Third Space and

Death of Friends
Dr. Will Kurlinkus
 What is the Critical Narration Project?

• In this project, due on or before November 23, you will choose a complex theory/topic from one of our
r e a d i n g s a n d d o a 3 - 5 m i n u t e p o p u l a r e x p l a n a t i o n o f i t f o r a p u b l i c a u d i e n c e ( t h i n k a f u n Yo u Tu b e v i d e o ) .
Yo u r g o a l i s t o i n t r i g u e a n d t e a c h s o m e t h i n g f r o m c l a s s .

• Yo u c a n e i t h e r d o a v i d e o e s s a y o r n a r r a t e d Po w e r Po i n t c o n v e r t e d i n t o a v i d e o .

• It must be centered around explaining one theoretical concept (though it may touch upon others). The
idea is to take a complex idea from one or several of our readings (what are the different types of
m e m o r y ? w h a t i s n o s t a l g i a ? H o w d o e s Fa c e b o o k f o r c e u s t o r e m e m b e r ? H o w a r e h i s t o r y a n d n a t i o n a l i s m
related?) and make it easy to understand.

• Yo u r n a r r a t i o n m u s t b e e n t i r e l y y o u r o w n t h o u g h b u t y o u a l s o m u s t a t l e a s t 1 a u t h o r s , t h e o r i s t s , o r
r e a d i n g f r o m c l a s s . L i k e a n a c a d e m i c e s s a y y o u h a v e t o t e l l u s w h e n y o u q u o t e . ( To q u o t e W i l l Ku r l i n k u s ,
…). Include a works cited at the end.

• I t m u s t i n c l u d e n u m e r o u s i n t e r e s t i n g e x a m p l e s a n d i m a g e s . N o t a b u n c h o f t e x t o n s c r e e n . Tr y t o
replicate the style of the sample videos.

• It must demonstrate the importance of knowing the concept.

• It must promote The cognitive treadmill effect: Good video essays move quickly from one clip to the
other̶rarely pausing to take a break. Viewers have to keep up. Donʼ t bore me. Speak faster than you
think you need to. This generally means switching images around every 20 seconds at the slowest pace.

• Feel free to do this on a concept from your midterm or final paper topic.
Third Space + Social Capital

• Third space: those spaces between work & home where

socialization happens (the coffee shop, the bar, etc.)

• Social capital: the value of close friendships in getting you

things you need (babysitters, job connections, etc.)

• Bonding social capital: friendship among people like you

• Bridging social capital: friendship that bridges across class,

religious, and racial groups
The Death of Adult Friendship

• Statistically people over thir ty have fewer and fewer close friends
(Williams).
• Work, children, moving, and general awkwardness combine with a
decrease in play-oriented local events like bowling leagues, block
par ties, and sewing circles, to destroy adultsʼ abilities to meet the
three conditions of meaningful friendship once so easy in
childhood: “proximity; repeated, unplanned interactions; and a
setting that encourages people to let their guard down and
conf ide in each other ” (Williams).
• Lack of adult friendship leads to earlier deaths