Some people say you can only experience London as you walk it. Others say that riding
the London Tube gives you the real picture of the city as you receive different
perspectives.
Indeed, the world’s oldest and largest underground, is one of the city’s most prominent
and prototypical features. For more than 140 years, a diverse range of people such as
tourists, visitors, provincials and commuters have travelled the metropolis by
underground. Yet all of them for the same reason: to get from one place to the other.
From the opening of the first line in 1868, the London Underground also attracted the
attention of many writers who depicted this means of transportation in their works. In
fact, the London Underground still fascinates many contemporary authors such as Doris
Lessing and Charlie Higson.
Reading Lessing’s In Defence of the Underground or Higson’s The Red Line you are
taken along on a journey below the city, exploring the metropolis. While the story’s
characters travel through London they organize space. When riding one of the
underground lines, certain places and linked together. As the story continues, the
narrative structures unfold to be spatial syntaxes that take the reader along on a tour
through the metropolis.
In this paper I will argue to what degree texts about the London Tube as well as the
London Underground maps can be considered a way of organizing the space of London.
First of all, I want to give a short introduction on spatial theory and a definition of the
concept of spatial stories. Afterwards, I will apply my findings on spatial stories to the
London Underground texts In Defence of the Underground and The Red Line.
Moreover, I will discuss the different representation of London within the two texts.
Finally, I want to examine to what degree London Underground maps can be considered
a way of organizing the space of the city.
[...]
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Spatial Theory and Spatial Stories
- 2.1. Michel de Certeau on Spatial Theory
- 2.2. Spatial Stories
- 3. Contemporary Spatial Stories about the London Underground
- 3.1. In Defence of the Underground - Travelling the Jubilee Line
- 3.1.1. A Brief Summary
- 3.1.2. In Defence of the Underground as a Spatial Story
- 3.1.3. The Representation of London in Lessing's In Defence of the Underground
- 3.2. The Red Line – Travelling the Northern Line
- 3.2.1. A Brief Summary
- 3.2.2. The Red Line as a Spatial Story
- 3.2.3. The Representation of London in Higson's The Red Line
- 3.1. In Defence of the Underground - Travelling the Jubilee Line
- 4. The Representation of Space in London Underground Maps
- 4.1. The Early Underground Maps: a Map from 1910
- 4.2. The Recent London Underground Maps: a Map from 2006
- 4.3. Underground Maps and Spatial Stories
- 4.4. Remapping London I: The Great Bear by Simon Patterson, 1992
- 4.5. Remapping London II: A Satirical Map by Jimmy Mulville and Colin Swash, 1997
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to examine the extent to which texts about the London Underground, along with its maps, can be considered methods of organizing the space of London. It explores how narratives and cartography represent and shape our understanding of the city's spatial layout.
- Spatial Theory and its application to narratives.
- Analysis of literary works as "spatial stories."
- The representation of London in contemporary texts about the Underground.
- The role of London Underground maps in shaping perceptions of space.
- Comparative analysis of different map representations across time.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage by highlighting the contrasting perspectives on experiencing London – either by walking or using the London Underground. It establishes the London Underground as a prominent feature of the city and its significance in literature, particularly focusing on contemporary authors like Doris Lessing and Charlie Higson. The chapter introduces the central argument: exploring how texts and maps organize the space of London, with a focus on the Underground.
2. Spatial Theory and Spatial Stories: This chapter delves into spatial theory, beginning with a discussion of the evolution of spatial thought in the mid-20th century and highlighting influential figures like Walter Benjamin, Michel de Certeau, and Edward Soja. It then focuses on de Certeau's distinction between "space" and "place," emphasizing how space is constructed through actions and operations, while place implies stability and presence. The chapter also elaborates on de Certeau's ideas on the unconscious navigation of city dwellers, and how walking—as a form of spatial practice—reorganizes spatial possibilities. Finally, the concept of "spatial stories" is introduced, emphasizing how narratives weave together places and people, integrating public and private experiences to create subjective spatial representations.
3. Contemporary Spatial Stories about the London Underground: This chapter analyzes two contemporary narratives about the London Underground, Lessing's "In Defence of the Underground" and Higson's "The Red Line," as examples of spatial stories. It examines how the narratives structure the experience of traveling the Underground lines, connecting places and people to create unique representations of London. The chapter also hints at how the representation of London differs between these two texts.
4. The Representation of Space in London Underground Maps: This chapter shifts its focus from literary narratives to cartographic representations of the London Underground, examining how maps shape perceptions of space. It explores the evolution of Underground maps, comparing an early map (1910) with a more recent one (2006), highlighting how design choices influence our understanding of the network and the city itself. The discussion also touches on how these maps relate to the previously discussed concept of spatial stories.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
London Underground, spatial theory, spatial stories, cartography, urban space, narrative, representation, Doris Lessing, Charlie Higson, Michel de Certeau, map design, city experience.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview
What is the main topic of this paper?
This paper examines how texts about the London Underground, and its maps, organize the space of London. It explores how narratives and cartography represent and shape our understanding of the city's spatial layout.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The key themes include spatial theory and its application to narratives; analysis of literary works as "spatial stories"; the representation of London in contemporary texts about the Underground; the role of London Underground maps in shaping perceptions of space; and a comparative analysis of different map representations across time.
Which authors and their works are analyzed in this paper?
The paper analyzes two contemporary narratives about the London Underground: Doris Lessing's "In Defence of the Underground" and Charlie Higson's "The Red Line." These are examined as examples of "spatial stories."
What is the significance of spatial theory in this analysis?
The paper utilizes spatial theory, particularly the work of Michel de Certeau, to understand how narratives and maps construct and represent space. De Certeau's concepts of "space" and "place," and the idea of spatial practices, are central to the analysis.
How are London Underground maps incorporated into the analysis?
The paper analyzes the representation of space in London Underground maps, comparing an early map (1910) with a more recent one (2006). It explores how design choices influence our understanding of the network and the city, and relates these maps to the concept of "spatial stories."
What is meant by "spatial stories"?
"Spatial stories" refer to narratives that weave together places and people, integrating public and private experiences to create subjective spatial representations. The analyzed texts are considered examples of this concept.
What are the objectives of this research?
The paper aims to examine the extent to which texts about the London Underground, along with its maps, can be considered methods of organizing the space of London. It seeks to explore how narratives and cartography represent and shape our understanding of the city's spatial layout.
What are the chapter summaries?
The paper includes an introduction establishing the context and argument; a chapter on spatial theory and the concept of spatial stories; a chapter analyzing two contemporary narratives about the London Underground; and a final chapter focusing on the representation of space in London Underground maps across time.
What keywords are associated with this paper?
Keywords include: London Underground, spatial theory, spatial stories, cartography, urban space, narrative, representation, Doris Lessing, Charlie Higson, Michel de Certeau, map design, and city experience.
What does the Table of Contents include?
The table of contents provides a detailed breakdown of the paper's structure, including chapters, sub-chapters, and specific topics covered within each section. It organizes the information logically for easy navigation.
- Quote paper
- Ulrike Miske (Author), 2007, The representation of space: Prose and maps about the London Underground , Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/115298
