Lived City (3): Love and Rituals Lived City (3): Love and Rituals on Cities‘ on Cities‘ MarginsMargins

Exotica,Exotica, The Personal, etc.The Personal, etc.

OutlineOutline

Margins and Minorities Margins and Minorities Three Kinds of Margins Three Kinds of Margins The Myth of MarginalityThe Myth of Marginality Margins from Different Points of ViewMargins from Different Points of View e.g. Exotica and The Personal e.g. Exotica and The Personal

Margins and Minorities Margins and Minorities

1. Social Margins1. Social Margins – –

1) gender, behavioral 1) gender, behavioral minorities,minorities,

2. geographical margins:2. geographical margins:

1)1) beyond the central control,beyond the central control, out of order out of order

(heterotopia (heterotopia 異質空間異質空間 , strip, striptease bar, sauna, speaketease bar, sauna, speakeasy, etc.)asy, etc.)

2) racial, lower classes;2) racial, lower classes;

2) with fewer resources and 2) with fewer resources and in poorer materialist in poorer materialist conditions (e.g. illegal conditions (e.g. illegal constructions, ghettos)constructions, ghettos)

Three Kinds of Margins Three Kinds of Margins

Social, Geographic and Emotional, --overlapping categoriSocial, Geographic and Emotional, --overlapping categories es

Emotional + Social + Geographic Margin vs. Center – Emotional + Social + Geographic Margin vs. Center – I’I’ve Heard the Mermaids Singingve Heard the Mermaids Singing

Emotional (+ Age/Gender) – Emotional (+ Age/Gender) – EldoradoEldorado, , The PersonalThe Personal Social – two Caribbean stories Social – two Caribbean stories Emotional + Geographic Margins -- Exotica & Emotional + Geographic Margins -- Exotica & Vive l’aVive l’a

mourmour

Issues: Their Perception/Use of the City, its Space and Issues: Their Perception/Use of the City, its Space and Signs, Survival & CommunicationSigns, Survival & Communication

The Myth of MarginalityThe Myth of Marginality

Stereotypes of deficits, deficiency, Stereotypes of deficits, deficiency, disorganization and pathologies disorganization and pathologies

Ref. Ref. http://worldbank.org/urban/symposium20http://worldbank.org/urban/symposium2005/papers/perlman.pdf05/papers/perlman.pdf

Notes: Deconstructing the Myth of Notes: Deconstructing the Myth of Marginality Marginality from 夏鑄九’ s lecture

邊緣性 [如：非正式經濟、非正式部門 ]擴展，不單因為人們貧窮，是因為在人與勞動市場間的機制，這機制是再生產 marginality 之情境之基礎。記得無住屋運動中李幸長曾說過：“無殼蝸牛不要人同情！”

“窮人不是經濟上的邊緣而是被剝削，不是社會上的邊緣而是被拒絕，不是文化上的邊緣而是被污名，不是政治上的邊緣而是被操縱與壓迫”（ Janice Perlman）

Our Focus – Our Focus – how marginal desires how marginal desires are expressed thru’ revision of marginal are expressed thru’ revision of marginal spaces and human relationsspaces and human relations

Vive l’amour Vive l’amour Anonymous, rootless and Anonymous, rootless and

drifting drifting Lower-Middle class Lower-Middle class Desire for Love (Homo/HDesire for Love (Homo/H

etero)etero) Empty apartmentEmpty apartment Desire and Gaze, and re-iDesire and Gaze, and re-i

nvention of meanings nvention of meanings Comforted by transient relComforted by transient rel

ationships which seems liationships which seems like a new kind of “familyke a new kind of “family””

Exotica Exotica Betrayed, Obsessed, Betrayed, Obsessed,

from broken families from broken families Middle class Middle class Desire (Homo/Hetero)Desire (Homo/Hetero)

and a need for self-and a need for self-healinghealing

Empty homeEmpty home Desire and Gaze, and Desire and Gaze, and

other ritualsother rituals Comforted by ‘family’ Comforted by ‘family’

rituals (repetition and rituals (repetition and breakthroughs)breakthroughs)

Marginal Spaces:Marginal Spaces:Site and Sights Site and Sights

Exotica -- Exotica --

(1)(1) Voyeurism – of the cliVoyeurism – of the clients, (with the rule of ‘ents, (with the rule of ‘no touching’) no touching’)

(2)(2) Routined dances Routined dances C Christina fetishized/fixehristina fetishized/fixed as a school girl.d as a school girl.

