The Lovely and the Liminal

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The Lovely and the Liminal

2026: Are We There Yet?

You’re there now—but why? If you’ve ever forgotten why you walked into a room, you may have experienced what scientists call the doorway effect. This temporary amnesia happens when you pass through the threshold of a liminal space; scientists theorize that the brain may “reset” short-term memories when it finds itself in a new setting. Liminality is that state of being in-between: you aren’t where you were but you’re also not where you’re going. As you explore this concept, discuss with your team: what are other examples of liminal spaces and thresholds in our own lives?

The phenomenon is known as the “doorway effect.”
Experiments show that people forget information more often after walking through a doorway into a new room than after walking the same distance within one room.
Researchers had participants pick up objects in one room and then tested memory after moving either through a doorway or across a room; doorways impaired memory recall.
Studies tested this in virtual environments and real‑world rooms, with similar results.
A doorway seems to act as a mental “event boundary,” meaning the brain segments experiences into separate episodes when entering a new space.
After crossing this boundary, the brain files away earlier thoughts as belonging to a previous event, making them harder to retrieve immediately.
This effect isn’t just about being in a different environment; studies show the memory drop isn’t eliminated even if the person returns to the original room.
The doorway effect might reflect how memory is organized to prioritize current and relevant information over older, less relevant thoughts.
Some later research suggests the effect can depend on context and memory load, but the idea of event boundaries influencing recall is widely discussed.

"Most films take you from one spot to another, through the lens of the camera, as stuff happens in front of you. But some “found footage” has become famous for losing the viewer in the in-between. Watch one of the most popular of these efforts, The Backrooms (2022), then discuss with your team: did it make you feel uneasy? Have you ever had a moment when you felt adrift in this way—and, if so, where?"

The Backrooms was created by Kane Parsons, released in 2022 and quickly went viral.
It was inspired by the internet creepypasta The Backrooms, about endless empty office spaces.
It follows a filmmaker who falls through reality (“noclips”) into a strange alternate dimension.
The environment is a maze of yellow walls, buzzing fluorescent lights, and empty rooms.
The video uses found footage style to make it feel realistic and unsettling.
It features a mysterious creature/entity that stalks the protagonist.
There is minimal dialogue, relying on visual storytelling and sound design for tension.
It suggests a larger mystery involving experiments and hidden organizations (like Async Research).
It became popular for its low-budget but highly effective horror and realism.

"The Backrooms helped inspire this video game. Consider it and other games that take players into eerie landscapes, abandoned buildings, and foggy nowheres—such as Galactic Cafe’s The Stanley Parable (2013). What aspects of liminal spaces make them effective settings for these games?"

POOLS is an exploration game that involves exploring endless, similar rooms, often resembling empty pools.
Players must navigate, orient themselves, and find a way out of confusing spaces.
The design reflects liminal space aesthetics, similar to Backrooms-style environments.
It was developed by Tensori and released in 2024 on multiple platforms.

The Stanley Parable is a first-person narrative exploration game centered on choice and storytelling.
Players control Stanley, an office worker who finds his coworkers have mysteriously disappeared.
A narrator guides the story, but players can follow or disobey instructions, leading to different outcomes.
The game explores themes of free will and people's choice.
The game uses humor and breaking the fourth wall to challenge typical video game rules.
The Ultra Deluxe version expands the original with new content, choices, and surprises.
It is known for the idea that “the game plays you” rather than you playing the game.

"The philosopher Immanuel Kant argues that beauty is something that affects us as if it had a purpose even when it doesn’t. Beauty doesn’t need to be going anywhere. Does Kant’s thinking help us understand why people might be attracted to liminal spaces?"

Immanuel Kant argues that beauty feels purposeful without having an actual purpose.
This idea means people can enjoy something just for how it feels, not for what it does.
Liminal spaces often have no clear function or goal, like empty hallways or transitional areas.
Because of this, they match Kant’s idea of “purposeless purpose”, where something seems meaningful but isn’t.
People may be attracted to liminal spaces because they become mysterious.
These spaces feel unfinished or in-between, which makes the brain search for meaning even when none is given.
The lack of clear purpose can make the experience feel nostalgic or unsettling at the same time.
Kant’s thinking helps explain why people find liminal spaces aesthetically interesting even without action or story.

