Symbolic Interactionism in Sidewalk Culture Book Report

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Within this sidewalk culture, patterns of interaction emerge. An example would be Hasan's role not only as a vendor, but also as a conversationalist for his customers, discussing topics that pertain to or about the merchandise that he sells, which are second-hand books.

A second feature that reflects symbolic interactionism in sidewalk culture as determined by the author is the assignment of specific roles by its members, and this is illustrated in the story of Alice, the tradebooks and popular pocketbooks vendor, and Hasan, the "black books" seller. Both are book vendors, yet, in the sidewalk culture, Hasan maintains a more personal relationship with his customers, letting their business transaction go beyond the purchase of books to discussing issues that his customers may deem important for them to discuss with him (Hasan).

Sidewalk" assumes a symbolic interactionist perspective through its third feature, which is the temporariness of the sidewalk culture itself.

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Since this culture is informal and its members temporarily bound to the urban space (sidewalks), interaction is also temporary, despite its having developed a pattern and certain set of rules that its members adhere to everyday. The temporariness of sidewalk culture is elucidated by Duneier, wherein he illustrates Hasan's merchandise as subject to 'destruction' or dissolution by a formal structure such as the New York City police: "...the police throw their merchandise, vending tables, clothes, and family photos in the back of a garbage truck when they leave the block to relieve themselves..." These points illustrate how, through narratives and personal accounts of the author about sidewalk culture, Duneier were able to capture the essence of a society or community determined and analyzed through the symbolic interactionist perspective......

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