Secret Equators
References
HPRES 4016-001: Cultural Landscapes
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Chauncey,George.GayNewYork:Gender,UrbanCulture, andtheMakingoftheGayMaleWorld,1890-1940Basic Books,1994.
Chomsky,Noam.OccupyWallStreet:Rebellionand SolidarityintheWakeoftheFinancialCrisis.ZuccottiPark Press,2012.
Conover,TedCheapLandColorado:Off-Griddersat America'sEdgeKnopf,2022
Elkin,Lauren.Flâneuse:WomenWalktheCityinParis,New York,Tokyo,Venice,andLondon.Farrar,StrausandGiroux, 2017.
Foucault,Michel“OfOtherSpaces”Diacritics,vol16,no1, 1986,pp22–27
Nelson,TimothyE.“Blackdom,NewMexico.”NewMexico HistoricalReview,vol.87,no.1,2012,pp.1–34. Solnit,Rebecca.InfiniteCity:ASanFranciscoAtlas. UniversityofCaliforniaPress,2010 Calvino,ItaloInvisibleCitiesTranslatedbyWilliam Weaver,HarcourtBraceJovanovich,1974.
Onother spaces
Heterotopias disrupt the ordinary flowofplacesweknow,holding contradictionsandlayeredmeanings withinthem Theysitsomewhere between the familiar and the strange, tugging at the seams of reality to create pockets where differentrulesapply.Thesespaces exist both within and apart from their environments, blending the mundanewiththeunexpected,the privatewiththepublic,therealwith theimagined.
In a heterotopia, ordinary boundaries are blurred, creating zoneswherecultural,personal,and historicalelementsmeetandclash a theater of coexistence that challengestheideaofstableground. Theyembodytheparadoxofbeing anchoredandyetapart,askingusto reconsider what spaces mean and whattheyhold
Heterotopians
AlI shape and am shaped by places. Midwesternasinsoftfieldsmeetinghard horizons.Glacialasintheweightoftime pressingagainstyou,slowbutinevitable, shaping your thoughts into ephemeral pools.Bog-likeasinrootedandfading, holdingmemoryinitsviscosity,ahabitat forwhathassunktoodeeptoretrievebut cannotbeforgotten.Fragmentedasinevery pixelstitchingtogetheramapoftheself, incompletebuttrue.
PhilipIamanurbanist,writer,andeducator.Icofounded the urban planning and placemaking think tank, Public Sphere Projects.Mywritingexploresthechanging, contestedAmericanlandscape.Throughmy professionalpractice,Iadvisegovernments andinstitutionsonstrategiestoinvigorate public life, honor the character of communities,andenhancesharedspaces.
Sophia
Myonlywishistotakeyouonaride aroundSouthernCalifornia’sstrangehistory toldviarumorsandgossiplaterconfirmed by slightly more reliable sources {wikipedia,reddit}.Iaminterestedinhow theoralhistoriesandcollectivememoryof theplaceIgrewupinhasmappeditself ontomyownwayofmovingthroughthe world.HowdoesAmericanfantasyfailor validateitselfthroughcampandkitsch?
Formoreinfoonmyfantasysuitemotel staysinvestigatehere @spoiledstrawberrieoninsta
disease least like life and huge information that my the valuable heterotopias collectiveworldbuilding, roleplayingservers.
Maxine
Havingspentmuchofmylifemovingfrom placetoplace,thelongestIhavestayedin onelocationisthreeyears.Alongtheway,I have experienced many different heterotopias.You’llmostoftenfindmein the heterotopias of airports, interstate highways, or schools. My favorite heterotopias,however,areliminalspaces.
I'vealwaysfoundmyselfdrawntothespace thatexistsbetweentheart,thepeople,and thephysicalspacethatholdsusalltogether. How is something that is seemingly “nothing”sofullofeverything–emotions, rules,unspokens,andmore?Thisquestion hasfollowedmemywholelifeasIenter newspacesandmeetnewpeople.This project is a personal exploration of my feelingsaboutsomeofthesemore heterotopic spaces,bothphysicalandvirtual.
Jreality complexrelationshipbetweenindividuals andsociety,fantasyandreality.Inopen worlds,multiplayergames,orvirtualreality, thegamespacebecomesaparallelexistence wherephysicalrules,socialstructures,and values differ or even subvert reality. It provides refuge from societal pressures, allowingmetoredefinemyidentityand experienceaformoftranscendence.
