CONTEMPORARY HUMAN
GEOGRAPHY
THIRD SPACE
SUBMITTED BY: SUBMITED TO:
SUMIT YADAV DR. APARAJITA DE
ROLL NO. 1894308
M.A.(P) GEOGRAPHY
Introduction:
Geography is the study of spaces. It is the branch of science concerned with identifying and
describing the Earth, utilizing spatial awareness to try and understand why things exist in
specific locations. The concept of “space” is one of the most fundamental of geographical
concepts. There is no work in geography that does not contain it. Nevertheless, geography has
not as yet formulated an explicit and unambiguous definition of geographical space. Different
interpretation of space is projected into theory and methodology of geography, causing
numerous theoretical and methodological errors and misunderstandings. According to Yi Fi
Tuan space can be described as a location which has no social connections for a human being.
People don't add value to this space. Tuan says that it is an open space, but may marked off
and defended against intruders’ people don't feel like giving that kind of space a meaning. It is
more or less abstract. The concept of “geographical space” is a relational one. It acquires
meaning and sense only when related to other concepts. The concept of “space” may be
conceived as a supplement to things, i.e. substantively conceived objects. The concept of
Space is very dynamic in geography. It includes all aspect of life like physical aspect,
perception images and experiences associated with the particular location. The concept of
space is seen through different mediums like first, second and third(lived) space or in terms
of absolute and relative space.
Third space in geographical space is defined as a postcolonial sociolinguistic theory of identity
and community realized through language or education. Third space is a postmodern view of
the world around us. The post modernistic view of this concept overcomes this bounded
thinking of seeing things only physically and looks at places in a more open way. Postmodern
thinkers see more possibilities for this space and by creating a new concept and constantly
editing the function of the place we constantly evolve the function and the ideas about the
function of that specific place.
Types of Spaces: Nilgel Thrift in his paper Space: The fundamental stuff of human geography
has explained space in three concepts. They are as following:
The First space (Physical space/perceived space) is a physical space. It is our way of being
able to reproduce that physical space. It is a material, visible and measurable, objective
determination to space as a formal science. It is about the relations between society and nature
and the human built environment. According to Soja (1996) First space is conventionally read
at two different levels, one which concentrates on the accurate description of surface
appearance, and the other which searches for spatial explanation in social, physical, and
biophysical processes. The First space perspective as said, is focused on the material world.
The Second Space (Mental space/conceived space) is one of the three spaces distinguished
by Edward Soja, namely first space, second space and third space. Second space is linked to
the concept of 'conceived space' by Lefebvre. Second space is all about the feelings of the
human being in combination with a specific (first) space. You can see this space in a subjective
and normative way. In the first space the human being just tries to analyse the space. In the
second space on the other hand a human being doesn't just try to analyse the space but he adds
some feelings to these analyses of space. The second space is the space of the planners and
urbanists who model the space and conceptualise it. Soja defines second space in his book
‘Third space: Journeys to Los Angeles and other Real-and-Imagined Places’ (1996). In this
book he brings his vision about second space after he reflects on the conceived space from
Lefebvre. The connection between conceived space on one hand and second space on the other
hand is made in next sentence. In Lefebvre’s conceived space, space is understood as a mental
space: “these mental spaces, are thus the representation of power and ideology, of control and
surveillance. This second space, is also the primary space of utopian thought and vision, it’s
the semiotician or decoder, and the purely creative imagination some of artists and poets”
According to Lefebvre there is no first, second and third space.
The Third space (Social space/lived space) is a concept developed by the American
Geographer Edward Soja in his book Third space, journeys to Los Angelos and other Real and
Imagined places. Third space is radically different way of looking at, interpreting and acting to
change the embracing spatiality of human life. It is the third aspect in a new way of thinking
about space and spatiality. Third space is based on the work of a number of social scientists,
most notably Henri Lefebvre. Lefebvre introduces third space in slightly different form and
under a different name: ‘Spaces of representation and can also be seen as ‘lived space’. It is
not the name however that matters, it is the idea. Third space is the space we give meaning to.
A rapidly, continually changing space in which we live. It is the experience of living. Third
Space Theory explains the uniqueness of each person, actor or context as a “hybrid”.
Third space is built upon First space and Second space perspectives as a creative recombination
and extension of them. It is the ‘real’ material world, the physical or demographic space - the
material, physical world and its territory. In the case of Second space, reality is understood via
imagined representation and spatiality is accounted as constitutive element of the reality of
world. Third space is space and spatiality people constructed through social practices. It is, for
Soja, a “transcending composite of all spaces”. It is the space of the “directly lived”, the space
of “inhabitants” and “users”, containing all other real and imagined spaces simultaneously.
Even though it draws upon both the material and mental spaces of perceived space and
conceived space as we have mentioned earlier, it extends beyond them in scope, substance and
meaning. It is simultaneously real and imagined and more.
According to Soja "everything comes together… subjectivity and objectivity, the abstract and
the concrete, the real and the imagined, the knowable and the unimaginable, the repetitive and
the differential, structure and agency, mind and body, consciousness and the unconscious, the
disciplined and the transdisciplinary, everyday life and unending history." As he explains, "I
define Third space as an-Other way of understanding and acting to change the spatiality of
human life, a distinct mode of critical spatial awareness that is appropriate to the new scope
and significance being brought about in the rebalanced trialectics of spatiality–historically–
sociality." Soja constructs Third space from the spatial trialectics established by Henri Lefebvre
in The Production of Space and Michel Foucault's concept of heterotopia. Soja demonstrates
leanings towards a monadic mysticism in his Third space. He formulates Third space by
analogy with the Aleph, a concept of spatial infinity developed by Jorge Luis Borges.
