Time–space compression (also known as space–time compression and time–space distanciation) is an idea referring to the altering of the qualities of space–time and the relationship between space and time that is a consequence of the expansion of capital. It is rooted in Karl Marx's theory of the "annihilation of space by time" originally elaborated in the Grundrisse,[1] and was later articulated by Marxist geographer David Harvey in his book The Condition of Postmodernity.[2] A similar idea was proposed by Elmar Altvater in an article in PROKLA in 1987,[3] translated into English as "Ecological and Economic Modalities of Time and Space" and published in Capitalism Nature Socialism in 1990.[4]
Time–space compression occurs as a result of technological innovations driven by the global expansion of capital that condense or elide spatial and temporal distances, including technologies of communication (telegraph, telephones, fax machines, Internet) and travel (rail, cars, trains, jets), driven by the need to overcome spatial barriers, open up new markets, speed up production cycles, and reduce the turnover time of capital.
According to Paul Virilio, time-space compression is an essential facet of capitalist life, saying that "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[5]). In Speed and Politics, Virilio coined the term dromology to describe the study of "speed-space". Virilio describes velocity as the hidden factor in wealth and power, where historical eras and political events are effectively speed-ratios. In his view, acceleration destroys space and compresses time in ways of perceiving reality.
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".[6]
Doreen Massey critiqued the idea of time-space compression in her discussion of globalization and its effect on our society. She insisted that any ideas that our world is "speeding up" and "spreading out" should be placed within local social contexts. "Time-space compression", she argues, "needs differentiating socially": "the ways in which people are placed within 'time-space compression' are complicated and extremely varied". In effect, Massey is critical of the notion of "time-space compression" as it represents capital's attempts to erase the sense of the local and masks the dynamic social ways through which places remain "meeting places".[7]
For Moishe Postone,[8] Harvey's treatment of space-time compression and postmodern diversity are merely reactions to capitalism. Hence Harvey's analysis remains "extrinsic to the social forms expressed" by the deep structure concepts of capital, value and the commodity. For Postone, the postmodern moment is not necessarily just a one-sided effect of the contemporary form of capitalism but can also be seen as having an emancipatory side if it happened to be part of a post-capitalism. And because postmodernism usually neglects its own context of embeddedness it can legitimate capitalism as postmodern, whereas at the level of deep structure it may in fact be more concentrated, with large capitals that, accumulate rather than diverge, and with an expansion of commodification niches with fewer buyers.
Postone asserts that one cannot step outside capitalism and declare it a pure evil or as a one-dimensional badness, since the emancipatory content of such things as equal distribution or diversity are potentials of capitalism itself in its abundant and diverse productive powers. This initial perspective misfires however, when forms of society such as modernity and subsequently postmodernism take itself as the true whole of life for being oppositional to capitalism, when in fact they are grounded in the reproduction of the same capitalist relations that created them.
^Marx, Karl. Grundrisse. Penguin Classics, 1993. pp. 539.
^Harvey, David. The Condition of Postmodernity: An Enquiry into the Origins of Cultural Change. Cambridge, MA: Blackwell, 1990.
^Altvater, Elmar (1987). "Ökologische und ökonomische Modalitäten von Zeit und Raum". PROKLA. Zeitschrift für kritische Sozialwissenschaft (in German). 17 (67): 35–54. doi:10.32387/prokla.v17i67.1338.
^Altvater, Elmar (1989). "Ecological and economic modalities of time and space". Capitalism Nature Socialism. 1 (3): 59–70. doi:10.1080/10455758909358384.
^Postone, Moishe. "Theorizing the Contemporary World: Robert Brenner, Giovanni Arrighi, David Harvey" in Political Economy of the Present and Possible Global Future(s), Anthem Press, 2007.
Further readingedit
Giddens, Anthony (1981). "Time-Space Distanciation and the Generation of Power". A Contemporary Critique of Historical Materialism: Power, Property and the State. London: Macmillan. pp. 90–108. ISBN978-0-520-04535-4. Retrieved 23 May 2011.
[Sophie Raine] (2022), What is Time-Space Compression?
