Junkspace or the art of Overstimulation
“Junkspace is the body double of space, a territory of
impaired vision, limited expectation, reduced earnestness. Junkspace is a
Bermuda Triangle of concepts, an abandoned petri dish: it cancels distinctions,
undermines resolve, confuses intention with realization. It replaces hierarchy
with accumulation, composition with addition. More and more, more is more.
Junkspace is overripe and undernourishing at the same time, a colossal security
blanket that covers the earth in a stranglehold of seduction.”
“A fuzzy empire of blur, it fuses high and low, public
and private, straight and bent, bloated and starved to offer a seamless
patchwork of the permanently disjointed. Seemingly an apotheosis, spatially
grandiose, the effect of its richness is a terminal hollowness, a vicious
parody of ambition that systematically erodes the credibility of building,
possibly forever.”
I was particularly drawn to these two thoughts from Rem
Koolhaas’ writings on Junk Space. As I read this small segment, I envision a
large, unprogrammed space that seems to have no purpose but as a lobby for
multiple programs to occur simultaneously. This vision gives me headaches as
the thought of overstimulation sets in. There are too many things added to the
space that all seem to combine together with no part of the conglomeration
presenting itself more important than another.
As I think more of this I begin to see how mobile phones, smart phones in particular, can provide the technological equivalent of Junkspace. Technology has gone so far to allow us to listen to music, watch a movie, read an article from our favorite architect, and catch up on the latest soap opera gossip all at the same time in the palm of our hand. All of this information floods the senses in the tiniest of moments, I feel those who reject anything in the realm of smartphones have become victims of this overstimulation, the technological junkspace.
If I were to relate this to my background in music,
Junkspace is the “warmup” time at the beginning of band class or a concert. One
musician is playing long notes to warm up their embouchure while another
musician across the room practices a particular riff in a faster song that
might be challenging on their fingers. A drummer in the back of the room begins
to tap out rudimentary beats to practice their hand positions. An untrained
musician walks in the room and experiences the musical equivalent of junkspace…an
overstimulation of the senses that provides little to no resolve until the
director approaches the podium and silence takes its place…even then the
listener isn’t content due to the un-resolved nature of a musical excerpt, a
small portion of something larger.
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