A Study On Henri Lefebvre’s Spatial Theory

The research object of this thesis is Henri Lefebvre’s spatial theory which includes not only Lefebvre’s studies on spatiality, such as The Production of Space, but also his studies on urbanism, such as Right to the Cities, Urban Revolution and so on. The thesis places Lefebvre’s theory on the production of space and his urban studies in its historical and theoretical context, and traces its theoretical origin which is particularly Marxist and Nietzschean. The paper also analyzes the main concepts, characteristics and inner logic of spatial theory, e.g. the constitution of’spatial triad’, the development of social space, etc. In addition, since Lefebvre’s theory is highly revolutionary and practice-oriented, this paper also focuses on the pathways and possibilities of liberation for living space in his theoretical framework, as well as the aesthetic appeals in spatial practice and urban revolution. Besides, from a postmodern perspective, the innovative development of spatial discourse and the new thinking provided by this discourse for our interpretation of literature and artistic works would also be our concern in this paper.The first chapter explores the theoretical premise of Lefebvre’s spatial theory. Based on Marxist dialectical materialism, Lefebvre took an anti-disciplinary position and formed a meta-philosophical way of thinking. Besides, he also inherited the concept of "the total man" mentioned by the early Marx. For Lefebvre, the elimination of alienated labor and the return to "the total man" is an important goal of aesthetic activity.The second chapter is an investigation into Lefebvre’s critique of everyday life. This paper argues that for Lefebvre, festivals are regarded as a subversion of everyday life, which provide aesthetic paradigm for his later theory on spatial revolution. Meanwhile, Lefebvre’s concern on spatial issues has already emerged in his earlier study on daily life.The third chapter explores the common theoretical concern and controversies of ideas between Lefebvre and French left culture, e.g. Situationist International Group, such as the concepts of game, derive, unitary urbanism, etc. from which Lefebvre drew many inspirations. The paper pointed out that Lefebvre’s works on urban studies, like Right to the City, Urban Revolution and so on should be considered as the prelude to The Production of Space. Lefebvre’s analysis on urban issues is an integral part in his spatial theories.In the forth chapter, the concept of spatial triad and the development from absolute space to abstract space would be fully examined. In addition, the historical transition of the aesthetic representation of space is also discussed in this chapter.The fifth chapter examines Nietzsche’s influence on Lefebvre. Although Lefebvre was intellectually inspired by Marxism in a general sense, the research Lefebvre did in his early years on Nietzsche has formed an important academic background. Nietzsche’s ideas of anti-logos and his philosophical attention laid on body issues are inherited, displayed and developed in Lefebvre’s spatial theory in a particular way.The sixth chapter is a study on "differentiated space" which is the last phase in Lefebvre’s constitution of spatial theory. Differentiated space may lead to spatial liberation and lays its hope on the redemption of differentiated art. By making comparisons between Foucault’s idea of "heterotopia" and differentiated space, the paper believes that differentiated space shares some similarities with heterotopia, while differences also exists between them.In the last chapter, taking Lefebvre’s spatial theory as a starting point, the paper probes into a few of new development of spatial theory in the postmodern context and reveals its illuminations concerning literary criticism. Concepts such as Frederick Jameson’s "cognitive mapping", Edward Soja’s "postmodern metropolis" and "the third space", and David Harvey’s contribution to eco-criticism are explored in details here.In conclusion, the paper argues that except from those great theoretical contributions, limitations still exist in Lefebvre’s and his successors’spatial theories in terms of understanding the problem of spatiality and literary criticism. However, some ideas from Chinese literary geography coincide with the spatial turn in western humanities on one hand; on the other hand, it provides thinking resource for the spatial theory itself. In future studies, different types of spatial discourses in both eastern and western humanities could be put into dialogues and inspire one another.