“Regular” Spaces (2)

Aquarian: Just because they are Aquarian: Just because they are exotic, doesn’t mean that they cannot exotic, doesn’t mean that they cannot endure extremes. It is a jungle out endure extremes. It is a jungle out there, isn’t it?there, isn’t it?

Concert: a place to steal glances at Concert: a place to steal glances at each other or their bodies. each other or their bodies.

Homes– empty or spare Homes– empty or spare

The Characters’ The Characters’ Breakthrough of their Breakthrough of their Rituals Rituals

Zoe – repeating her mother’s career as a challenge (to Zoe – repeating her mother’s career as a challenge (to overcome her shyness); making a new option for herseovercome her shyness); making a new option for herself lf

Zoe and Christina – What do you think their relationshiZoe and Christina – What do you think their relationship is like? p is like?

Tracy – refuses to babysit anymoreTracy – refuses to babysit anymore Thomas –refused to be paid, found out by the officer, wThomas –refused to be paid, found out by the officer, w

ho still wants to see him later (clip 27) ho still wants to see him later (clip 27) Francis and Eric – clip 28, the meaning of ‘touch’?Francis and Eric – clip 28, the meaning of ‘touch’? Francis and Thomas – “But to help me, then?” Francis and Thomas – “But to help me, then?” Final resolution among the four – clip 17; Final resolution among the four – clip 17;

The ending The ending 1.1. Mutual understanding between Eric and Mutual understanding between Eric and

Francis -- Hug with Francis; facing realitFrancis -- Hug with Francis; facing reality – “I found her” y – “I found her” “; I lost her”; leave th “; I lost her”; leave the job as a DJ—at least temporarilye job as a DJ—at least temporarily

2.2. Christine dances by herself and is able tChristine dances by herself and is able to protect herself –changes the meaning o protect herself –changes the meaning of the touching hand to a receiving hand.of the touching hand to a receiving hand.

3.3. ‘‘Families’ outside the traditional nuclear fFamilies’ outside the traditional nuclear families.amilies.

Eric and Zoe--- a. Lovers and Friends; Zoe and Christina; Eric and Zoe--- a. Lovers and Friends; Zoe and Christina; Thomas and Francis; Thomas and his loversThomas and Francis; Thomas and his lovers

Symbolic Meanings Symbolic Meanings RevisedRevised Mirrors: Betrayal & Appearance vs. reality; doublMirrors: Betrayal & Appearance vs. reality; doubl

e identitye identity The Pet Shop: ExoticaThe Pet Shop: Exotica The Green Field: conflicts in color, music, gain anThe Green Field: conflicts in color, music, gain an

d loss at the same time, with inherent dangers; d loss at the same time, with inherent dangers; Photos & VideoPhotos & Video: Irony, Imply the failure of keepin: Irony, Imply the failure of keepin

g memoryg memory Eggs, & Zoe’s pregnancy: “You didn’t ask to be brEggs, & Zoe’s pregnancy: “You didn’t ask to be br

ought here…”(Francis)ought here…”(Francis) Home in postmodern cityHome in postmodern city: Tracey’s, Christina’s, Fr: Tracey’s, Christina’s, Fr

ancis’s---Which one is the real home? ancis’s---Which one is the real home?

Are we voyeuristic?Are we voyeuristic? Voyeurism Voyeurism emotional involvement and catharsi emotional involvement and catharsi

s?s? ““At Exotica (as in, one supposes, an erotic film), At Exotica (as in, one supposes, an erotic film), vv

oyeurism is a frustrated alias for emotional intercoyeurism is a frustrated alias for emotional intercourseourse, . . . Egoyan's achievement in , . . . Egoyan's achievement in ExoticaExotica is sin is singularly fitting, as he yokes the experience of the gularly fitting, as he yokes the experience of the movie audience to that of the audience in his film, movie audience to that of the audience in his film, acknowledging erotic needs without condemning acknowledging erotic needs without condemning them, and stripping down the obsessions that colthem, and stripping down the obsessions that color a life. ” or a life. ” http://www.deep-focus.com/flicker/exotica.htmlhttp://www.deep-focus.com/flicker/exotica.html

Are we voyeuristic?Are we voyeuristic? There are different types of gazes; There are different types of gazes;

Gazes of control to fix the others as objects (cuGazes of control to fix the others as objects (customers in Exotica). stomers in Exotica).

gazes to express one’s desire, love and concergazes to express one’s desire, love and concern (Mermaids, Hera’s sister not a voyeur),n (Mermaids, Hera’s sister not a voyeur),

Self-gaze (at the mirror) for self-understanding. Self-gaze (at the mirror) for self-understanding.