Commercial
Welcometothewildworldofstripmalls,garagesales,onlinebidding,and shoppinginthesky.InWilliamLeach’sLandofDesire,departmentstoresof the19thandearly20thcenturiesexemplifyheterotopias.Thesestoresweren’t justplacestoshop;theywerecarefullydesignedtofeellikemagicalworlds wheredreamsanddesirescametolife.Throughelegantdisplays,lavish interiors, and unique shopping experiences, department stores offered a reprievefromdailylife.Theyofferedaglimpseofwhopeoplecouldaspireto be.Atthesametime,theyshapedhowpeoplethoughtaboutstatus,identity, andconsumptionbytyinghappinessandsuccesstothethingstheybought. Leach’sworkshowshowthesespacesdidn’tjustreflectsociety’svalues they activelychangedthem.Departmentstoresbecameplaceswherepersonal dreamsmetpublicspectacle,fuelingconsumercultureandredefiningtheway peopleinteractedwiththemodernworld.CharlesStanfordtookusonatour ofwhatwasonceChicago’sownfantasticaldepartmentstore,MarshallField’s, nowacquiredbyMacy’s.CompletewithaTiffanyceiling,thismagicalspace wassomewhereyoucouldparkyourcarriageandenjoyamealawayfromthe horsepoop-riddenstreets.Remnantsofthisfantasystillglimmerinthe ChristmaswindowdisplaysatMacy’s.
SpiritHalloween
In1983,JoeMarveropenedatemporary pop-upshopintheCastroValleyMallmall. Afterseeingthesuccessofthistemporary pop-upJoeMarverwouldcontinuewith openingitannuallyduringthefallmonths Thispop-upshopwasthestartofwhat wouldbelaterknownasSpiritHalloween. ThestoreisnowownedbySpencersafter havingboughtitfromitsfounderin1999. Inthedecadesthatithasbeenaround, SpiritHalloweenhasbecomepopularand nowhasaround1,500thatopenforthe monthsofHalloweeneveryyear.Similarto ghosts,thestoreisknownforitshabitof possessing an empty building for those monthsbeforeHalloween
Alotofthebuildingsthatittendstopossess arebuildingsthatwereonceinhabitedby ToysRUs.Morerecentlythereisnowa SpiritChristmasthatistobeopenedduring thewintermonthsbeforeChristmas This one,likeitssibling,willbefillingempty buildingswiththespiritofChristmas.This commercial heterotopia is centered on holidays,specificallyHalloweenandmore recently Christmas Once you step into thesespaceseveryshelf,wall,andfreearea is filled to the brim with decorations, costumes,andmostotherthingsneededfor itsspecifiedholiday.
Thisisaspacethatdisruptstraditional markets,offeringakindofchaoticintimacy
Facebook Marketplace Victoria’s Secret
isadigitalcrossroadswheretheboundaries betweenprivateandpublicspacedissolve. Sinceitslaunchin2016,ithasemergedasa strange,livingmarketwherepeopletrade goods anever-shiftingtapestryofneeds, offers,andstories Itexistsontheedgeof ourcurateddigitalselves,aplaceapartyet embeddedinthefamiliarrhythmsofonline life.Thisisaspacethatdisruptstraditional markets,offeringakindofchaoticintimacy where strangers trade household relics, sharedcuriosities,orpiecesoflivesmoving inandoutoffocus framedbythestrange quietofaprofilephotoandthetentative trustofachatbubble.
founded in 1977 by Roy and Gaye Raymond,beganwithafewcatalogs.VS promisedasexyVictorianfantasy,withthe catalogsaddressmarkedinLondonwhile therealfirstlocationwasinColumbus, Ohio A commercial heterotopia, VS createsafantasyforteenagegirlstocraft themselves “woman” with cheetah bombshellbrasandfruitybodyspray.The Victoria Secret’s Fashion Show solidified thedesiretolooklikeasupermodelora playboybunny Evenasteensweknewit wasfishy,creatingrumorsaboutthereal secretbeingitwasownedbysomecreepy guy named Victor. As a true American offering,VSmadelingeriemoreattainable for the everyday, not just for special occasions.
thedesiretolooklikeasupermodel
oraplayboybunny
Victoria's Secret models visit Guantanamo, December 2007
WaterTower Place
Openedin1976withitsoriginalfeatures including 8 levels; a chrome and glass atrium, and glass elevator and it is thought to be the first urban vertical shoppingmall.Itcouldholdnearly100 shops,alivetheater,andseveralrestaurants. TherewasaRitz-CarltonHotel,Marshall Field’sCoandLord&TaylorAtthetime thesestoreswereamiddle-classreprieve from the high-end luxury stores that surroundtheMall.