"We also pass through shared liminal spaces in the real world: train stations (and trains!), airports, elevators. Consider the following works, then discuss with your team: in what sense does each of them depict a liminal setting?"

Rain, Speed, and Speed by J.M.W. Turner (1844)

J. M. W. Turner is a famous British artist from the late 1700s to mid-1800s.
The painting shows a steam train rushing across a bridge during a storm.
Turner uses blurred forms and loose brushstrokes to create motion.
The rain and steam mix together, making it hard to clearly distinguish objects.
The train represents industrial progress and modern technology during the Industrial Revolution.
Nature is still present through the rain, river, and landscape, but it appears less powerful than the train.
A small hare running on the tracks may symbolize nature being overtaken by technology.
The painting emphasizes movement and change rather than precise detail.
Turner focuses on light, color, and atmosphere to create emotion instead of realism.
The work reflects the problems between nature and industrial advancement in the 19th century.

The Railway Station by William Powell Firth (1862):

William Powell Frith is a 19th-century English painter known for his detailed and realistic scenes of life.
He was famous for painting crowded scenes with many people and stories happening at once.
The painting shows a busy Victorian train station filled with many people and activities.
Different social classes are represented, showing a diverse society at the time.
The scene includes emotional moments, such as reunions, departures, and possible arrests.
The train station represents modern life and industrial progress in 19th-century Britain.
The composition is crowded, encouraging viewers to observe many small stories within one scene.
The painting reflects how railways changed society by connecting people and increasing movement.

Picture of the Railroad at Takanawa by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1871):

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi is a 19th-century Japanese artist known for his detailed woodblock prints.
He is considered one of the last great masters of ukiyo-e, a traditional Japanese art style.
It is a woodblock print showing one of Japan’s early railways during the Meiji period.
The image shows a steam train moving along the coast at Takanawa, near Tokyo.
People in the scene appear to be watching the train, showing curiosity about new technology.
The artwork reflects Japan’s rapid modernization and Western influence after opening to the world.
Traditional elements, like clothing and landscape style, are combined with modern industrial technology.
The train symbolizes progress and the arrival of new ideas in Japan.
The print captures a moment where old traditions and new innovations exist together.

Gare Saint-Lazare by Claude Monet (1877):

Claude Monet is a 19th-century French artist and one of the founders of Impressionism.
It is part of a series of paintings showing the same train station in different moments.
The scene depicts the Saint-Lazare train station in Paris, filled with steam and trains.
Monet focuses on light, smoke, and atmosphere rather than clear details.
The steam from the trains blends with the light, creating a hazy effect.
The painting is an example of Impressionism, which captures brief moments and changing conditions.
It reflects modern urban life and industrialization in 19th-century France.
The brushstrokes are loose and visible, emphasizing movement.
The trains are present but not sharply defined, showing how technology becomes part of the environment.
The work shows how artists were interested in new subjects like cities, industry, and transportation.

“Drip, Drip, Drip” by Yilan Folk Song (c. 1924):

Yilan folk songs are traditional songs from the Yilan region of Taiwan.
They are part of Taiwanese folk music, often connected to rural life and local traditions.
The song uses simple, repetitive lyrics and rhythm to mimic the sound of dripping water.
It often describes nature, rain, and the environment, which are important in rural life.
The repetition creates a calm, rhythmic, and slightly hypnotic feeling.
It reflects how folk songs were used to express everyday experiences and emotions.
The song also carries nostalgia and connection to place.
Like many folk songs, it was likely passed down orally before being recorded.
It shows how music can turn ordinary sounds into artistic expression.

Train Station, Agra, 1983 by Steve McCurry (1983):

Steve McCurry is a contemporary American photographer known for his images of people around the world.
The photograph shows a crowded train station in Agra, India, filled with people waiting and moving.
It captures daily life and human activity in a busy public space.
The image emphasizes color and detail, which McCurry is known for.
People in the photo show different expressions and emotions, suggesting many personal stories.
The train station represents movement, travel, and connection.
The composition shows contrast between people and the large crowd.
It reflects real-life conditions and culture in India during the 1980s.
The photo shows how photography can document reality while still being artistic.