Gazes can be obsessive, but they can also Gazes can be obsessive, but they can also be turned into birds-eye view, aspiring looks,be turned into birds-eye view, aspiring looks, glances, or fl glances, or flââneurial looks. neurial looks.

Contract and RitualContract and Ritual

Ways to maintain social stability and prodWays to maintain social stability and produce meanings uce meanings

Can become rigid power play (e.g. the dirCan become rigid power play (e.g. the director+wife, and the adjuster in ector+wife, and the adjuster in The AdjustThe Adjuster)er), or merely “transactional” (without hu, or merely “transactional” (without human contact; customers in Exotica) man contact; customers in Exotica)

Spouse-Seeking as another RitualSpouse-Seeking as another Ritual

Problems of this ritual – Power Gaze Problems of this ritual – Power Gaze Questioned, she is exposed to different types of gender Questioned, she is exposed to different types of gender

stereotypes stereotypes Asking questions with a pseudonym, she is in the position of Asking questions with a pseudonym, she is in the position of

power, examining, judging and peeping at the others. power, examining, judging and peeping at the others. With multiple desires: voyeurism, porn, fetishism With multiple desires: voyeurism, porn, fetishism

Functions of the ritual: Functions of the ritual: (repetition compulsion)—the tea house –where they met the (repetition compulsion)—the tea house –where they met the

first time.first time. Communication and Distraction through role-playCommunication and Distraction through role-play; Possible ; Possible

solution solution traditional values challenged traditional values challenged Weaknesses revealed (e.g. loneliness, in need of company) Weaknesses revealed (e.g. loneliness, in need of company)

Spouse-Seeking as another RitualSpouse-Seeking as another Ritual

A virtual space – like chatroom and Exotica!A virtual space – like chatroom and Exotica! Breakthrough: Breakthrough:

With the help of With the help of Mrs. Wu (who is in a similar positionMrs. Wu (who is in a similar position; c; confirms Du) and the mentors onfirms Du) and the mentors

The director’s search for meanings thru’ communication wThe director’s search for meanings thru’ communication with and understanding of his actors. ith and understanding of his actors. 金士傑﹐金士傑﹐ the blind musician the blind musician

Urban Spaces in the Urban Spaces in the Personal Personal

Du ‘s perception of the city –see the group report; projeDu ‘s perception of the city –see the group report; projects her own feelings cts her own feelings

Communication and losing control in a semi-private spaCommunication and losing control in a semi-private space -- Hotel (with Chen) (oppressive ceiling) ce -- Hotel (with Chen) (oppressive ceiling)

Gains more freedom in public spacesGains more freedom in public spaces -- on the road (bu -- on the road (bus, pay phone, ads) and in public (choosing and arrangis, pay phone, ads) and in public (choosing and arranging her own seats in tea house) ng her own seats in tea house) bridge (empty space, bridge (empty space, releasing) releasing) taxi taxi

Realizes the loss of freedom in private SpacesRealizes the loss of freedom in private Spaces –confidi –confiding ng mirror (when talking to Mr. Wu) mirror (when talking to Mr. Wu)

Margins to FlowMargins to Flow

We’ve seen We’ve seen FlFlââneurs, minorities and urban nomads moving neurs, minorities and urban nomads moving From home to spaces of flow, such as street, hFrom home to spaces of flow, such as street, h

otel, bus/train station, airport, commercialized sotel, bus/train station, airport, commercialized spaces such as department stores paces such as department stores

Disembedded from traditional (family) structure,Disembedded from traditional (family) structure, can they communication and find comfort in th can they communication and find comfort in those spaces of flows? ose spaces of flows?

ReferencesReferences

３３ .. 都市邊緣性之批判 都市邊緣性之批判 1).1). 神話與現實神話與現實都市社會學都市社會學 夏鑄九 夏鑄九 http://www.bp.ntu.edu.tw/bpwww/Students/courhttp://www.bp.ntu.edu.tw/bpwww/Students/course92_1.htmse92_1.htm

Fetishization in "Exotica" Fetishization in "Exotica" http://strangerbox.topcities.com/exotica.htmlhttp://strangerbox.topcities.com/exotica.html