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The Constitutio n o f Interest s Rethinking Legalis m C h a p t e r 6 Representation a s power an d powe r a s representation ar e a sacrament i n imag e and a "movement" i n language where , exchanging thei r effects, th e dazzlin g gaze and th e admirin g reading consum e th e radiant bod y o f th e monarch. —Louis Marin , Portrait of the King Americans ofte n loo k to o har d for law , and, consequently, we tend t o look pas t it. We expect law s to be tucked away in the inner office s of law firms, in difficult-to-access law libraries, o r in obscure professiona l practices. But law also hides beneat h our noses, in social and cultural practices . This law that we don't notic e is powerful. A s part o f the landscape, legal practices determin e whose field the farmer plows—hi s own or that of another—or, just as inconspicuously, mark th e boundarie s o f suburba n plots and urban buildings . This legal landscape features zones of pornography , wher e the movie ratings di p to the botto m of the alphabet, an d metropolitan ghetto s wit h blac k a t the center an d whit e a t th e periphery . Even whe n w e don't notic e th e law we are in the landscape. More quie t tha n th e official lega l contexts that appear in the chronicles of public life— a trial , a hearing, an execution—features suc h a s rights, realism, remedies , and rage form the legal landscape for various movement activists. Right s ar e familiar . Th e other form s begi n t o complet e th e picture. I n the preceding chapters , we looked at some of these practice s 129 The Constitution of Interests Rethinking Legalism Chapter 6 Representation as power and power as representation are a sacrament in image and a "movement" in language where, exchanging their effects, the dazzling gaze and the admiring reading consume the radiant body of the monarch. -Louis Marin, Portrait of the I(ing A mericans often look too hard for law, and, consequently, we tend to look past it. We expect laws to be tucked away in the inner offices of law firms, in difficult-to-access law libraries, or in obscure professional practices. But law also hides beneath our noses, in social and cultural practices . This law that we don't notice is powerful. As part of the landscape, legal practices determine whose field the farmer plows-his own or that of another-or, just as inconspicuously, mark the boundaries of suburban plots and urban buildings. This legal landscape features zones of pornography , where the movie ratings dip to the bottom of the alphabet, and metropolitan ghettos with black at the center and white at the periphery. Even when we don't notice the law we are in the landscape. More quiet than the official legal contexts that appear in the chronicles of public life-a trial, a hearing, an execution-features such as rights, realism, remedies, and rage form the legal landscape for various movement activists. Rights are familiar. The other forms begin to complete the picture. In the preceding chapters, we looked at some of these practices 129 THE CONSTITUTIO N O F INTEREST S and tried to make them "problematic/ ' Sexuality , positivism, disputing , and pornography , a s political practices, ar e linked t o distinctiv e lega l forms that constitut e participation i n the political process. These forms, like the practice of rights, are ways to do things. Legal forms in the practices o f distinc t communities , suc h a s gays in Californi a appealin g t o constitutional rights or law professors i n Cambridge denyin g the utilit y of rights , fram e politica l interests . Thes e lega l frame s constitut e th e identities, guide the aspirations, and fuel th e interests that defin e poli tics in a legal order. Political interests and the activity that results from them challenge us in the search for law's role in political action. Movement practice in general and these forms i n particular ar e self-conscious. Becaus e they exis t in practice, the forms ar e taken fo r grante d onl y...

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