Scholarly record

TYPOLOGY OF RUSSIAN HETEROTOPIC SPACE

A. Romanova, S. Yakushenkov, M. Topchiev, O. Yakushenkova

Abstract

The term “heterotopia”, introduced into scientific discourse by M. Foucault, is being increasingly used in the modern humanitaristics for the cultural area analysis. This article presents a typology of heterotopic spaces and their analysis in the scope of the Russian cultural landscape. Based on the E. Soja’s trialectics of spatiality – real spatiality, spatiality of mentalities and the “Thirdspace”, which is “habitable, the real and the imagined, the actual and the virtual” – we propose to distinguish three basic types of heterotopic spaces. The first type comprises the spaces that may be regarded as heterotopies particularly because of their specific spatial location and peculiarities. This is a geographically “different” space that also becomes different in the area of social space and mental space of reflection about it. The spaces that may belong to this type are, first of all, some nature reserves with a restricted, preserved and intently examined ecosystem which greatly differs from the surrounding landscape, as well as oases. Such spaces are surely within the scope of scientific discourse, but a system of myths and legends also may be developed. A good example of such heterotopia is the Bogdo-Baskunchak reserve in the Astrakhan region, the center of which is a natural system formed by the Mount Bolshoe Bogdo and Lake Baskunchak. The second type of heterotopic space is determined by its social features and presented best of all by a modern megapolis. A modern megapolis is heterotopic at least because it is a heterogenic space with different localized ethnic and social enclave spaces, with classic (cemeteries, libraries, theatres) and modern (malls, condominiums) heterotopias. The heterotopic spaces of this type also comprise culturally “different” alien spaces localized within another cultural landscape (Amish community in the USA, Jewish Autonomous Region in Russia). The third type is primarily related to heterotopic nature of the discourse around this space, to its representation both in terms of theory and art. In this regard, we would like to dwell on a heterotopic aspect of the Russian space in general, primarily in the space of philosophic and artistic reflection specified as Eurasia, which is cultural uncertainty between the East and West.

Publication Impact Profile

No metrics available.

PLUMX see details

DOI resolver: doi.org/10.5593/sgemsocial2017/22/S09.086

Publication details

Back to publication list