Six in Four by Richard Artschwager (2015):

Richard Artschwager is a 20th–21st century American artist known for combining painting, sculpture, and design.
He is known for blending art with everyday objects, like furniture and architectural forms.
His style connects to Minimalism and Conceptual Art.
The work is a sculptural installation that combines elements of furniture and abstract forms.
It reflects Artschwager’s interest in blurring the line between art and everyday objects.
The forms may resemble tables, boxes, or architectural structures, but are not functional.
The title suggests a play with numbers and arrangement.
The work challenges viewers to question what counts as art versus ordinary design.

"If you’ve ever gone to the doctor, the odds are good you’ve sat in a room waiting for someone to call your name. With your team, explore the architecture of waiting. How can a waiting room decrease anxiety (or amplify it)? How would you design waiting rooms differently for different purposes?"

The idea of “non-places” was developed by anthropologist Marc Augé.
Non-places are spaces people pass through temporarily, like airports, train stations, and highways.
People in non-places often feel anonymous and disconnected from others.
Non-places are designed for efficiency rather than comfort or meaning.
Time is an important feature, as these spaces are measured by waiting and passing through.
Modern society has increased the number of non-places due to globalization and transportation systems.
These environments can create feelings of isolation or emotional detachment.
Even though they seem empty or meaningless, non-places reflect how modern life is structured around movement and transition.

Waiting rooms are designed environments that can influence emotions, especially anxiety.
Layout and furniture affect comfort, as crowded or uncomfortable seating can increase stress.
Providing personal space and softer seating helps people feel calmer.
Natural or calming sounds, like water or birds, can lower heart rate and create relaxation.
Waiting itself creates stress because people feel a loss of control and uncertainty.
These spaces often act as psychological spaces where people reflect on themselves and their situation.
Good design can make waiting feel shorter and more comfortable.
Waiting rooms are similar to non-places because they are temporary and not meant for long-term attachment.

"In recent years, the popular meaning of the word “liminal” has expanded to include more of the not-quite-right and not-quite-there. Consider the following pieces and then discuss with your team: is it fair to describe them as liminal works? Or are we using the term liminal too loosely?"

Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? by Paul Gauguin (1897-98):

Paul Gauguin is a 19th-century French artist known for his bold colors and symbolic paintings.
He is a major figure in Post-Impressionism, moving beyond realism to express ideas and emotions.
The painting is a large, symbolic work meant to be read from right to left.
It represents the cycle of human life, from birth to death.
The right side shows a baby, symbolizing the beginning of life.
The middle shows adults and daily activities, representing living and experience.
The left side shows an elderly figure, symbolizing aging and death.
The work explores deep philosophical questions about existence and purpose.
Gauguin uses bright, unnatural colors and simplified forms rather than realism.
The setting is inspired by Tahiti, reflecting his interest in non-Western cultures.

The Treachery of Images by Rene Magritte (1929):

René Magritte was a 20th-century Belgian painter known for his Surrealist works.
He created images that challenge reality and meaning.
His art often combines ordinary objects in unusual or impossible ways.
The painting shows a realistic pipe with the text “Ceci n’est pas une pipe” (“This is not a pipe”) underneath.
Magritte is emphasizing the difference between an object and its representation.
It is an example of Surrealism, which explores the subconscious and ideas beyond everyday logic.
The painting plays with paradox, showing that a picture of something is not the thing itself.
It invites viewers to think critically about images, meaning, and symbols.

The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dali (1931):

Salvador Dalí was a 20th-century Spanish painter known for his bizarre images.
The painting shows melting clocks draped over objects in a dreamlike landscape.
It explores time and the unconscious mind.
The landscape has strange shadows and surreal forms.
It reflects dream logic and the subconscious, rather than physical reality.
Small details, like an amorphous face in the center, add to the sense of mystery.
The melting clocks have become a symbol of distorted time and perception.
Dalí uses highly realistic painting techniques to make surreal elements appear believable.

