Is space disappearing Virilio’s concept of the Overexposed City

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Is space disappearing? Virilio’s concept of the ‘Overexposed City’

According to research that has been going on over the years, the world is likely to be operated through computers in the next twenty years or even less. It is evident from the world around us that there is a great merging of various forms of computers and other related modes of communication through the use of quite a number of varying modes of media (Batty & Longley pp.56). Highways and buildings are being run by computers leaving us to the question of whether or not the cities are becoming too exposed or not.

City planners have had sleepless nights in attempt to advance their visions of creating a multi functional city. According to Armitage (pp.21), contemporary cities may be described as a combination of computer operations. Whether the cities will be left on the mercy of operations like games, is left for fate to justify. This move may be either be a disaster or a blessing according to one’s point of view as a result of the same. As the days go by, sites that relate to E-planning of cities are being created.

Batty & Xie (pp.31) argue that the perception of computers being a scientific object and only directed to a certain group of people is fast changing to a device of simplifying the world’s transactions and undertakings. It would be a complete understatement to state that computers exterminate distances of nations. The benefits offered by computers in terms of learning the state and devising the best designs and operations of the cities.

Computers have attained the place of acquisition of the best infrastructure as far as management and planning is concerned (Hillier & Hanson pp.76). It has become extremely easier to learn and understand cities and how they operate. We cannot alienate the use of computers though a contentious issues for most scholars. Either way, the concept of computers running and managing cities has to be adopted whether we like it or not. It is evident that this topic is extremely contentious. Many scholars have come forth to present their views on congestion computers and their role in running the world. Among them include, Paul Virilio, a French philosopher who has shown keen interest in this subject from his work, ‘Overexposed City’. In our case study, highlight is going to be shed on Virilio’s concept of the ‘Overexposed City’ in attempt to find answers to the question of Is space disappearing?

In his work Paul Virilio (pp.542), holds a general view that the modern day developments in the field of transport and communication have had a massive impact on the studies that relate to the space. The invention and presence of electromagnetic waves has aided in the interaction of people over the years especially over the space. Thanks to these developments, people have been able to travel in space in the quest to find answers on the universe. According to him, no living organism is no longer opaque but all seem to be more transparent as the keep moving. The main question; however is to find his view on the space issue.

Paul Virilio (pp.543) brings his view on the space disappearing on an angle of day-to day to day living. From his research, he argues that governments were on the run to evaluate what was coming in and going out of their country. Why the cause for too much security, yet boundaries are clearly set for each country? All countries felt that their security was at stake both on land, sea and air. Cameras were put and still are being put in almost all corners of the country for the purpose of monitoring what is going on in the country. From this perception, it is very clear that the state security seemed to be jeopardized by the day. It is amazing how entry into another sate was monitored through electronic devices yet these countries almost on each other for what they require! This perception brings a closer view of Paul’s perception of overexposed city. In his work, the notion of space disappearing comes out clearly through his description of the boundaries not being defined by fences any more but well monitored ‘screens.’

A brief understanding of Virilio’s work on exposed cities indicates that these cities are those that do not enjoy any form of privacy but are constantly under the check of screens all around. This would simply mean that the cities have been reduced to operate under the mercies of Information expertise that almost put on one page the happenings in a country or city. Human beings are now completely different from who they were in the past. This fact may be attributed to their ability to record facts on their computer screens according to how time has been changing and events unfolding.

Instant feedbacks after keying of data has made the aspect of physical distance a complete foreign affair to the human beings. Virilio (pp.543) wipes off the thought of getting a certain distance a hard nut to crack. People are now, more than ever willing to cruise all parts of the world, not the expensive way but just a click away. In turn, human beings have appreciated the vastness of the world just at the comfort of their homes. Could Virilio, therefore, be correct in his view? It is evident that he absolutely has a point of accuracy in line with this argument.

He continues to argue that distance ought not to be viewed on the basis of physically being in a certain position (Virilio pp.545). Direct contact with something is not the only way that one may get to a place or person. This leads us to a justification that cities are undoubtedly open places. If one does not necessarily have to visit a place so as to get there, it means we are totally conversant with each and every place we have heard of in the news or just seen pictures. Volirio expounds his point on the basis that tangible objects are no longer existent in the world. It does not really matter whether you have something or not, the most important thing is that one is able to describe a particular thing or place with all the attributes they possess. He likens this fact to opening a gate to a visitor who wants to visit and another person who visits you through the internet. These two people are just the same; the only difference lies in their physical presence. What difference does it make, whether you have first hand information or second hand, yet the information is just the same? Does this make sense? Absolutely, it really does. In fact, the second takes sounds more user friendly than the first. In short, Virilio is correct to say the cities are exposed and will continually be.

