Disrupting Spaces

Homelessness and Political Agency in Venice, California

Bibliographic Data

ID22010506
AuthorsMary Louisa Cappelli (0000-0002-0419-9411, corresponding author)
Year2024
Volume14
Issue08
Pages442-468
Publication date2024-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAdvances in Applied Sociology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2165-4328 • E-ISSN: 2165-4336
PublisherScientific Research Publishing, Inc. (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.4236/aasoci.2024.148032
OpenAlexW4402064378
LanguageEN
References cited30

Visual occupation of homelessness in public places disrupts traditional notions of community and space and testifies to the power of personal and political agency of unhoused individuals. This case study examines the public display of homelessness and daily social encounters with encampments in Venice, California. Using photographic images to analyze the social articulation of resistance, agency, and performance, the study contends that homeless performance in public spaces directly resists societal norms and regulations, challenging community expectations. The spectacle and performance of homelessness serve as a subversive political discourse, confronting the audience with the harsh realities of American capitalism. By capturing the performative aspects of homelessness, I demonstrate how these visible acts serve as political statements, evoking a range of emotional responses and prompting a reevaluation of societal attitudes towards poverty and homelessness

Criminology · Political science · Politics · Social science · Sociology · Gender Studies · Homelessness and Social Issues · Law · Psychology · Public Administration · Social Psychology · Urban Planning and Governance · Urban, Neighborhood, and Segregation Studies

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Open DOIOpen Access