Thisoncebrightlightofcheapfashionina seaofexpensiveshoppingisnowamostly emptymallwithtwoorthreeflagshipstores left,buttheydon’tcompare.Itisaneerie spacetowalkthroughbecausethevisual allureandsenseofhistoryareteemingwith theunknown,but…becauseitisalways empty,you’realmostalwaysguaranteedto findastorewithaclearancesale–perhaps stillholdingtruetoitsvaluesofaffordable shopping
CentroComercial Mitikah, MexicoCity
CentroComercialMitikahinMexicocityisaselfdescribed“luxuryfashionmall.”Withfivefloors, twodepartmentstores,amovietheater,andmany many shops (most high end) in between, it definitelyfitsthatdescription Thenotablepart aboutthemall,however,isitslocation–it’spartof a complex including a hospital, apartment buildings,grocerystores,andofficespaces.Itis thetallestskyscraperinMexicoCity
inanareawithformerzoninglawsthatdisallowed anybuildingsbeyondacertainheight,makingita divisive place amidst locals and residents. It functionsasacitywithinacityand,intheory,you wouldnothavetoleavethecomplexatalltolivea normalandwell-functioninglife
Someofthecuriositiesinthesideincludebutare notlimitedto:medicalofficesbeingafewfloors rightabovethemovietheater–whichmeansyou cantakethestairsfromtherapydowntosneakinto themovies,apreservedculturalartifactyoucan reachbywalkingtotheverybackofthemallinto anemptyoutdoorsarea(thegovernmentdidnot allowdeveloperstoremoveit),andASurprising AmountofDogs.
Shanghai’s ThousandTrees
Shanghai’s Thousand Trees is a shopping mall renownedforitsinnovativearchitecturaldesignby Heatherwick Studio. Inspired by the “vertical forest”concept,thebuildingintegratesgreenery intoitsstructure,creatingafuturisticecological commercialspaceThisdesignnotonlyreimagines traditionalmallaestheticsbutalsoprovidesurban greeningandsocialspaces.
Themalloffersmorethanshopping,incorporating dining, entertainment, and social functions, presenting a “utopian” lifestyle that promotes leisure and consumption in a modern, green setting.However,localsholdmixedopinions.Its locationhasdisruptedtrafficandinconvenienced nearby residents Additionally, its design, with extensive greenery, is perceived by some as resemblingalargetomb asymbolofbadluckin local culture. While the concept aligns with Western architectural trends, it clashes with traditional Eastern sensibilities, highlighting culturaldifferencesinurbandesign
Intheearly20thcentury
Shanghai'smodernindustrialtrend emergedalongtheSuzhouRiver
DayangJingdianTiananQianshuPhaseI shoppingmallofficiallyopened
Intheearly21stcenturyduetothemanagement ofSuzhouRiver,industrygraduallywithdrewfrom thebanksofSuzhouRiver
Rong'sFuxinFlourFactorywasestablished contributing60%ofShanghai'sflourproduction
1956
TiananGroupplansdesignsanddevelops theformersiteofFuxinFlourFactory
FuxinandFufengFlourFactorymerged 2001 2004
TherelevantdepartmentsofShanghai havemadeitclearthatthepropertyrights oftheoldbuildingsoftheformerFuxin FlourMillandtheformerFufengMachinery FlourMillonthelandparcelbelongto TiananGroup
SymbolismSimulation Safety
Chinatownsarethemostubiquitousethnicheterotopiaglobally.However well-lovedtheseneighborhoodsarenow;theiroriginsaremuchdarkerthan theymightfirstappear.Chinatownsarosetosurviveandthriveamongthe rampantracismfacedbyChineseimmigrants.In1882,theChineseExclusion Actwaspassed,anditmarkedthefirstmajorlawintheUStoblock immigrationbasedonclassandrace.Eventoday,in2020Anti-Asianhate crimesspikedwiththeonsetofCOVID-19anditsracist,hurtfulconnection toAsianandspecificallyChinesecommunities.So,whathasaplacelike Chinatownprovidedforitsresidents?
