The
Production of Space
Henri
Lefebvre
Social Space
- Parts 1 & 2
In the
Chapter "Social Space" of Henri Lefebvre’s book "The Production
of Space", Lefebvre discusses the differences between a "Work"
and a "Product". Lefebvre describes a Work as having something “Irreplaceable
and unique about it" whereas a Product could "easily be reproduced
exactly, and is in fact the result of repetitive acts and gestures".
When delving
into some rather philosophical thinking, Lefebvre proposes that something is
only a Work when it is not purposely trying to be a Work....
In fact the
very purpose of attempting to create a Work results in, and detracts from
achieving the creation of a “Work”. It is a ‘Work” because it simply is. Lefebvre
uses the analogy of nature when proposing this idea.
Similarly this
reasoning can also be applied to Art. The
intent of creating Art actually detracts from the concept of “Art”.
Lefebrve quotes that “no work has ever been created as a
work of art”, one can interpret this statement to mean that the inherent
processes used in trying to create a work, will detract from the overall goal
of achieving a work.
Lefebvre goes on to question whether “Art” as a specialised
activity, has destroyed works and replaced them by in fact “Products” destined
to be exchanged, traded, sought after, valued and reproduced. One example of
this, may be the discovery of a beautifully decorative Vase. Let’s assume that
once this vase was used with a purpose, but since its discovery it is now to be
stored and observed in a Museum, where it has now become an object, only to be
observed.
If it's functional use has stopped, has it has now become a
product? An un-purposed, perhaps over valued (depending on how one assesses
it’s “value”, if we are to associate its value to mere capital attribution
alone?) object. That in turn, has now become linked with all kinds of
attributions that society is now agreeing that this Vase warrants. Is it now a
product of society?
If we took people away from this reasoning, the object would
go back to being a Vase with a simple function. It is society that produces
these assumptions and transforms the vase into something more.
Another example of this might be a Cathedral, there is
nothing holy or spiritual in the place materialistically, the stone it is
constructed from may be no different from the stone quarried out of the earth
for a Kitchen worktop somewhere. The important factor in which defines the
Cathedral as being a "Holy or Spiritual" space would be the use,
the way in which the building is used, respected and worshipped in. It is the
activity space that makes the place holy or spiritual.
To summarise, Lefebvre proposes that the production of space
is not by done through the craftsmanship or choice of materials, or even the
arrangement of said materials. But rather through the qualities and feelings that
our society will associate with places.
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