Thesis Statement
The shift in the interpretation of time and space, which occurred in the East Asian cultures at the turn of the centuries, is quite striking. Because of the challenging alterations, which the humankind had to go through in the course of the globalization, the technological breakthrough and the opportunities that it unleashed, the cultures fusion, which new methods of communication encouraged, etc., the idea of time and space was altered significantly in the Asian cultures. Specifically, the need to adopt the spatial vision of the world posed a major challenge to the time honored Asian traditions.
In his paper, de Certeau addresses the issue of culture fusion by providing his overview of New York – the city that features the phenomenon of culture fusion in the most graphic way possible. This paper argues that, though there is a tangible difference between the culture of the New York City and the one of Asia, the emphasis on urbanization and the rising significance of cities has its toll on the change in the concept of time and especially space in the modern Asian culture towards the idea of transformation and appropriation, which de Certeau’s description of New York proves with an emphasis on function in urban architecture.
Justification for the Bibliography Choice
I chose the description of New York by de Certeau because it provided a perfect example of both the phenomenon of culture fusion and the process of urbanization. Though the links between a multicultural megalopolis and a country that has been keeping its traditions intact for centuries might seem a bit farfetched, the effects of urbanization on the New York diasporas are similar to the alterations that the Chinese culture is currently going through. As far as the second reading is concerned, I picked article by Keirstead, as it helped explore the concept of space, as well as its relation to time.
The spatial specifics of urban architecture, which the author mentions in his article, thus, helped understand the reasons for concern among the Chinese people in the light of the current urbanization. Moreover, the article offers rather peculiar information concerning the Chinese perception of time, i.e., the so-called “Chinese geomancy.” Though the article in question is admittedly dated, it still manages to deliver the essence of the Chinese philosophy of time and space in a very concise and clear manner.
Passages Identification
The story narrated by de Certeau includes a range of colorful and vivid descriptions of the urban areas, as well as the issues that the process of urbanization entails for the citizens of the state. However, when it comes to choosing the passage that addresses the issue directly, one must mention the paragraph on page 95 that defines space as a “blind spot in a scientific and political technology” when viewed through the lens of urbanization. As far as the second passage is concerned, the description on page 118 deserves being paid attention to, since it explains the nature of changes occurring to the concepts of time and space in the 21st century by introducing the idea of “being-there.” The latter can be interpreted as the modern vision of the universe and the reason for the urbanization process to occur.
Bibliography
Certeau, Michel de. “Chapter VII. Walking in the City,” 91–130. The Practice of Everyday Life. Berkeley, CA: University of California, 1988.
Keirstead, Thomas. “Gardens and Estates: Medievality and Space,” Positions 1, no. 2 (1993), p. 305.