Tragicomedy of the Commons
The “tragedy of the commons” is a well-worn trope: that the productive value of an open pasture will be destroyed by individuals who exploit it in their own self-interest. This premise has been used to justify enclosure and privatization — but it’s built on a falsehood! By definition, a “commons” is not a space where “anything goes”; rather, it’s a shared resource that is intentionally shepherded by people for mutual benefit.
In the first part of the class, we’ll breeze through the history, principles, and forms of “commons” and “commoning.” We will consider various signs of a rebirth of such spaces and practices (ecological, communal, organizational and digital).
The second half will explore a plan for the launch of a local “digital commons”: a ‘LocalWiki’ project (DistrictCommons.com). You’ll be invited to create pages for your own neighborhoods, cataloging the physical and resourceful commons within our own communities.
Location
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library
901 G St. NW
Washington,
DC
Neighborhood: Chinatown
Details
This class will take place in the Washingtoniana room on the third floor.
Past event