Ray Oldenburg
Ray Oldenburg (April 7, 1932 – November 21, 2022) was an American
Personal life
Oldenburg was born in Henderson, Minnesota, on April 7, 1932.[1][2] He was raised by Grace and Raymond Oldenburg and lived a straight-forward life throughout high school and undergraduate school before serving in the army for two years in the South of France.[3] While continuing his academic career, he eventually married Judith Oldenburg at the age of 35, having three children and eight grandchildren.[3]
On November 21, 2022, aged 90, Oldenburg passed away.[2]
Academic career
Oldenburg was Professor Emeritus at the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at the
Philosophy
Oldenburg suggests that
Oldenburg identifies that each person has a first and second place, where the former represents environments that are informal and isolating (home) while the latter represents environments that are formal, structured, and mission-driven (work). Thus, the existence of third places offers individuals a neutral public space for connecting and establish bonds with others in a non-purposeful environment. Third places "host the regular, voluntary, informal, and happily anticipated gatherings of individuals beyond the realms of home and work."[6]
Oldenburg is primarily concerned by the disappearance of third places as suburbanization continues in modern societies. He is aware that modern suburbs only offer first and second places with a mandatory car-centric commute between them, and that "public" places have become commercialized to the extent in which one is required to purchase a good or service and is forbidden to "loitering."[7]
Bibliography
- Oldenburg, Ray (1989). The Great Good Place: Cafes, Coffee Shops, Community Centers, Beauty Parlors, General Stores, Bars, Hangouts, and How They Get You Through the Day. New York: Paragon House. ISBN 978-1-55778-110-9.
- Oldenburg, Ray (1991). The Great Good Place. New York: Marlowe & Company. ISBN 978-1-56924-681-8.
- Oldenburg, Ray (2000). Celebrating the Third Place: Inspiring Stories about the "Great Good Places" at the Heart of Our Communities. New York: Marlowe & Company. ISBN 978-1-56924-612-2.
- Oldenburg, Ray (2018). The Joy of Tippling: A Salute to Bars, Taverns, and Pubs. Great Barrington, Massachusetts: Berkshire Publishing Group. ISBN 978-1614728382.
References
- ^ Date information sourced from Library of Congress Authorities data, via corresponding WorldCat Identities linked authority file (LAF).
- ^ a b "Obituary for Ray Oldenburg at Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel". Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
- ^ a b c Batesville®. "Obituary for Ray Oldenburg at Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel". www.harpermorrismemorialchapel.com. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
- ^ "Ray Oldenburg". www.pps.org. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
- ^ Judkis, Maura (8 July 2015). "Did you buy that latte 2 hours ago? Think about leaving the coffee shop". Washington Post. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
- ^ "Biographical Information Ray Oldenburg". PPS :Project For Public Spaces.
- ^ "The great good place : cafés, coffee shops, bookstores, bars, hair salons, and other hangouts at the heart of a community | WorldCat.org". search.worldcat.org. Retrieved 2023-11-19.