“The polis, properly speaking, is not the city-state in its physical location; it is the organization of the people as it arises out of acting and speaking together, and its true space lies between people living together for this purpose, no matter where they happen to be.”
In this sense, “the political realm” arises from between people speaking and acting together, and is formed around “the space where I appear to others as others appear to me.”
Arendt’s construction of the political realm necessitates an understanding of “public reality” as one of exposure; as she states: “For us, appearance – something that is being seen and heard by others, as well as by ourselves – constitutes reality.” This bringing into appearance is fundamental to the political realm, for it is here, under the “harsh light” of being public, that matters of the common world are worked out.
Arendt, H in LaBelle, B. (2018) Sonic agency: Sound and emergent forms of resistance. 1st edn. Cambridge: Goldsmiths, University of London.