Of Other Places

Of other places by Michel Foucault really goes into depth about the different kind of spaces we identify whether it be real or unreal, near or far, internal or external. I had to read this particular publishing three times to understand what Foucault is talking about. He elaborates on the concept of heterotopia and it's principles in this article.

" The mirror is, after all, a utopia, since it is a placeless place. But it is also a heterotopia in so far as the mirror does exist in reality, where it exerts a sort of counteraction on the position that I occupy."- Michael Foucault. 

This reminds me of the mirror of Erised from Harry Potter, where it gives you a feeling of utopia "a perfect world'. The deepest most desperate desires of our hearts can be viewed through this mirror.

Image Source: http://harrypotterforwriters.blogspot.com/2011/12/mirror-mirror-on-series.html

There are six main principles to heterotopia:

1. First Principle: Heterotopia is produced by all cultures. 
2. Second Principle: Heterotopia can change function according to different culture/ society.
3. Third Principle: Heterotopia is able to juxtapose multiple spaces and sites in a single real space.
4. Fourth Principle: Heterotopia is often linked to time, and can be  as termed hetero chronicle.
5. Fifth Principle: Heterotopic spaces are not easily accessed unlike public spaces.
6. Sixth Principle: Heterotopias have a function in relation to all spaces that exist.

New words learned: Heterotopia, skein, epoch 

Library Research:

Article: Metelkova as Autonomous Heterotopia

Author: Nathan Siegirst, Hakan Thorn

Siegrist, T. (2020) ‘Metelkova as Autonomous Heterotopia’, Antipode, 52(6), pp. 1837–1856. doi: 10.1111/anti.12677.