Trent Heath- Topos and Chora

Trent Heath

Blog #3

December 3, 2009

Topos and Chora

Lane describes in the four axioms that ordinary places are made extraordinary through rituals and then they are viewed as chora instead of topos. Topos is an ordinary place that has no significant meaning, it just exists, like any other place, according to Lane. Once we give that place meaning, performing rituals, or an encounter in which qualifies the location as sacred, it becomes chora. Lane writes, “Place as chora carries its own energy and power, summoning its participants to a common dance”, which means a place that is deemed extraordinary has its own significance, coming from within. We give places that are deemed extraordinary characteristics and qualities to justify why we consider that place extraordinary.

Lane uses the example of the Mcdonald’s restaurant as a place that is ordinary, but may be given meaning and become viewed as chora. People do that with a variety of places, for hunters, locations in the woods are viewed as chora. We need places to have meaning, if not than no place would carry any significance, therefore it would not matter where we went, then we may not end up going anywhere. For instance, if you are walking down the middle of the road, see two Starbucks’, each the same distance from you, same coffee, and neither carries any meaning, which one do you go to? How do you decide? Eventually, you would end up choosing one, but which one and why? If neither has any significance, then they are essentially equal.

Everyone has their favorite restaurant, gas station, theme park, or wherever you go, you go there for a reason and if you continue to go there, then that place has some significance to you, you view it as chora. I have a favorite 7-11 gas station, Longhorn Steakhouse, and even classroom building on campus, I have viewed these places as chora, and they have a certain level of meaning to me, and I prefer to visit them over similar locations. I find it interesting how two similar places can give an individual different feelings, one providing a sense of comfort and the other creating a feeling of anxiety, it is like it is almost impossible to be indifferent.