Time–space compression: Difference between revisions

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According to theorists like [[Paul Virilio]], time-space compression is an essential facet of contemporary life: "Today we are entering a space which is speed-space ... This new other time is that of electronic transmission, of high-tech machines, and therefore, man is present in this sort of time, not via his physical presence, but via programming" (qtd. in ''Decron'' 71<ref>Decron, Chris. ''Speed-Space.'' Virilio Live. Ed. John Armitage. London: Sage, 2001. 69–81.</ref>). In ''"Vitesse et Politique"'', Virilio coins the term '''dromology''' to describe "speed-space." Virilio describes velocity as the hidden side of wealth and power, which represents a determining factor concerning societies' structures. Historical eras and political events, out of this perspective, are also speed-ratios. In his view, acceleration destroys space and compresses the time in ways of perceiving reality.

[[Doreen Massey (geographer)|Doreen Massey]] maintainsmaintained this idea about time-space compression in her discussion of globalization and its effect on our society. Similar to Virilio, she statesstated that because our world is "speeding up" and "spreading out", time-space compression is more prevalent than ever as [[internationalization]] takes place. Cultures and communities are merged during time-space compression due to rapid growth and change, as "layers upon layers" of histories fuse together to shift our ideas of what the identity of a "place" should be.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Massey|first1=Doreen |authorlink=Doreen Massey (geographer)|chapter=A Global Sense of Place|title=Space, Place, and Gender|date=1994 |ISBN= 0816626162|publisher=[[University of Minnesota Press]]}}</ref>

Theorists generally identify two historical periods in which time–space compression occurred; the period from the mid-19th century to the beginnings of the [[First World War]], and the end of the 20th century. In both of these time periods, according to Jon May and Nigel Thrift, "there occurred a radical restructuring in the nature and experience of both time and space ... both periods saw a significant acceleration in the pace of life concomitant with a dissolution or collapse of traditional spatial co-ordinates".<ref>May, Jon and [[Nigel Thrift]]. "Introduction." ''TimeSpace: Geographies of Temporality''. NY: Routledge, 2001. pp.&nbsp;1–46.</ref>