Thirdspace is a radically inclusive concept that encompasses epistemology, ontology, and
historicity in continuous movement beyond dualisms and toward "an-Other": as Soja explains,
"thirding produces what might best be called a cumulative trialectics that is radically open to
additional otherness, to a continuing expansion of spatial knowledge." Third space is a
transcendent concept that is constantly expanding to include "an-Other," thus enabling the
contestation and re-negotiation of boundaries and cultural identity. Soja here closely resembles
Homi K. Bhabha's Third Space Theory, in which "all forms of culture are continually in a
process of hybridity," that "displaces the histories that constitute it, and sets up new structures
of authority and new political initiative. The process of cultural hybridity gives rise to
something different, something new and unrecognizable, a new area of negotiation of meaning
and representation.".
In the sociological point of view, the third space is a social space/lived space which is a social
product that is a space created by society under oppression or marginalization that want to
reclaim the space of inequality and make it into something else. Soja argues that our old ways
to thinking about space (first and second space theories) can no longer accommodate the way
the world works because he believed that spaces may not be contained within one social
category, they may include different aspects of many categories or developed within the
boundaries of a number of categories. For instance, two different cultures combine together
and emerge as a third culture. This third hybrid space displaces the original values that
constitute it and set up new values and perspectives that is different from the first two spaces.
Thus, the third space theory can explain some of the complexity of poverty, social exclusion
and social inclusion, gender and race issues.
Absolute and Relative space: Geography has not clearly defined “geographical or landscape
space” geographical spatial thinking seems to oscillate between two poles. One of these is
represented by the concept of absolute space and the other one by the concept of relative space.
The concept of geographical space is shaped under he influences of both these poles.
The concept of absolute space originated in the classical mechanics of Euclidean geometry.
Absolute space is an empty space. This concept embodies the idea of emptiness and the idea
of absence of any objects. Such space is qualitatively empty, immobile, and homogenous. In
geography absolute space is represented with relative precision by the system of topographical
coordinates. Absolute space as a synoym of emptiness is in itself have no spatial importance to
geography. It requires importance only in relation to the things placed “with in the place” like
in an empty container
Parallel to the idea of landscape space as absolute space there exists in geography also the idea
of relative landscape space. According to this landscape space is “something more” than
qualitatively empty, passive space. This “something more” was originally conceived only
intuitively. Only later did it leads to various conception of space and only much later to the
concept of geographic or landscape space. Relative space is understood as something more
than just emptiness. It is differentiated rather than being homogenous. In place of being passive,
it affects the things it contains, arranging them into some certain spatial order. Its effects on the
things are similar to a afield of force.
Example of Third Space In Real World: VC Lawn In North Campus
VC lawn lie in the heart of North Campus. It is easily accessible owing to the several entry
gates and are lush with greenery. The lawns give students a space to pursue recreational
activities. They are accessible all times for students. The lawns come alive during the evening
as people of all age groups take leisurely strolls and enjoy the peace and calm that they offer.
A stretch of green grass scattered with palm trees and covered with flowers, in the heart of the
Varsity is a sight to behold. It allows people to not only connect with nature but also with their
friends and families in a beautiful way. Societies and student-run organisations often use the
lawns to hold meetings and to have practises and discussions. The significance of VC Lawns
in the life of a student in North Campus is immense.
Now from the geographical perspective VC lawn can be described as a particular location and
it covers some space physically (first space) and have a mental image or conceived image
(second space) in peoples mind. In terms of third space as E.d.Soja has said that it includes
everything. People come and socialize in the lawn. Every person who come to this lawn have
different experience and memories associated with it. The meaning of lawn is different for
everyone. For some people it is a place for exercise and socializing, for others it is their
workplace. It is a big part of people social life. And everyone has different emotions and
imaginations associated with it. And when we study the third space dimension of the VC lawn
then we will look at its physical and conceived image as well as the experiences, emotions,
imaginations and different meaning it has for different people. Now this bring us to the fact
that for almost everyone first space of the VC lawn is same but it differs heavily in terms of
third space. Every individual has a different dimension of third space for the VC lawn or as a
matter of fact for every location. This amount of meaning and dimension of third space define
the value of a particular location in an individual’s life. So, for some people VC lawn has some
value but for others it may not have any value.
Conclusion:
Space is very fundamental part of geography. Geography as a subject is defined as a spatial
study. But this space varies a lot. While the First(perceived) space is same for everyone the
second (conceived) and third (lived space) varies for everyone. In the different dimensions of
space Third space also known as lived space includes both the first and second space. More
generally it can be said that third space includes all our experiences and meaning a location
has. This makes the definition of third space very wide and open for interpretation. It is so
because now Third space is different for everyone and so will be the definition of it. And this
is what happened in recent time in geographical studies. Topic like third space cannot be fully
defined because of wide spectrum they cover but understanding the meaning is very important.
Third space is “Space of Representation”. It is the space of the “directly lived”, the space of
“inhabitants” and “users”, containing all other real and imagined spaces simultaneously. And
it should be studied in this context only.
References
• Third Space: Journey to Los Angeles and other real imagined places By E.D. Soja
• Post Modern Geographies: The Reassertion of space in critical social studies
• The production of Space By Henri Lefebvre
• Space: The fundamental Stuff of Human Geographies By Nigel Thrift
