Eric Vilmer
9/8/20
Professor Simpson
Response Paper 2
Based on what I read from the four essays, I would say that the common theme or idea in each
of the four essays is the concept of time and space. David Harvey’s essay discusses time and space
during the enlightenment period, Massey’s essay discusses time and space with the geometries of
power in modern times, Smith’s essay discusses scaling places and the fascinating homeless vehicle,
while Schivelbusch’s essay discusses space and time specifically directed at railroads. Space seems to
be a common theme of “Critical Geography,” though I have yet to fully grasp its full meaning and
logic. I find Smith’s essay to be the most interesting; with the discussion of the homeless vehicle. I have
never seen one of these before, and what makes them relevant in this essay is their relevance to space.
They are designed simply for one who is homeless. The only real improvement for someone who is
homeless is the shelter that it provides. They do not help improve the image of homelessness to society.
These vehicles simply give someone who is homeless the tools to continue to be homeless. “By
allowing wider spatial mobility; it opens up the possibilities for scavenging and panhandling; it puts
more distant can and bottle redemption centres within reach; makes new places accessible for sleeping;
enables speedier and more effective escape in the face of police harassment and assaults; in general, it
streamlines the routing of daily life. (Smith, 90) The main question I have is; instead of creating a
mobile machine that continues to help homeless people stay homeless, why not invest money into
programs that can help homeless people achieve what is important to them. Many people who are
homeless do not want to be in that position but they find it difficult to achieve what is necessary to
them because the system operates under the delusion that all homeless people want is to freeload off of
society.
Hey Eric! You have some great points but I would disagree with you about "The Homeless Vehicle" because it has so much more function than just being shelter. It is a way to transport all your things, it has a basin to wash up in, and it allows them to have a space. But most importantly it is supposed to be a satirical and yet still functional object that shows that this people really exist. Many people would prefer to forget that homelessness exists or brush it off as laziness and incompetency. This artist is allowing these people to be seen and make other face the major problem that homelessness is in this country.
ReplyDeleteHi Sadie
DeleteI agree with you in saying that the artist is allowing these people to be seen. I think the creation of the vehicle started to have people talk about the issue of homelessness and the impact it has in the societal space and the country as a whole.
For sure! The author even says it's "emphatically not a solution" (p89).
ReplyDeleteBut, it does make an impact on the individual who uses it: it gives them their own "means of production" (trying to shoehorn Marx's language in) of many of the things necessary for their existence. I suspect I'm misusing Neil Smith's language in turn, but - I think this fits into what Smith refers to as the "scales" of "The Body" and "The Home". On that level, I think you're sort of right, Eric: It does help people to "continue to be homeless" in that it allows homeless individuals the ability to continue their existence, as opposed to perhaps incarceration, or death, as in the case of the person who froze to death on a park bench (p94).
Again I think I might be wrong when it comes to scales, but when it comes to the issue of being "visible", of being "seen" like you're saying, Sadie, that seems like an effect on the scale of "The Community." People will see the homeless vehicle and be challenged to consider the humanity and the needs of the homeless community at large.
That's some wild stabs. I'd love to hear if anyone can fit this question better with the subject of "scale"
Great discussion on this post everyone. I do think the homeless vehicle not only provides some practical and immediate benefits to homelessness, it is also meant to be an intervention on making the homeless visible as the commenters are pointing to. What would it look like if downtown included 30-50 homeless vehicles? It would certainly become something that the community would be forced to be aware and hopefully then begin to implement the kind of long term changes you are looking for in your original post, Eric. And in this sense, David, we can absolutely understand the Homeless Vehicle as a "mediator" between scales, in this case the vehicle links the individual person with the larger issue of urban policy and affordability within the city. It also invites u to wonder: what other kinds of projects might be able to link scales that could address these issues that are forgotten or ignored by society?
ReplyDelete