Ethnic and cultural heterotopias serve three functions: symbolism, “simulation”, and safety. Symbolism exists in the cultural fabric of the neighborhood, from food and clothes to public art and performances. “Simulation”istheactofliving,talking,walking,andbeingyourauthentic selfwithoutfearofoutsiderepercussion.Andsafetyexistsincommunitiesand numbers.Thesesoundlikewonderfulsolutionstoproblemsathandbutthen thequestionbecomes,shouldthesespacesbeself-cannibalizing?Isintegration intothesurroundingcommunityseenasasuccessorlossofidentity?
Chinatown, Manhattan, looking towards the World Trade Center. October 1995.
Tortilla Flats,CA
Tortillaflats,thoughitmayreferto a few areas in the U.S., in this instance, is a mostly Mexican American neighborhood in Leucadia. This heterotopic space arisestorecentrelevanceasthehotly debated development of Clark AvenueApartments.This199unit apartment complex has potential riskstothehealthandwell-beingof themediumtolowsocioeconomic incomeresidentsof TortillaFlats Leucadia,aoncefunkybeachtown whileIwasgrowingup,isnow riddledwithtechiesontheirelectric bikestoahighwayfullofbreweries andcraftcoffeeshops Priortothe funkybeachtowntrailerparkera, therewasahippycommune,before itwasmostlyavocadoorchards,the larger area being “little trees”, Encinitas I am referring to the SouthernCalifornia,orSanDiego specificTortillaFlats,asthereseems tobeoneinLosAngelesaswell.
https://encinitasundercover.blogspot.com/ 2010/04/gangs-of-encinitas.html
Rumorhasit,asmuchofthisarea’s historyisoral,theTortillaFlatsin LAtraveledtoSDviasomeone’stio oruncle.Thesouthdeadendofthe streetIgrewuponinLeucadiais partofTortillaFlats,aswellasthe area East of the 5 freeway near Pueblast,ClarkAveandSaxonyRd. Barrios, or “neighborhoods” is sometimes used negatively similar to“ghettos"TFLATSwasalsogang territoryorthenameofagangalso calledENC,forEncinitas.Iknew peopleinhighschoolstillaffiliated butitseemstohavemostlyfizzled outalot
Moonlight beach, Encintas, CA 1955
Hamtramck, Michigan
Hamtramck,pressedintothefoldsof Detroit,standsasalayered,living patchwork a heterotopia of cultures and histories entwined Establishedintheearly1900sasa hubforPolishimmigrantsdrawnto thepromiseoffactorywork,ithas sincebecomeanevolvingmosaic, holdingtighttoitsPolishbakeries while welcoming the pulse of Yemeni,Bangladeshi,andBosnian ommunities.
Thisisaplacewherestoriesjostlein sharedairandhymnscurlaround each other on city streets Hamtramck resists simplicity, weavingaportraitofresiliencethat’s equalpartsnostalgiaandthekinetic, unpredictableenergyofmigration’s pathItholdsaspacewheredisparate traditionsstandsidebyside,each piece amplifying the other a microcosmthatdefiesthesingular, askinginsteadtobereadasastory inlayers
Eating dill pickle soup at the bar, Polish Village Cafe
Kowalski Sausage Company
Greektown,Chicago
Chicago’s Greektown began its history in the 1840s with Greek immigrantsarrivingasshipcaptains and laborers but coming to stay around1900 Afewyearsprior,in 1889,theJaneAddamsHullHouse was opened as a place where immigrantsofdiversecommunities gatheredtolearn,eat,debate,and acquirethetoolsnecessarytoput downroots–andtheGreekstook to it! Greek confectioneries and dinersbegantotakeoverfromthe 1950stothe1980s.
While today, most Greek Chicagoansdon’tliveinthearea knownfamouslyasGreektown,the neighborhoodstillactsasanodefor the community Stores and businesses regularly operate with bothEnglishandGreeksignageand mostresidentsarebilingual,asitisa strong point of cultural pride for Greekstoknowtheirnativetongue.
In the truest Greek manner, Greektown also hosts the city’s largestGreekFest,raisingmoney for the community and church whileexposingmorenon-Greeksto their compassion and culture through Zorba and souvlaki
Saganaki at Parthenon-Greektown Chicago
Athenian Candle Co on Halsted and Jackson, or thereabouts.