December 02, 2023
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Time space compression also known as space time compression and time space distanciation is an idea referring to the altering of the qualities of space time and the relationship between space and time that is a consequence of the expansion of capital It is rooted in Karl Marx s theory of the annihilation of space by time originally elaborated in the Grundrisse 1 and was later articulated by Marxist geographer David Harvey in his book The Condition of Postmodernity 2 A similar idea was proposed by Elmar Altvater in an article in PROKLA in 1987 3 translated into English as Ecological and Economic Modalities of Time and Space and published in Capitalism Nature Socialism in 1990 4 Time space compression occurs as a result of technological innovations driven by the global expansion of capital that condense or elide spatial and temporal distances including technologies of communication telegraph telephones fax machines Internet and travel rail cars trains jets driven by the need to overcome spatial barriers open up new markets speed up production cycles and reduce the turnover time of capital According to Paul Virilio time space compression is an essential facet of capitalist life saying that 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 5 In Speed and Politics Virilio coined the term dromology to describe the study of speed space Virilio describes velocity as the hidden factor in wealth and power where historical eras and political events are effectively speed ratios In his view acceleration destroys space and compresses time in ways of perceiving reality 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 6 Contents 1 Criticism 2 See also 3 References 4 Further readingCriticism editDoreen Massey critiqued the idea of time space compression in her discussion of globalization and its effect on our society She insisted that any ideas that our world is speeding up and spreading out should be placed within local social contexts Time space compression she argues needs differentiating socially the ways in which people are placed within time space compression are complicated and extremely varied In effect Massey is critical of the notion of time space compression as it represents capital s attempts to erase the sense of the local and masks the dynamic social ways through which places remain meeting places 7 For Moishe Postone 8 Harvey s treatment of space time compression and postmodern diversity are merely reactions to capitalism Hence Harvey s analysis remains extrinsic to the social forms expressed by the deep structure concepts of capital value and the commodity For Postone the postmodern moment is not necessarily just a one sided effect of the contemporary form of capitalism but can also be seen as having an emancipatory side if it happened to be part of a post capitalism And because postmodernism usually neglects its own context of embeddedness it can legitimate capitalism as postmodern whereas at the level of deep structure it may in fact be more concentrated with large capitals that accumulate rather than diverge and with an expansion of commodification niches with fewer buyers Postone asserts that one cannot step outside capitalism and declare it a pure evil or as a one dimensional badness since the emancipatory content of such things as equal distribution or diversity are potentials of capitalism itself in its abundant and diverse productive powers This initial perspective misfires however when forms of society such as modernity and subsequently postmodernism take itself as the true whole of life for being oppositional to capitalism when in fact they are grounded in the reproduction of the same capitalist relations that created them See also editGlobal village Late capitalism Late modernism Social production of space Space of flowsReferences edit Marx Karl Grundrisse Penguin Classics 1993 pp 539 Harvey David The Condition of Postmodernity An Enquiry into the Origins of Cultural Change Cambridge MA Blackwell 1990 Altvater Elmar 1987 Okologische und okonomische Modalitaten von Zeit und Raum PROKLA Zeitschrift fur kritische Sozialwissenschaft in German 17 67 35 54 doi 10 32387 prokla v17i67 1338 Altvater Elmar 1989 Ecological and economic modalities of time and space Capitalism Nature Socialism 1 3 59 70 doi 10 1080 10455758909358384 Decron Chris Speed Space Virilio Live Ed John Armitage London Sage 2001 69 81 May Jon and Nigel Thrift Introduction TimeSpace Geographies of Temporality NY Routledge 2001 pp 1 46 Massey Doreen 1994 A Global Sense of Place Space Place and Gender University of Minnesota Press ISBN 0816626162 Postone Moishe Theorizing the Contemporary World Robert Brenner Giovanni Arrighi David Harvey in Political Economy of the Present and Possible Global Future s Anthem Press 2007 Further reading editGiddens Anthony 1981 Time Space Distanciation and the Generation of Power A Contemporary Critique of Historical Materialism Power Property and the State London Macmillan pp 90 108 ISBN 978 0 520 04535 4 Retrieved 23 May 2011 Jeff Lewis 2008 Cultural Studies Sage London ISBN 9781412922302 Sophie Raine 2022 What is Time Space Compression Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Time space compression amp oldid 1170217626, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
