@misc{10481/86652,
year = {2023},
month = {12},
url = {https://hdl.handle.net/10481/86652},
abstract = {The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown in Spain during Spring 2020 resulted in a ban on most uses of public
space, producing a social redefinition of not only public spaces, but also private spaces such as homes. This paper
examines the discourses related to balconies that appeared at this time on Twitter (X), an intermediate microspace and hybrid between the public and private. The study uses data from tweets posted in Spain during the
strictest phase of the lockdown (from 15 March to 1 May 2020). Based on a descriptive analytical approach –
both quantitative and textual – the study applies text content analysis and natural language processing to identify
and analyse the main topics of conversation related to the use of balconies. The study brought to light two
primary and complementary results. Firstly, the balcony during the pandemic became a revitalized space in an
exceptional situation, partially adapting to the most common practices characteristic of public space and thus
reaffirming the importance of the existence of public spaces for citizen encounters. Secondly, the various uses of
balconies received different types of attention and generated stronger or weaker interactions on social networks,
demonstrating the complexity and diversity of relationships with public spaces.},
organization = {MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033  PID2020.119569GA.I00},
organization = {Junta de Andalucía MOVICRA (P20_00571)},
organization = {FEDER “Una
manera de hacer Europa”},
publisher = {Elsevier},
keywords = {Social Media},
keywords = {Public Space},
keywords = {Liminal spaces},
keywords = {COVID-19},
keywords = {Natural language processing},
keywords = {Topic modelling},
title = {The new town square: Twitter discourses about balconies during the 2020 lockdown in Spain},
doi = {10.1016/j.cities.2023.104595},
author = {Mesa Pedrazas, Ángela and Nogueras Zondag, Roberto and Duque Calvache, Ricardo},
}