Scituate, Massachusetts
Between 1845 and 1852, Ireland suffered the devastating Potato Famine, caused by a disease that destroyed potato crops, the staple foodformuchofthepopulation. The famine led to widespread starvationanddrovemanyIrishto emigratetoAmericainsearchofa better life. By 1863, as the transcontinentalrailroadwasunder construction, Irish and Asian immigrantsmadeupasignificant portionofthelaborforce
Many Irish immigrants settled in Scituate, Massachusetts, drawn by thefamiliarpresenceofIrishMoss,a typeofalgaefoundinthearea
This small comfort amidst their displacement fostered a deep connectiontothetown,andtoday, mostofScituate'spopulationtraces itsancestrybacktoIrelandScituate hasbecomeanethnicheterotopia, blending Irish heritage with Americanlife.Thetownishometo Irish-stylepubs,restaurants,antique shops, and museums celebrating bothitsIrishrootsandlocalhistory VisitingScituatefeelslikestepping intoapieceofIreland.
The River and Town, Scituate, MA; from a c. 1910 postcard.
SacredSpaces
Theword“sacred”maybringforthanimageofanuntouchable spacewithanairofmysticismandgrandiose–whichitcouldbe–but thewordinitselfandintheschemeofaheterotopiaisentirely subjective. If one person deems one specific space sacred, it immediatelybecomesasacredheterotopia.Typically,sacredspaces carrythroughroutinesandtraditions,aswellasanexpectationfor meditationor,attheveryleast,anexperience“beyondyourself.”
Someoftheseheterotopiashavebeensacredforcenturies,while someothershaveonlybeensacredforafewyearssincetheir discovery.Whatmattersinasacredheterotopiaisnothowlongor howmanypeoplefindsolaceinit,buttheweightofthosewho deemitsacredenoughtoworship.
Rumorhasitthesurroundingland, Slab City, is free land but risks include possible live mines, born againchristians,wellnessgurusand seastinkrelatedcancerorasthma.I do believe Leonard achieved an
Salvation Mountain
Kesha Mountain, as my friend C referredtoitwhenshepleadedfor visitonatrip,isaplacewheretouris toescapethenearbystinkoftheS
Sea A place where Kesha filmed iconic music video “Praying”, referencetoherabuserandherpraye his sins. Better known as Salv Mountain,probablymoreofahill, createdbyLeonardKnight,bypou bucketsofpaintoversandbags,hay tiresandwhateverwasfloatingar outthere.
LonghuMountain
Longhu Mountain, a significant Taoist holy site in China, embodies the core concept of Taoism the unity and harmonyofhumansandnature Nestled by mountains and rivers, it reflects an idealized integration of religion and nature. However, from a heterotopia perspective, this harmony may be a designedillusionratherthananaturalstate WhileTaoismpromoteslivinginharmony withnature,commercializationdrivenby tourismdevelopmentrisksenvironmental degradation and alienation from true nature The temple's "fairyland" image, amplifiedthrougharchitectureandrituals, oftendrawsattentiontoartificialsymbols overthenaturalworlditself.
ABog
Primordialasinpeatlayerspressed under millennia, a timeline writteninsoftdecay.
Sacred as in bodies held like secrets,limbsfoldedintostillness, facesuntouchedbytime.
Liminal as in neither land nor water, a threshold of moss and mistwhereworldsoverlap.
Silentasinthehumofunseen lives fungi weaving, roots whisperingbeneaththesurface Preservingasinitcradleswhatit swallows objects,stories,rituals allsuspendedinamber-huedtime.
Consumingasinnothingleaves but everything lingers, transformed,transfigured,made holybyitsdescent.
Itis:
Thesmellofeartholderthan memory
Theslowpulseofwaterpooling aroundthelivingandthelost. Alandscapeofsurrender,where what dies gives life to what comesnext
Abogisanaltarwithoutwalls:
A mirror for the sky, clouds fractured and floating in its shallowdepths.
Atombforrelics woodenidols, forgotten tools, the weight of whatweleavebehind.
A haven for the in-between, wherelifethrivesonwhatcannot fullyliveorfullydie. Itisstill,butitmoves Itdrowns,butitsaves
It asks for nothing but gives everythingback.
Borobudur Temple
TheBorobudurTemplewasbuiltin the9thcenturyinJava,Indonesia.It is located between two twin volcanoesandtworiversAccording to a local myth, the area is consideredasacredspaceandhas beendubbed“theGardenofJava” because of its high agricultural fertility.
