Huang 1

Hao Huang
Professor Gifford
English 114B
24 March 2014

Space is infinite; it is so big that people dont realize how vast and mind-bogglingly big it
is. We take for granted the space that we live in. Many people end up publicizing their private
space. However this is due to the way society works. Society corrupts the minds of people that it
makes them act differently around different people and different environment. In each type of
space, people act according to what they see fit. We all need our private space were we can
simple just call our own. Therefore we need to establish a border in which we can separate
ourselves from society; we need to give each other space to grow, to be ourselves, and to excise
our diversity.
A place can have more than one meaning, it has a platial and spatial meaning. Both
spatial and platial approaches to understanding always require each other in some degree but
continually appear as privileged or disadvantaged (McClellan, 1). An area can have its
advantages and disadvantages. For example, a house can be seen as place where people use as
shelter, but however, the disadvantage to a house is the duties that come with it. Living in
different neighborhoods means different types of spatial and platial meaning. In rich
neighborhoods, the houses look would be bigger and nicer compare to the poorer communities.
However, the duties that come with living in the richer neighborhoods are greater than the one in
the poorer neighborhoods. In addition to spatial and platial meanings, McClellan also talk about
all discursive spaces are bound by opportunities and constraints connected to the situations and
Huang 2

places within they occur. (McClellan, #) People that live in rich areas tend to have better
opportunities and less constraints than the ones that arent so privileged. Because of the
difference in social class, everyone will grow up into different individuals.
Each and every individual is different. We have different ways of thinking and different
perspectives. In the space of our room we would decorate it so that it would give shows how it
represents us. In our own private space, we can be whatever we want to be. We set up our room
to give off a certain vibe. We want others to understand what we are into and they would learn a
little more about us.
A sanctuary is where one can be safe from anything. Most people can say that their room
is the place where they escape from their problems. In Anzalduas Borderlands, she states
Borders are set up to define the places that are safe and unsafe, to distinguish us from them
(Anzaldua, #). What she means is that people set up boundaries to protect themselves, to protect
themselves from what they dont want to become. Once you cross the door into your room, you
escape from reality. You are living in solitary; you are the one in power. Your room is an
alternate universe where the outside world doesnt matter. But in your room you will constantly
doubt yourself, you will punish yourself for every wrong you committed and reward yourself for
every act of kindness that you indulged.
Ultimately, space is a more than just an area with height, width, and depth. It gives a
deeper meaning to what an area is supposed to mean. A house can be good and bad. Your room
isnt just a solitary confinement; its an escape for reality. We need to see space with a deeper
understanding, question it for being there.