In this meeting, the idea of self introduced in the previous class was expanded upon.  Specifically, how the idea of self has changed as societies changed in relation to the public sphere.  The other sense of self that was introduced was the different aspects of a person that manifests in the written word, as opposed to their personal communication.  This idea by itself spoke to me, because I personally have noticed that everyone, myself included, expresses themselves differently by writing than by talking to express the message.

The public sphere-  American society, decades ago, placed more importance in logic and constraint when someone addressed other members of society, especially in the public sphere.  There would be no howling activists using emotional pleas to attempt change, but instead more civil discussions.  This goes in conjunction with another point on public speaking — “the personal is not political.  With this point, people were not really supposed to discuss “matters of the privacy” in public, namely sexuality, bodily functions, and other private acts, especially when trying to enact change in a governmental forum or for a cause.

I would have to say that I agree with the second of these points.  I feel that what one does in the privacy of their home or bedroom have no place in matters which concern the public.  And in regard to the first point of the previous paragraph, I don’t necessarily believe that emotion is not appropriate for public discourse, but I do think that personal urges and behaviors should be limited for the sake of civility.

I do acknowledge that there might be more elements to the public self than what I have learned about thus far.