Space and Culture

The urban imagery of George Orwell

“On one hand, the city can be thought of as a map (heir of many historic overlays) with its streets, buildings, squares, bridges, churches, parks, stations, neighbourhoods, etc.; on the other hand, the city can be thought of as its inhabitants, with their movements, with their social stratification, with their various social relationships, with all forms of gathering, their local customs, habits, role models and consumptions. Thus, a ‘city of stone’ (urbs) and a ‘city of men’ (civitas) (or, as some say, ‘the living city’). Two concepts that refer to realities that are inevitably inter-related and that imply reciprocal influences: by distinguishing them, we reveal a useful research tool to study the vast quantity of narrative on the city…”

Vittore Collina on Orwell’s descriptions of London, Barcelona and Paris. All good, but the discussion of cities and the “cancellation of memory” in Nineteen Eighty-four is particularly interesting.

(via wood s lot)