The University of San Francisco USF Scholarship: a digital repository @ Gleeson Library | Geschke Center Master's Theses Theses, Dissertations, Capstones and Projects Spring 3-21-2012 Anarchy, Play, and Carnival in the Neoliberal City: Critical Mass as Insurgent Public Space Activism John Andrew Blue [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.usfca.edu/thes Part of the Models and Methods Commons, Other International and Area Studies Commons, and the Political Theory Commons Recommended Citation Blue, John Andrew, "Anarchy, Play, and Carnival in the Neoliberal City: Critical Mass as Insurgent Public Space Activism" (2012). Master's Theses. 1121. https://repository.usfca.edu/thes/1121 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses, Dissertations, Capstones and Projects at USF Scholarship: a digital repository @ Gleeson Library | Geschke Center. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Theses by an authorized administrator of USF Scholarship: a digital repository @ Gleeson Library | Geschke Center. For more information, please contact [email protected]. University of San Francisco Anarchy, Play, and Carnival in the Neoliberal City: Critical Mass as Insurgent Public Space Activism A Thesis Presented to The Faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences Master’s Program in International Studies In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts in International Studies by J. Andrew Blue February 2012 i Anarchy, Play, and Carnival in the Neoliberal City: Critical Mass as Insurgent Public Space Activism In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree MASTER OF ARTS in INTERNATIONAL STUDIES by J. Andrew Blue February 2012 Under the guidance and approval of the committee, and approval by all the members, this thesis has been accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree. Approved: Thesis Advisor Date ________________________________ _______________________ Academic Director Date ________________________________ _______________________ ii TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................1 Statement of the Problem.....................................................................................1 Background and Need for Study ..........................................................................4 Critical Mass San Francisco: A Typical Ride............................................8 Research Questions and Purpose of Study..........................................................10 Theoretical Framework......................................................................................11 Methodology......................................................................................................13 Surveys ..................................................................................................14 On-Site Interviews..................................................................................16 Long-Form Interviews............................................................................17 Participant-Observations ........................................................................18 Content Analysis and First-Time Participant’s Written Account .............19 Data Organization and Analysis .............................................................19 Limitations of the Study.....................................................................................20 Significance of the Study ...................................................................................21 Explanation of Terms.........................................................................................22 CHAPTER 2: REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE....................................................24 Introduction .......................................................................................................24 The Necessity and Crisis of Public Space...........................................................25 The Necessity of Public Space................................................................25 The End of Public Space?.......................................................................27 The Automobile and Public Space..........................................................31 Insurgent Public Space.......................................................................................32 A Right to the City .................................................................................32 Agonism and Public Space as Emancipation...........................................33 An Issue That Brings People Together....................................................35 Critical Mass: an International Movement Born in San Francisco...........36 Relevant Theory ................................................................................................40 Anarchism..............................................................................................40 The Ludic City .......................................................................................42 Carnival .................................................................................................43 Détournement, Dérive and Tactical Urbanism ........................................45 Conclusions from the Literature Review ............................................................47 CHAPTER 3: FINDINGS FOR RESEARCH QUESTION ONE .............................49 Introduction .......................................................................................................49 Research Question One:.....................................................................................50 Diversity of Participation........................................................................50 Protest vs. Play ..................................................................................................52 Participant Survey Data..........................................................................52 Participant Interview Data ......................................................................54 Observer Survey and Interview Data ......................................................55 iii Participant-Observation Data..................................................................56 Carnival.............................................................................................................56 Anarchistic Elements .........................................................................................60 The Event’s Relationship to Public Space ..........................................................67 Participant Interview and Survey Data....................................................68 Participant Observations.........................................................................71 CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS FOR RESEARCH QUESTION TWO ............................74 Introduction .......................................................................................................74 Research Question Two .....................................................................................74 The Impact of Critical Mass on Observers and Observer Perceptions.................74 Survey Data............................................................................................75 Interview Data........................................................................................75 Participant Survey/Interview Data and Participant Observation Data ......76 Impact of Critical Mass on Participants..............................................................78 Interview and Survey Data .....................................................................78 Participant Observations.........................................................................82 CHAPTER 5: DISCUSSION, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS....85 Discussion: Research Question One ...................................................................85 Diversity ................................................................................................85 Protest vs. Play.......................................................................................86 Carnival .................................................................................................89 Anarchistic Elements..............................................................................91 Relationship to Public Space ..................................................................92 Discussion: Research Question Two ..................................................................95 The Impact of Critical Mass on Observers and Observer Perceptions......95 Impact on Participants ............................................................................97 Conclusions and Implications.............................................................................99 Recommendations for Further Study................................................................105 REFERENCES..........................................................................................................107 APPENDICES ...........................................................................................................114 APPENDIX A: Subject Bill of Rights and Consent Forms ...............................114 APPENDIX B: Survey Questions ....................................................................123 APPENDIX C: Survey Results ........................................................................124 APPENDIX D: Personal Account