Sunday, February 3, 2008

defining community

let's collect some thoughts on what constitutes a community. to get us started, i'll throw out a few definitions, as i'm prone to do. first from the ol' dashboard dictionary:

1. a group of people living together in one place, esp. one practicing common ownership. the people of a district or country considered collectively, esp. in the context of social values and responsibilities; society.
2. a group of people having a religion, race, profession, or other particular characteristic in common.
3. a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.
4. (ecology) a group of interdependent organisms of different species growing or living together in a specified habitat.

so, what can you add to that? what are the characteristics of a community as you see them? does your dept at kcai fit any of the definitions above? how is our notion of community different from that of our parents? when does a group cease to be called a community and is just acquaintences? let's hear it.

3 comments:

Morgan Ashley Allen said...

in contrast to the relationship we have with our parents, i feel like a community is defined by having a level of communication and respect that, well, doesn't always exist with our parents (let alone family as a broader term).

Cory Duplantis said...

i believe a community is defined when a whole becomes a group working together, interacting with one another in a peaceful manor. or...you could live in a community deep in a suburbia and never know your neighbors, or anyone outside of your own life, does that count as a community still? i know i lived in a community for quite sometime and didnt know anyone who didnt concern me or my interests.

Cassie said...

The difference between communities and a group of acquaintances is that a community while based on common values/goals/interests only become a community because of a desire to build relationships with those people. Acquaintances are the people that you meet in liberal art classes. While having similar interest (the class) when it is over that connection too is over. There has to be a drive/desire of companionship in order for a community to actual exist. Therefore I don't think a neighborhood necessarily implies a community.