Porch sitting
Encyclopedia
Porch sitting, i.e., sitting on a front porch
or stoop
, usually of a private residence is a leisure
activity which can be a direct or indirect form of social interaction. While engaged in "porch sitting", people may "cat call" or talk to and comment on those passing by. This activity is a staple of most urban areas in the United States, and helps contribute to a lively atmosphere, for those sitting and also those passing by. This activity is most common during good weather, especially on warm summer nights and weekends.
Porch sitting was once considered to be a status symbol.
As well as being a good way to connect with neighbors, it also is an important form of community security, helping to prevent crime. Front porches were originally mandated in the planned community of Seaside, Florida
as a way to reduce air conditioning usage. Its planners then perceived an enhanced sense of community and front porches subsequently became an important element in the New Urbanism
movement. During the summer of 2006, All Things Considered
broadcast a series of stories dedicated to the role of the front porch in US life and literature.
There are now thousands of porch sitters unions in all 50 states in the United States of America and at least three other countries.
Other causes of a decline of porch sitting are television
, which provides other entertaining sights, and the motor car, which made street views more noisy and unpleasant.
in literature,
and in linguistics.
Henry Church, an aged ex-British soldier from the Revolutionary War, was noted for his porch sitting in sight of the station and the town of Hundred
was then named after him.
The Don Knotts Show
had a regular feature, The Front Porch, in which the host
and his guest would sit in rocking chair
s in a porch and talk philosophically.
The ethnic slur "porch monkey" is an insinuation that African Americans spend excessive amount of time porch sitting.
In the film Friday
, the main characters spend most of their day porch sitting.
Porch
A porch is external to the walls of the main building proper, but may be enclosed by screen, latticework, broad windows, or other light frame walls extending from the main structure.There are various styles of porches, all of which depend on the architectural tradition of its location...
or stoop
Urban stoop
In urban architecture, a stoop is a small staircase ending in a platform and leading to the entrance of an apartment building or other building.-Etymology:...
, usually of a private residence is a leisure
Leisure
Leisure, or free time, is time spent away from business, work, and domestic chores. It is also the periods of time before or after necessary activities such as eating, sleeping and, where it is compulsory, education....
activity which can be a direct or indirect form of social interaction. While engaged in "porch sitting", people may "cat call" or talk to and comment on those passing by. This activity is a staple of most urban areas in the United States, and helps contribute to a lively atmosphere, for those sitting and also those passing by. This activity is most common during good weather, especially on warm summer nights and weekends.
Porch sitting was once considered to be a status symbol.
As well as being a good way to connect with neighbors, it also is an important form of community security, helping to prevent crime. Front porches were originally mandated in the planned community of Seaside, Florida
Seaside, Florida
Seaside is an unincorporated master-planned community on the Florida panhandle in Walton County, between Panama City Beach and Destin. The town has become the topic of slide lectures in architectural schools and in housing-industry magazines, and is visited by design professionals from all over the...
as a way to reduce air conditioning usage. Its planners then perceived an enhanced sense of community and front porches subsequently became an important element in the New Urbanism
New urbanism
New Urbanism is an urban design movement, which promotes walkable neighborhoods that contain a range of housing and job types. It arose in the United States in the early 1980s, and has gradually continued to reform many aspects of real estate development, urban planning, and municipal land-use...
movement. During the summer of 2006, All Things Considered
All Things Considered
All Things Considered is the flagship news program on the American network National Public Radio. It was the first news program on NPR, and is broadcast live worldwide through several outlets...
broadcast a series of stories dedicated to the role of the front porch in US life and literature.
There are now thousands of porch sitters unions in all 50 states in the United States of America and at least three other countries.
Sitting equipment
- In certain Brazilian fishing households, families may use stoolStool (chair)A stool is one of the earliest forms of seat furniture. It consists of a single seat, without back or arms rests, on a base of either three or four legs. A stool is distinguished from chairs by their lack of arms and a back...
s. - Some porches have rocking-chairRocking chairA rocking chair or rocker is a type of chair with two curved bands of wood attached to the bottom of the legs . The chair contacts with the floor at only two points, giving the occupant the ability to rock back and forth by shifting his/her weight or pushing lightly with his/her feet...
s.
Sociology
Some see a potential downside of sitting on porches: the intrusiveness of porch-based surveillance.Decline
It was formerly cooler out on the porch than it was inside the house, on hot summer days. Air conditioning has thus replaced porch sitting, people able to socialize in the comfort of their homes, although porch sitting is still common in areas where the climate is nice.Other causes of a decline of porch sitting are television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
, which provides other entertaining sights, and the motor car, which made street views more noisy and unpleasant.
Porch-sitters
"Porch-sitters" form a recognized group in marketing,in literature,
and in linguistics.
Henry Church, an aged ex-British soldier from the Revolutionary War, was noted for his porch sitting in sight of the station and the town of Hundred
Hundred, West Virginia
Hundred is a town in Wetzel County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 344 at the 2000 census. It was named for Henry Church and his wife, the first settlers who lived to be 109 and 106. Hundred is the only place in the United States with this name.Hundred is so named because Henry...
was then named after him.
The Don Knotts Show
The Don Knotts Show
The Don Knotts Show was a variety program aired by NBC as part of its 1970-71 lineup.Long relegated to the role of sidekick, which he had portrayed for many years in several television series and films, Don Knotts was the headliner here. Each week, he and his guests put on standard TV variety fare...
had a regular feature, The Front Porch, in which the host
Don Knotts
Jesse Donald "Don" Knotts was an American comedic actor best known for his portrayal of Barney Fife on the 1960s television sitcom The Andy Griffith Show, a role which earned him five Emmy Awards...
and his guest would sit in rocking chair
Rocking chair
A rocking chair or rocker is a type of chair with two curved bands of wood attached to the bottom of the legs . The chair contacts with the floor at only two points, giving the occupant the ability to rock back and forth by shifting his/her weight or pushing lightly with his/her feet...
s in a porch and talk philosophically.
The ethnic slur "porch monkey" is an insinuation that African Americans spend excessive amount of time porch sitting.
In the film Friday
Friday (film)
Friday is a 1995 stoner comedy-drama-buddy film directed by F. Gary Gray. Starring Ice Cube, Chris Tucker, Nia Long, Bernie Mac, Tommy Lister, Jr...
, the main characters spend most of their day porch sitting.