We do the blind spot thing all the time. One of the tasks my students do, as part of the writing character exercise, is to write a list of the shops on Tottenham Court Road. They come up with *very* different lists. Some students don't notice the computer shops at all. chilperic thought there was only one bed shop (it's more like six). And I've lived in many places where whole categories of people were ignored into non-existence.
I'm conscious of being able to deliberately tune out aurally, but that has less bearing on movement through physical space. I think there are distinctions to be made between simply not noticing, or ignoring categories of people (as well as, in this case, buildings etc.), and consciously refusing or being preconditioned not to see. Also, there's the unanswered question of what does the mind see in its place, if anything? It's not quite a cultural blind spot if you consciously acknowledge somebody is there nearby but then you are actively forbidden from even looking at them. I felt China blurs these differences a little too much, plus it would take quite a bit more than computer based training to get people to adhere it.
Another thought occurred while reading: the closest thing we currently have to Beszel/Ul Qoma is probably Jerusalem, culturally speaking.
Sounds like a tolerable representation of race relations in the U.S. -- particularly from the white side. Like she said, entire categories of people are not seen; their water fountains, rest rooms, eating places, or lack thereof. Their Supreme Court justices; their presidents. Yay!
I've noticed how aging makes a woman less visible, particularly to young people, and don't get me started on how many woman it takes to occupy half a discussion (it's roughly two-thirds).
I liked Iron Council an awful lot, so I suppose I'll be looking for this one.
Comments 5
Reply
Another thought occurred while reading: the closest thing we currently have to Beszel/Ul Qoma is probably Jerusalem, culturally speaking.
Reply
Reply
Reply
I've noticed how aging makes a woman less visible, particularly to young people, and don't get me started on how many woman it takes to occupy half a discussion (it's roughly two-thirds).
I liked Iron Council an awful lot, so I suppose I'll be looking for this one.
Reply
Leave a comment