the art produced does not belong to them. Are social workers artists as well?


Three questions



1) I am a little confused still with the part about representational dynamic of community politics. The two definitions seem so definitive. The descriptions also seem critical, like either the person representing a group is a martyr or a user. Both seem manipulative. Are there other ways of defining the ways that groups gain representation?

2) In the reading a politically coherent community is described as forming in a response to a collective mode of oppression. Is that the only way a politically coherent community can be formed? I think I am missing what it means to be politically coherent. For example I think that an environmental conservation community could be formed due to precautionary measures. Ansel Adams wasn’t fighting global warming when he advocated for national parks, he was just trying to protect areas of wilderness. Can a politically coherent community be precautionary?


3) What is a moral economy of capitalism? There is a really long sentence with very complex words talking about conservative arguments and  liberal reform. Honestly I get scared when ever politics begin to play a part in doing good because politics are connected to larger immovable machines. When doing good becomes political I see it shut down under the weight of competing parties.

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