Security devices in the metropolis: semiotics of the city

Insecurity, violence and fear generate transformations in the urban space, as well as new forms of social discrimination. Our objective is to deepen the perception of insecurity, for this reason we ask ourselves: What are the forms and consequences with which the security representation devices operate in the city of Lima? From an approach that combines the contributions of cultural studies and semiotic models applied to the city, a selection of cases was carried out that combine three types of urban spaces: private space, semi-public space and public space in three socioeconomic sectors of the city of Lima (A, C and E).

1) The definition of public and private needs to be redefined mainly because public life is made in private spaces.

2) Security devices are transversal in the city.

3) Confinement is privileged over displacement.

4) There is a contrast between the legal and the moral level on the possession of space. Thus there are areas that, despite being public (legally) are morally claimed as private