The gates of a certain country or sate may be associated to the data stored in the internet through various modes or search engines (Virilio pp.545). What is so amazing is that the process of cruising along states of interest is no longer time conscious. In the previous times, the travelling was limited to the day time only- a long time held perception that that was the best time to visit an alien place. Fortunately or unfortunately- depending on one’s view point on the topic- this has completely changed. Neither travel limitations nor VISA tribulations can hinder one from moving from place to place.

Virilio (p.545) highlights the possibility of the ‘no gates’ leading to deprivation of space for important economic activities in many areas due to overexposure. In the recent years, a high population has been attributed to the creation of slums and social evils in the society. What would happen to the agricultural sector that has for a long time been the backbone of the economy? The contemporary urban planners may have a vision of city expansion and modernization, but it would be important if they put considerations of the well being of the cool and clean environment of the city. Opening up the gates to every person who has an interest in a small piece of the city means that the city is bound to be overcrowded diminishing the productivity of the sate by restructuring the production modes of the city. He cites an example of the United States that has undertaken a move of decongesting its urban states upon realization of an increase in the potential of upcoming slums.

On a political front, Virilio (pp.546) argues that the over exposed city has been of great benefit to the modern governments. Thanks to the cameras, the governments are able to monitor what goes on in all areas of the country. This is at times captured live enabling the world be captured as a small village. Antipodes are completely inexistent, a factor that propels the ones with a negative attitude towards opening one’s gate to a stranger as taking a million steps back towards achieving urbanization or development. If people mange to change their perceptions of inclusion of new members of the globe or even society into their own as a menace and way of protecting their well being and security, the world would be a better place to live in. From the point of view that cities would have new management systems or ruling and administration, there would be no need to protect one’s jobs or homes for fear of destruction from new members (Virilio p.547).

In addition, Virilio (p.547) argues that erected space may not necessarily comprise of the material aspects of the building. The most important part is the ability of the building to withstand the effects that may jeopardize its stability and sustainability. Architecture has for a long time been seen to move upward with the use of high technology space shuttles, and satellites. An increase in research in the field of architecture has led to creation of more sophisticated technology in relation to creation of building (Virilio p.549.) In relation to our case study on the Overexposed city, this is an emblem of a city constructed with the best materials and architecture. The buildings are well finished portraying shiny and reflecting sides. The central characters are the casings that are not in any way linked to the interior functioning of the building. The covers only act as a mode of commercialization of the city and assume all other undertakings that may take place inside the building.

The major question, however, is whether this city is defined by its architecture or not. Could the city be evolving or is it just a stagnant feature that awaits evolution from other factors within it? From a closer survey of Virilio’s work, we may come to a conclusion that an exposed city is a metaphor of a place that is not invariable or rather constant but a place that gives space for the existence of each and everything that may thrive or survive in the city. The overexposed city gives all these factors a chance to exist almost at matching intervals causing no harm to any factor at all costs. The city can, therefore not depend on its structural design for survival abilities but what happens within its buildings for the survival of the city. Focus on the physical attributes of a city would mean that the citizens of the city are ready for a terrible destructuring of their economic stability and well being (Virilio pp.545).

In conclusion, the overexposed city has been used to mean not only an anthology of local reminiscence of places but an identity of a place. The geographical background of a place is alienated in the aspect of overexposed city- what has for a long time been termed as actual space does not hold water any more. Just like history grows old with time, the same way does ‘new space’ is being created. Technology is being applied creating a new mega city based on the ability of accessibility of that particular city.

Virilio (pp.545) may be quoted to imply that the creation of an overexposed city as an indication of making the planet a less urban place. The city that has for a long time been known been known to many is likely to disappear and a new one appearing on the screens. Physical attributes may no longer have space but transparency in terms of ability to be discerned from the screens that substitute the architectural blueprints.

Work cited

Armitage, Jones. “Paul Virilio: An Introduction”, pp.1-23 in J. Armitage (ed) Paul Virilio: From Modernism to Hyper modernism and Beyond. London: Sage Publishers. 2000

Batty, Max., & Longley, Plewe. Fractal Cities: A Geometry of Form and Function. London and San Diego Academic Press.1994

Batty, Max., & Xie, Yung. From Cells to Cities, Environment and Planning B, (1994) 21, s31-s48

Hillier, Bus., & Hanson, Julian. The Social Logic of Space. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 1984.

Virilio, Paul. The overexposed city, en LEACH, Neil (ed.), Rethinking architecture. A reader in cultural theory. London: Routledge, 1997, 381-390.