Heterotopias: Fox Theatre Analysis
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Fox Theatre from the stage |
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The Organ |
Fox Theatre and surrounding buildings. The architecture is clearly different between the mosque-like theatre and the modern hotels. |
Foucault argues in “Of Other Spaces” that there exist places
separate from utopias called heterotopias. While utopias are “sites that have a
general relation of direct or inverted analogy with the real space of Society”
(Foucault 24), to be a heterotopia, six principals need to be filled. This post will
be analyzing how the Fox Theatre in Atlanta fulfills the role of a heterotopia.
The first requirement set by Foucault is that “not
a
single
culture
in
the
world
that
fails
to
constitute
heterotopia ” (Foucault 24). Essentially, every culture has at least one
heterotopia for which the culture can reflect upon itself. The Fox Theatre is a
part of Atlanta culture and is one of the major landmarks and cultural spots in
Atlanta. As for the type of heterotopia, Foucault argues that two main types exist.
The Fox theatre is certainly not a crisis heterotopia, as the theatre is not
the place of crisis where the adolescent or the elderly undergo major changes in
life. The theatre is also not a deviation heterotopia as it is not for people
who have deviated from society’s norms as going to the theatre is considered
normal. The fact that Fox Theatre fails to constitute one of the main
categories does not dismiss it from being a heterotopia at all.
The second principal is that “a
society,
as
its
history
un- folds,
can
make
an
existing
heterotopia
function
in
a
very
different
fashio n” (Foucault 25). The Fox Theatre matches this perfectly. The Fox
Theatre was originally to be used as a home for the Shiners organization. The
Shiners based the architecture of the building on the temples of the Middle
East, especially the Alhambra and the Temple of Kharnak. This architecture
makes the place feel very different from the surrounding area and creates a sense
of timelessness. The fact that it was built in the 1920s and has very similar
gilded architecture also helps give the building a feeling of being lost in
time. Gold leaf, domes, minarets, and trompe l’oeil all add to the building’s fantastical
appeal. The financial stress of building this fantastical architecture was too
much for the Shiners, who leased the building to William Fox, who turned it
into a movie palace. Fox, with his additional wealth, added many more
expansions, including the world's largest Möller theatre organ (remains the
world’s largest). Other additions brought architecture from around the world,
including stained glass windows, turreted ceilings, gilt work, ballrooms, outdoor
terraces, and a cobalt “sky” with twinkling stars on the ceiling. The theatre
was built to transport audiences to a new world, away from their current one, to
prepare audiences for the shows they were about to see. In 1974, the theatre
was to be closed due to bankruptcy caused by the new suburban cineplexes, but Atlanta residents
created a nonprofit called Atlanta Landmarks to save the theatre. These days,
Fox Theatre doesn’t show as many movies as it does headliner events, such as
concerts (how I went to Fox Theatre), stand-up comedy, and plays. Sometimes, weddings or other special
events will occur there. Fox Theatre has a long history with changing uses, and
Atlanta Society itself helped determine Fox Theatre’s fate, and created new
functions for the same space. For a major landmark known to be a theatre, it is
interesting to note that it was never meant to be a theatre in the first place.
The third requirement is that a “heterotopiaThe fourth principal is that “Heterotopias
The fifth requirement is that “Heterotopias
always
presuppose
a
system
of
opening
and
closing
that
both
isolates
them
and
makes
them
penetrabl e” (Foucault 26). Although Fox Theatre is a public space, to
get into any event requires a ticket. There are only so many entrances, and
each entrance is guarded by security and a metal detector to protect the site
and the audience. The security and the limited entrances separate it from the
surrounding space. Beyond this, the unique architecture of the building makes
it distinct from its surroundings.
The final principal outlined by Foucault is that “They
have
a
function
in
relation
to
all
the
space
that
remain ” (Foucault 27). Foucault specifically outlines two ways that this
can be done, including being able to “create
a
space
of
illusion
that
exposes
every
real
space ” (Foucault 27). As a theatre that displays a variety of performances
of which none are truly “real,” but are rather fabricated imitations meant to propose
some universal truth about the world as all good art should attempt.
The Fox Theatre in Atlanta is a Heterotopia as defined by
Foucault, fulfilling all six principals outlined in his essay.
Foucault, Michel,
and Jay Miskowiec. “Of Other Spaces.” Diacritics, vol. 16, no. 1, 1986, p.
22.
Theatre, Fox.
“Fox History/Story.” Fox
Theatre, Fox Theatre, www.foxtheatre.org/about/fox-historystory.
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