Discovering Empty Space
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| from Steven Holloway, Mapping the Image |
Consider the blank spots in your view of the world, and give attention to them. You'll see that they aren't blank after all.
There's truth to that, but the fun starts when you get into the details.
One study that did that was a Master's thesis written in 1992 by Steven Holloway, titled "Mapping the Image: A Geographic Study of Image and Space." [https://scholarworks.umt.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5941&context=etd ]
He asked his subjects to describe and 'map' their physical environment, in a way that allowed Holloway to plot on a map the shape of the subject's detailed awareness of their surroundings.
"The methodology is designed to examine the space and image of the environment as a gestalt, and to test the hypotheses that: 1) the behavioral environment will favor a certain direction(s), 2) the affects approach—like will be associated with a core area and the affects avoid—dislike with an empty-space; a region opposite the bias direction(s), and 3) geographic space will be distorted in relation to the core area."
I corresponded with Steven briefly to ask him some questions via email:
StP: Your thesis, and how refreshing it was to me to find an empirical study of phenomena that is otherwise so elusive - like, finding ways to map a person's spatial biases. Is that right?
Holloway: "My thesis underlying concepts I feel remain valid today but the work suffers under the burden of older (pre-GPS/GIS etc.) mapping methodologies.
Were I to do the work today I would employ some of the same methodologies but also new ones. A broad understanding and reading in cross or inter-disclipanary fields of study is essential to such studies.
You have it right that I was looking for ways to map bias, spatial bias and I thought and still believe that there are underlying psychoanalytical or emotional elements to that bias, the unconscious projecting itself not just on other people but the environment as well. My work in Jungian and other analysis gave some language, articulation to this.
But yes, a person’s spatial bias (which exists) can be studied, mapped and associated with the unconsciousness. Perhaps more importantly the society, the collective as well engages in a spatial bias from a shared perspective.
I think back on how it was possible to use the Clark Fork as a dumping ground for old cars back and until the early 70’s. A shared blindness or spatial bias ! [The Clark Fork of the Columbia River runs right through downtown Missoula, where today it's clean and landscaped in parts and enjoyed by everyone]
So I did attempt to study, identify and map in a empirical manner this bias.
Does my work relate [to environmental studies and urban design?]. Yes I think it does but in a dated manner from the approach not dated in the underlying premise or idea that there are spatial biases and that these have psychological roots.
How might this relate to urbanism? Clearly our collective spaces are built, changed, lived in and experienced through our whole beings, our beings as both individuals, extended family-social circles and as a society and each of these are embedded with a interwoven complexity of rational and irrational, of thinking and feeling and spirituality.
All these shape our space around us, the building of that space and the experience of that space. I am sure you are aware of the work of Palo Soleri (sp.?) comes to mind here. Think of how Denis Wood has helped us to deconstruct our collective maps, maps that tell us what to see, what is important, all with hidden agendas. So yes, urbanism is either indirectly or directly an extension of the collective consciousness but also (what I was seeking to map and study) the unconscious self.
Anything and all things that are unconscious will by necessity be projected. And my assertion is that they are projected not just on other people but the spaces in which we live. Consider the terrible and evil linking in the dark woods for some …. To map personal space has been studied and continues to be studied but all too often studied within a tight reign of a singular field of study. I think, I believe, it can only really be studied properly by using an open mind and heart that includes the complexity and the beauty of the whole world in which we live and delight."
Empty space is never empty. Nature, at least, is infinitely articulated, to quote Leibniz. Or to quote the Indian Chandogya Upanishad:
"In the city of Brahman is a secret dwelling,
the lotus of the heart.
Within this dwelling is a space,
and within that space
is the fulfillment of our desires.
What is within that space
should be longed for
and realized.
As great as the infinite space beyond
is the space within the lotus of the heart.
Both heaven and earth
are contained in that inner space,
both fire and air,
sun and moon,
lightning and stars.
Whether we know it in this world
or know it not,
everything is contained
in that inner space.”
That's lots packed into nothing. And so close, too.
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