You are forgiven for thinking that this is yet another article on the advantages or perils of social networking. That’s far from my mind. When I think of space, I think of wide open spaces. And then far off, on the other end of the spectrum, is New York City. What makes it such an important space? Crazy as it sounds, it’s a lack of space. Cramped corners, crowded streets, tiny theatres, small subways – it’s really about the lack of space that elevates this metro into a league of its own.
It got me thinking. The value attached to space makes finding a spot in this city a challenge. You’ve “arrived” if you have a space of your own. All those impressive stores on Fifth Avenue are paying premium prices for a little piece of real estate, to be part of the action. New Yorkers pay incredulously amounts of rent to live in small apartments that give them that very space, and title “I live IN New York.” I don’t want to make broad sweeping statements and it may be true that many natives in New York know of any other way of existing. Not having space, is a way of life. There are other ways that people try to go about creating their own space – in their workplace, in their lives, in their attitudes…
It gets weirder when I think about it. There is a severe lack of space and everything’s made in smaller proportions; stranger when you realize that a majority of the country is overweight and don’t necessarily fit into those tiny little seats at a theatre or through the turnstile in the subway station. I think it’s incredibly cruel how important looks are in this city but that’s a topic for a whole other post. The emphasis on space makes me think that the space you take up on the planet is important in a city like New York. Everything has to be pretty, small, compact and not get in anyone’s way. God help you if you do. Not many would think twice before trampling all over you. It’s about space. The contrast is so clear in my mind – you (as in your physical being) must not take up too much space in New York but you’re only someone important if you have a space that belongs to you in the city.
New York makes you think about space in a whole new way. Then again, if you want your own space and want to do your own thing, most people think that heading to New York is the ultimate solution. For in a city cramped to its armpits, everyone seems to be keen to reiterate that you have to have your own space. So what, if you don’t really own any real estate?