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Tyler Hovsepian
Professor Santosh
06 May 2016
ENGL 113B

Breathing in a Subjective Zone

The world is an enormous region where certain parts and objects have a certain purpose,
in which that purpose leads to a third space. Being in a third space means being completely
isolated from an individuals first and second space and focusing specifically on a certain matter.
There are different forms of a third space, including a Web 2.0 as well as a Physical. One of
which each has the same purpose as well as different factors that makes a variety of those spaces.
One example of each includes Instagram as a Web 2.0, and the shopping mall as a Physical.
Every individual has their own third spaces, but when it comes to Instagram and the mall they
both have similar differences that unwind to becoming a third space.
When it comes to Instagram, it's a third space that lets you unwind by spending time
away from your first and second spaces to catch up with the rest of the world. One of the features
that relates to this is Accessibility and Accommodation. Describing, where third places that
render the best and fullest service are those to which one may go alone at almost any time of the
day or evening with assurance that acquaintances will be there (Santosh, 1). As people enter the
social world of Instagram they are assured to have options of people to associate with or just
view their life. As stated in the article, How People Communicate on Instagram, Instagram has
created a strong social networking site that focuses strictly on the art of photo sharing as well as

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visual engagement and its really about taking a photo and allowing it to become an object of
value to other individuals (Eler, 1). This quote is explains how the main purpose of Instagram is
to engage with other individuals photos and well as having the option to communicate with them
which explains how Accessibility and Accommodation falls into this as a third space. Another
feature of third space that contributes with Instagram is Conversation. This explains nothing
more clearly indicates a third place than that the talk there is good; that it is lively, scintillating,
colorful, and engaging (Santosh, 1). As people engage while using Instagram they are falling
into a third space due to the fact all their surroundings dont have any matter at the moment and
that they are only focused on that one activity or conversation. One example of this matter stated
in the scholarly article Self-Loathing, you spend so much time creating flattering, idealized
images of yourself, sorting through hundreds of images for that one perfect picture, but you dont
necessarily grasp that everybody else is spending a lot of time doing the same thing (Winter, 1).
With the use of imagery this quote describes a clear example on how Instagram can relate to the
feature conversation; people spend so much time focusing on others pictures or what others have
messaged them in the past that they dont realize everyone else goes through the same issues

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with the use of this social network.

While Instagram is generally done on one's own time where individuals enter this third
space alone, shopping malls are visited by many and this third space involves more than just one
individual. These individuals may favor being surrounded by others in order to unwind. One
feature of third space that relates to the mall includes Neutral Ground. This is described as a
place where people might gather, or where individuals may come and go as they please, in
which none are required to play host and in which all feel at home (Santosh, 1). As stated in the
book What Americans Build and Why, The mall appears to meet any number of social needs

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teenagers have and may in fact address two different aspects of loneliness, intimate and social.
Intimate loneliness refers to the feeling isolated from others, whereas social loneliness takes in
not having people to talk to. Different aspects of the mall can address these issues for teenagers
(Devlin, 252). This quote uses visualization to describe how people use their third space to come
to the mall and communicate with a group of friends to help them with certain needs. Where as
being at home or work as a first or second space cannot deal with this issue. Another feature that
relates to Instagram comes from Home away from home. As described, if the third place
encourages playfulness and conversation, is inclusive and makes people feel welcome at any
time, then it doesnt have to force people to be regulars, they will just want to be (Santosh, 1).
In this case this quote describes the mall as a place where people are always welcome to be who
they want, buy what they want, and converse with others in order to satisfy their needs. Stated in
the article Gruens Third Spaces, It was Gruens idea that building the American mall would be a
space where people could interact and mingle publicly while simultaneously spending money.
Business, pleasure, and social interaction would blend to create a unique environment (Octagon,
1). This explains when people who go to the mall they go there for a specific purpose, whether it
is for shopping, eating, or meeting with someone, it is considered a third space due to being
around other people while preforming that activity. While people shop, they interact with the

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employees, when people order food they interact with cashiers; every part of the mall is a third

space.
As people continue to complete work and attempt to leave their homes, they will continue
to interact with their third space. This social zone can be accessed through Web 2.0 or physically.
While using Instagram people begin to focus specifically on other individuals pictures as well as
communicating with them through the network. As people enter the mall they are surrounded by
people in which they have no choice but to communicate with, which indicates the mall is a
physical third space that a person can be at rather than their first or second space. Everyone can
have their own third space where they are surrounded by a group of people, and depending on
what environment or social aspect that allows the individual to be confortable will give them
their space.

Work Cited

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Eler, Alicia. How People Communicate on Instagram Readwrite. 22 June 2012. Web. 06 May
2016.
Winter, Jessica. Self Loathing Slate. 23 July 2013. Web. 06 May 2016
Delvin. What American Build and Why. Web. 06 May 2016
Octagon, Kemety. Gruens Third Spaces. Dartmouth. 2016. Web. 06 May 2016