this post was submitted on 27 Aug 2024
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LiminalSpace
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Liminal spaces are the subject of an Internet aesthetic portraying empty or abandoned places that appear eerie, forlorn, and often surreal. Liminal spaces are commonly places of transition (pertaining to the concept of liminality) or of nostalgic appeal.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liminal_space_(aesthetic)
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People really misuse the word "liminal".
Sort of how "literally" became to be used as just emphasis.
A liminal space is occupying a position at, or on both sides of, a boundary or threshold. But because a lot of the liminal spaces had this vague creepy empty feeling, now people use "liminal" to mean "vaguely eery" or words to that effect.
Well here you could argue that this is a liminal space because it’s in between conferences. The sense of emptiness then comes from the space existing in a transitory state between its usual purposeful states.
Not a bad argument. Well thought. tips fedora
Language is evolving. I agree with you but we will lose this fight in the long term ;)
Well yes, but no, but yes.
I understand that "literally" can be colloquially used to mean "figuratively", or just as emphasis, but it'll take a while yet for the prescriptive meaning to be "overridden", and given how well we record history currently, given context, it will never fully lose that meaning.
I think the same logic applies here.
I'm not going to say someone is incorrect in using it in a way that doesn't fit the prescriptive meaning, but just know that mentally I'll be very mildly frowning at that.
An interpretation of that definition still works with context; these empty places feel like a metaphysical waiting room or purgatory, a space between this life and the next, between this dimension and the next, etc., depending on what spirituality, philosophy, or fantasy is convenient