Space - as landscape, terrain, spectacle, experience - has vanished

Space - as landscape, terrain, spectacle, experience - has vanished

In her essay "The Blue of Distance," Rebecca Solnit explores the idea that space, as we once knew it, has vanished. She delves into the concept of space not just as physical distance, but as a landscape, terrain, spectacle, and experience that has been altered by modern technology and human intervention.

Solnit argues that the vastness and mystery of space have been diminished by our ability to map, measure, and manipulate it. With the advent of satellites, GPS, and virtual reality, we can now navigate and explore space with unprecedented precision and ease. This has led to a sense of familiarity and control that has stripped space of its awe-inspiring and transcendent qualities.

Furthermore, Solnit suggests that the proliferation of screens and digital devices has created a barrier between us and the natural world, diminishing our ability to truly experience space in all its complexity and beauty. We are constantly bombarded with images and information that mediate our perception of space, preventing us from fully engaging with it on a sensory and emotional level.