Thetempleisbuiltinthreetiers–a pyramidalbasewithfiveconcentric squareterraces,thetrunkofacone withthreecircularplatformsandthe monumentalstupa Itcontains504 Buddha statues, 1460 stone wall reliefsand72stupaswithalarge central stupa in the middle. The templeissetuponeightdifferent levels to reflect the ideals of the eightfold path which lead to the central stupa – the essence of enlightenment. An interesting aspectofthetemple,however,is thatthereisnocentralworshiparea forcing the main spiritual experience to be through circumambulationfromthebottom entrancetothetoplevel.
Caminode Santiago
TheCaminodeSantiagoisasetof pilgrimage routes in Western Europewhoseendpointistheshrine of the apostle James in Galicia, SpainThisheterotopiaencompasses multipleplacesandtheexperienceof thepilgrimageallatonce.Youare inthisplaceoryouareperceiving thisplaceaslongasyouarepartof the pilgrimage; any part of the pilgrimage route could be consideredthisunifyingspace.
This heterotopia of worship encouragesthetravelertomeditate andreflectduringtheirwalk.The path itself is commonly done for tourism, penance, or prayer It is both a static and constantlychanging space, as the path itself isn’tasolidpathasmuchasitisaset ofpathswiththesamefinalgoal, thoughitcan’tbearguedthatthe pathitselfispartoftheheterotopia oftheendingshrine.Apilgrimage pathisbothaplaceyouexperience byyourselfandwithotherpeople:a unifying experience that forms a communitythatis“other”toanyone not partaking in the pilgrimage (withcontributionofthosethataid orbenefitfromthepilgrimagesuch astownsandhostelsbuiltspecifically toaccommodatetheroute)
Pórtico da Gloria, 1849 Jenaro Pérez Villaamil, Santiago de Compostela Cathedral (part of the ending destination)
Enterta orEs
Fornearly300years,humanity'sfascinationwiththeunknownhas beencapturedinworkslike Gulliver’s Travels and Frankenstein. Today,sciencefictionexploresalieninvasions,robotuprisings, post-apocalyptic worlds, and ecological collapse across novels, comics,movies,TVshows,andvideogames.Thesemediumsoffer morethanescapism theyreflectourdeepesthopesandfearsabout thefuture.Inaworldgrapplingwithpandemics,climatecrises,and geopoliticaltensions,escapistfantasiescanhelpuscope,sometimes spurringactionorleavingusgroundedinharshrealities.
ainment scape?
Howdoesfantasyilluminatetruths aboutourworld,andwheredoesit fallshort?EnterBiosphere2—asci-fi fantasy turned reality. Dr. Mark Nelson, a key researcher in this closedecologicalsystemexperiment, spent decades exploring ecological engineering,desertagriculture,and sustainability.DespiteBiosphere2’s failures and controversies, as chronicled in the documentary Spaceship Earth, Nelson remains optimistic about harmonizing technology with nature. Was the Biosphere2anambitiousscientific endeavor,acult-likeperformance,or somethinginbetween?
Escapism takes many forms. In Nomadland, Frances McDormand’s character, Fern, embodies another kind of escape, traveling across Americawithreal-lifenomadsafter personalloss.Thesestorieschallenge us to consider: is escape about leaving reality behind, or reimagininghowwelivewithinit?
Traveling Carnivals
Before traveling carnivals became popular; vaudeville, burlesque, magiclanternshows,andcircuses werewidelyenjoyedbyAmerican audiences.Yetitwasn’tuntilthe 1893 Chicago World’s Fair and specifically the addition of the Midway Plaisance, that the true natureofthetravelingcarnivalcame tobe.ThePlaisancewashometo second-rate productions – cheap games,localstreetfood,andfreak shows lined the Midway and everyone loved it. This moment sparked a boom in traveling carnivals that lasted through the 20thcentury
Todaytheyexistinthesamespot, ontheoutskirtsoftownsinempty lotsandfieldgrounds.Asvisitors, we have kept the tradition of voyeurism strong in our infinite love for “shows” and watching someone at the expense of their own.Andbytheirverynatureof “traveling”,carnivalsneverstayfor longConstantlyonthemove,what istheirsenseofhome?
