Wiki Responses

1). Why is it that a bed can hold so many memories? 2). How does one think of nothing? 3). Why is the value of a room and it's particular function so important?

Answer #3

A room whether it be a kitchen, a bedroom, a bathroom, a living room, etc. is just a room to anyone. However there are more unseen then actually seen things that go on within the different rooms. As the book states every room has its own particular function. A different action takes place in each room. Everyday rituals or activities take place within a room. Different actions happen in different rooms. Eve though the same design may appear throughout all the rooms they are each so dramatically different. The book describes them at least all having a door. To look at a particular room such as the living room you may not believe that they have a door. However, each room has a door to come in from the outside and that door, whether it be the main door or not has a different distance from each room. Beside from the actual door every room has a different entrance line. Once that entrance line is crossed you move from the living room to what becomes a hallway even if they are basically the same room. Particular functions of rooms are so important because without that one room and its function your life would be altered or different in more way than just one. The function of a room is revolved around time, time is revolved around actions, and actions revolve within these certain rooms. A whole day is spent, lived within walls. Some rooms contain the same function but they differ in one aspect or another. The book stresses that imagination is needed in order to understand the function of a room completely. However I would have to say that a general realization is all that is needed. The basic principle is that a room and its function is more important than one may suggest. It is the place that functions your movements, attitudes, and positions. A function of a room may be hard to identify but its complete purpose is indeed necessary.

comments:

comment --ahamilt4, Tue, 17 Jan 2006 15:13:00 -0500 reply
I agree that the functions of rooms are important because certain actions take place in certain rooms based on their function. If that function were to change, it would also change our lives.

... --LauraLindsey?, Tue, 17 Jan 2006 15:15:02 -0500 reply
I agree with your response that every room is different and special. An outsider who does not live in or use the room may not grasp its importance or function, yet each room is unique and important to the individual who lives in it.

A Quick Response --jgriffi9, Tue, 17 Jan 2006 15:18:07 -0500 reply
I noticed that you say that more unseen than seen things go on within different rooms. Could you clarify this? It seems like for action to take place, a person (or animal) would have to interact with the space. Although they aren't watching themselves, they still see the space while they are acting on it. Thanks for your thoughts, Jamie

comment --LauraLindsey?, Tue, 17 Jan 2006 15:21:12 -0500 reply
A bed can hold many memories for the person or persons who use it. Conversations, encounters, and other interactions may take place on one's bed. These various conversations and encounters that occur on or in the bed can be re-visited at any time. By looking at or sitting on the bed, one can often recall past memories or feelings.

Response to question 1 --ahamilt4, Tue, 17 Jan 2006 15:26:33 -0500 reply
How is it that a bed can hold so many memories?

I responded on a similiar question for my response. I believe a bed can hold so many memories because you spend so much time there. That is the last place you visit at night and the first place you are when you wake up. It is where you dream and also where you lay and think. It can also be where you watch TV, talk on the phone, or do homework. How could something we spend so much time in not be filled with memories? Even different beds hold different memories. If it is the bed in the house of your favorite vacation spot, or the old bed in your grandmas's house, Each one holds a set of memories from a specific period is your life, or a group of events. I think that because a person's bed holds their personal, individual memories and feelings which are comforting, this is why people get so comfortable in thier beds and find it hard to sleep in different beds.

Comment from Katie K --kkline, Tue, 17 Jan 2006 15:28:13 -0500 reply
I like what you chose to write about, I agree with you and Perec that alot of times a room is simply lived in and never really considered the way a person or a bit of nature could be reflected upon. I do think, however, that we consider (although not necessarily contemplate) the functionality of the room during decoration and redecoration of a room. Specifically in the bedroom, the bed is the focal point (which may be why so many memories are attached to it). As Perec states, when he is in his bed he can read or fantasize and his bed transforms into a vessel for his dreams and intimacy. It reminds the inhabitant that there is an escape from the mundane so that whenever the bed is revisited, the emotions which are tied to the memories can come rushing back; whether the memories are of a good book or hot tea or tranquility, it remains a familiar space that contains all of those pleasant memories. Good question.

Response to Deanna - sbaldwin --sbaldwin, Sun, 22 Jan 2006 22:23:51 -0500 reply
Deanna: Keep your response focused on the text. Other assignments allow you to reflect and elaborate the ideas in other directions, but direct these responses to what the author says and your response. Now, you do talk about Perec's notions of functional spaces, and so on. Certainly, understanding a space involves imagination, as you note, but isn't it a particular application of imagination? In other words, how is he asking us to imagine as we look at these spaces?