It’s interesting how non-places are represented in the movie. For example, the use of peripheral urban spaces in All the President’s Men evokes physical constraint, and reinforces the overall sense of alienation. Non-places are places that are becoming more and more similar in the course of globalization, a kind of public space in which people are removed in order to achieve standardization and efficiency. Although there is a large number of people flowing in such a space, it cannot carry people’s emotions or gather people’s memories. I think it’s hard for a place to give people a sense of security and belonging if it doesn’t have any of the characteristics of a particular city. Globalization has improved people’s material living standards, but to some extent it may have neglected the spiritual comfort of urban residents.
Yi Chen, 3035638703
You have raised a good point on the (dis-) connection between globalisation and mental comfort. The questions on characters, identities, and representations are ever-discussed in the built environment context. For example, you might want to tap into Marc Augé’s definition and point of views regarding the “non-place” to better reflect upon it. Another way of critique globalisation more productively might be by borrowing Walter Benjamin’s suspicions toward modernisation. Then you can elaborate more on the two sides of the globalisation coin to present your arguments.