Miss Charmion, a sideshow strongwoman and trapeze artist
Views of the World’s fair and Midway Plaisance (1894)
Heavenor LasVegas? Married to Elvis
Joan Didion called Las Vegas the most extreme and allegorical of American settlements bizarre and beautiful in its venality, devoted to immediate gratification Aplacewheremobsters,call girls, and ladies’ room attendants with nitritepoppersintheirpocketssetthetone. Timedoesn’texisthere:nonight,noday, nopast,nofuture.Youstandonahighway inthemiddleofavast,hostiledesert,staring ataneighty-footsignblinking“Stardust”or “Caesar’s Palace.” But what does that explain? Its geographical absurdity only deepens the sense that nothing here connectsto"real"life RenoandCarson havehistories,rootsinranchingandthe West.LasVegas,though,existssolelyinthe eyeofthebeholder.
and
Stimulating, yes Interesting, absolutely But alsothekindofplacewheresomeonemight donaweddingdresswithChantillylaceinsets andadetachablemodifiedtrain forreasons eventheycan’texplain
Acoupleofsummersback,PeterandIwentto Vegas for his 38th birthday. We smoked cigarettesinsidethecity’soldesttikibarandin a bathtub at the Bellagio We joked about gettingmarriedanddivorcedthenextdayand, bytheendofthetrip,promisednevertospeak to each other again. We didn’t keep the promise. Vegas does that to you the hyperrealityofit.“TheAmericanimagination demandstherealthingand,toattainit,must fabricate the absolute fake,” where the fake becomesmorereal,moreauthentic,thanthe original.
TheLonely Foodie Seinfeld (1989-1998)
TheTVseriesTheLonelyFoodie(Kodokuno Gurume)centersonthethemeof"loneliness," weavingitintoitstoneandnarrative.The protagonist,GoroInogashira(playedbyYuji Suzuki),isafreelancerwhodinesalone not outofsadnessorisolation,butbychoiceGoro embracesthequietofsolomeals,savoringthe foodandthemomentwithoutseekingsocial interaction or busy settings. His solitude is portrayedassereneandbeautiful,offeringa warm,introspectiveatmosphere.
Intheseries,foodismorethansustenance it’s alensthroughwhichGoroexperienceslife’s finerdetails.Hissolitarymealshighlighthis deepsensitivitytoflavors,theambianceofeach restaurant, and his personal journey This "lonelinessaesthetic"transformssolitudeintoa sourceofinnerfreedom,reflection,andsensory appreciation. For Goro, loneliness is not a burdenbutafulfillingstatethatdeepenshis connectiontohisfoodandhimself
sprawlsacrosspopculturelikeariddle,a heterotopic arena where the minutiae of dailylifebecomeabsurdisttheater Dubbed “ashowaboutnothing,”itmagnifiesthe trivialuntilitvibrateswithitsownstrange significance. The show reflects life’s mundanecornerswithawarpedlens,an urbanmirrorcrackingunderthepressureof deadpanirony.Existingasbothfamiliarand alienating,
Realitytelevisionbeganitshistorywithahidden-camerashowcalled“CandidCamera”,whichpremiered ontheABCNetworkin1948butItwasn’tuntilthe1990s,however,thatrealityTVbegantoresemble howweknowittoday.
MTV’s“TheRealWorld”introducedtheworldtoahousefullofcameras,aserialstructure,and“talking head”styletestimonialinterviews–allintendedtomaximizeconflictanddrama.Whatdoesthismeanfor us?Howdoyoucontrolyourownnarrativewhensomuchofwhatispresentedas“reality”isinfact scripted,edited,andpiecemealedbysomeoneelseafterthefact?Realitytelevisiondoesanamazingjobat conflatingnon-issuesformonetarygainwhiledistractingfromanytrueproblemsandtheirconsequences.
Koduku no Gurume (The Lonely Foodie), 2012
TwinPeaks (1990)
TwinPeaks(1990),opensuptoa trope of a small town where something lurks in the woods Thebestsliceofcherrypieand cup of damn fine coffee are servedatthelocaldiner,while evilwalksamongthetownsfolk LauraPalmer,theteenagedream ofthetown,isfoundwashedup onthebeachwrappedinplastic AgentDaleCooperarrivesonthe scene,shatteringtheestablished realityuncoveringfamilialtrauma hidingundertheguiseofaliens. Can Kyle Maclachlan save us fromthewoodpaneling?
