Introduction to space

"Space is media"

There is virtualisation of space (like a map) and there is actual space (in the real world)- there is a distinction between the two, and sometimes it is easy to merge the two together and get them confused, especially in the current world with advancing technologies and the internet. Virtual space plays a big part in the 21st century, with what seems like everything is displayed on online forums, for example, one could visit the Louvre Museum just by going to their website and looking at their achieves. It isn't the same as seeing the artworks live, but similar to what was discussed in 'Ways of Seeing' by John Berger and in my previous post of the same name, these images are taken out of its original context and brought to the comfort of your own home; there is no desperate need to go to the actual space itself. Another example is social media. It is a space that can hold endless conversations, a space that allows you to connect and reach out to numerous people and groups, sharing photos, experiences, music, videos, etc. These countless possibilities that are brought up are all found in this virtual space, and it can be said that space is most potent of the medias, as it plays such a major role in our lives. 

Virtual space

Space is a visceral understanding of what is real, which moves us on to discussing/ acknowledging actual space. In actual space, it tests all of our sensory organs, our primary medium is skin; we are able to physically feel space. We are also able to sense space with something that is inexplicable; we can sense spaces with a kind of 'sixth-sense,' for example, when entering a space and feeling uncomfortable. In Germany, one can visit the gas chambers that were used during the Second World War, at many have said that, even if they weren't aware of the horrific history about the rooms, they had an uneasy sensation go through them and got the impression that something terrible had happened there. There may be a skeptics about this, however it can undoubtably be correct in saying that space as a media is obsolete without a person experiencing it, which can be related to all other forms of media (including sound and visual media that we have previously covered). 

For the next few weeks we will be looking at the "poetics of space," at phenomenology in regards to this overlooked form of media.