Cosplay of Swordwoman, Monster Hunter
Monsterhunting&ecologicalbalance
Monster Hunter
TheMonsterHunterseriesisan actionrole-playinggamewhere playershuntgiantmonstersina vast ecosystem, exploring the relationship between humans andnature.Ashuntersatthe topofthefoodchain,players' actions reflect humanity's control over nature, raising questions about ecological balance and sustainability. In Monster Hunter: World, themes of resource depletion and ecological collapse align with the concept of heterotopias, highlighting the tension between technology andnature
The game’s ecosystem design, social hierarchies, and technological interventions createametaphoricalnarrative: how can humanity balance progress with ecological preservation in a resourcelimited world? This dilemma, central to the game, mirrors real-world challenges of environmentalsustainabilityand coexistencewithnature.
Baldur’s Gate
The world of Faerûn, as rendered in Baldur’s Gate 3, offers a rich tapestry where beauty and horror coexist Playerstraversevastmountains, hidden paths, and bustling settlements, immersing themselves in a world that invites exploration and independentdecision-making
This is not a game to be completedinonesitting;instead, itencouragesyoutodelvedeeply into its intricacies and make choicesthatshapeyourunique journey
Set within the beloved Dungeons&Dragonsuniverse, Baldur’sGate3transformsthe tabletop RPG into a dynamic videogameexperience,complete with an intricate battle system and character-driven storylines. Players can romance, fight, or forge alliances with their companions, creating a deeply personal narrative. With its open-endedpossibilities,notwo playthroughs are the same. GameslikeBaldur’sGate3offer aspaceforplayerstostepaway from reality, immersing themselvesincharactersthey’ve carefullycrafted,andexploringa worldwheretheirchoicestruly matter
Tradwifeorvanlife?
Throughgamingwefindrepreive inthedomestic
Minecraft
Minecraft is a well-known sandbox game originally created by Markus "Notch"PerssonandreleasedinMay 2009.In2014,thegamewasacquired byMicrosoft.Themostrecentupdate isversion1.20,withthe1.21update anticipatedsoon Asasandboxgame, Minecraft allows players unparalleled freedomtocreateandexplore,withno fixedstorylineorrequiredobjectives. This open-ended nature has contributedtoitsenduringpopularity sinceitsrelease
Thegame'sappealsurgedduringthe COVID-19 pandemic when quarantinesleftmanyseekingwaysto connectandcreateinavirtualspace Minecraftprovidedplayerswithasense of agency and community during a time of uncertainty, solidifying its statusasaculturalphenomenon.
Animal Crossing
AnimalCrossing:NewHorizonsstems fromKatsuyaEguchi’smovetoKyoto in1986,wherehislonelinessinspired the creation of Dōbutsu no Mori (AnimalForest)fortheNintendo64. ReleasedintheUSasAnimalCrossing in2002,thegamehasevolvedwith eachNintendoconsole,culminatingin NewHorizonsfortheSwitchinMarch 2020.
Eguchi envisioned the game around themes of family, friendship, and community resonatingdeeplyduring theCOVID-19lockdowns.Insolitude, playersfoundcomfortinitswhimsical tasks,likeshakingtreesforfurniture and wishing on shooting stars, embracingjoyinlife’ssimplemoments.
Animal Crossing New Horizons,
Heaven’sGate
ShortlyafterWoodstockandthe Vietnam war, a few existential hippies and a conservativeranchownersetoutacrossthe statestodeliverthegoodalienlord’smessage. Thismessagebeingthataspaceshipviathe Hale-Boppcometwascomingtohelpthem realizetheirnewbodies Thisgroupwasa newagechristianitysci-fifusion,“Heaven’s Gate”ledbyMarshallApplewhiteandBonnie Nettles.Growinguptherumorwasthisgroup committedmasssuicideattheformerBest Western near my house in Southern CaliforniaAsthiswasahalftruth,thegroup committedwhattheystronglybelievedwas notsuicide,but39peopledressedinblack track suits and black-and-white Nikes completed their transition at a mansion in RanchoSantaFe Afewpeoplewhomissed theirchancecompletedtheirmissionatthe BestWestern.Eachmemberworeanarmband whichread“Heaven’sGateAwayTeam”and wascarefullycoveredwithapurplecloth
ThisisaneerietaleamongtherestwhichI hopetodedicatetomyfriendZane,onhis own forever AWAY trip. Who I never realizeduntilafterheleftus,might’vebeen referencingthisstrangegroupthathauntedus nearourhometown Helovedtoskateand wrotepoems/madearttostayalive.Sohewas alwaysgoingonskatetrips,callingthemhis big AWAY trips, handing out “AWAY” stickers
Youmayevenfind yourboardingpass toleavewithus duringthisbrief window