Christina’s World by Andrew Wyeth (1948):

Andrew Wyeth was a 20th-century American realist painter known for his detailed depictions of rural life.
He often painted landscapes, interiors, and portraits of people in Pennsylvania and Maine.
The painting shows a woman lying in a field looking toward a distant farmhouse.
The woman, Christina Olson, had a muscular degeneration that left her unable to walk.
Wyeth uses realistic detail and muted colors to create a sense of isolation and longing.
The painting reflects rural American life and the quiet struggles of ordinary people.
It conveys emotional intensity through posture and landscape, rather than facial expression.

Ascending and Descending by M. C. Escher (1948):

M. C. Escher was a 20th-century Dutch artist known for his mathematically inspired prints and drawings.
The work depicts a never-ending staircase in a large building with figures walking continuously up or down.
It illustrates a visual paradox, using architecture inspired by the Penrose stairs.
Escher uses mathematical principles and perspective tricks to create the illusion.
The lithograph explores themes of infinity and logical impossibility.
It reflects Escher’s interest in geometry, symmetry, and optical illusions.

Beneath the Roses by Gregory Crewdson (2004):

Gregory Crewdson is a contemporary American photographer known for his cinematic images.
It is a series of staged, cinematic photographs depicting suburban life in the United States.
The images are highly detailed and often eerie, with a sense of tension or unease.
Crewdson uses lighting, set design, and special effects to create a dreamlike or surreal quality.
Each photograph tells a story or suggests a mystery, inviting viewers to interpret the scene.
The series is influenced by film and theatrical production, blending reality and fiction.

The Distant is Imminent by Camille Seamn (2020):

Camille Seaman is a contemporary American photographer known for images about nature.
She often photographs the Arctic and Antarctic to show the effects of climate change.
The work focuses on images from the Arctic and Antarctic, especially icebergs and polar landscapes.
The title expresses the idea that distant dangers feel far away but are actually threats.
The project makes people feel closer to climate change’s effects by making it important.
Photographs were shown in large projections in public spaces for urban audiences.

"To be in-between is to pass through a space where the normal rules of movement, time, and social

interaction are suspended—but only briefly, on the way to elsewhere. But what happens if you’re stuck in

such a place? As you explore the selections below, consider: how should we approach spending time in liminal

spaces? Should we do more to seek them out?"

Waiting for Godot, Scene 2 by Samuel Beckett (1953):

Samuel Beckett was a 20th-century Irish writer, playwright, and novelist.
The play is an example of the Theater of the Absurd, where dialogue often seem meaningless to reflect uncertainty.
Vladimir and Estragon continue waiting for Godot on a barren landscape with a single tree.
They engage in repetitive conversations, showing boredom and the passage of time.
A messenger boy arrives, telling them Godot will not come today but might come tomorrow, repeating the pattern from Scene 1.
The characters attempt small activities, like thinking about leaving or hanging themselves, but nothing changes.
Humor is intertwined with tension, showing the absurdity of life and waiting.

“Keeping Still” by Pablo Neruda (1958):

Pablo Neruda was a Chilean poet, diplomat, and politician.
The poem is an example of Neruda’s later work, where he focused on the beauty of simple, everyday moments.
The poem expresses a deep sense of peace and connection with nature.
Neruda describes sitting quietly, observing the world, and feeling life around him.
The imagery emphasizes trees, rivers, wind, and natural cycles, showing how humans are part of nature.
The poem suggests that true understanding come from quiet observation.
The tone is reflective, encouraging readers to pause and notice the world.

I'll Wait for the Next One... by Philippe Orreindy (2002):

Philippe Orreindy is a French director and screenwriter known for creating emotional short films.
The film lasts about four minutes and takes place almost entirely on a crowded metro train.
A man named Antoine steps into the subway car and announces he is looking for true love, describing himself and inviting any interested woman to get off at the next stop with him.
A woman, shown earlier looking lonely, becomes interested and exits at the next station waiting for him.
Instead of joining her, Antoine reveals it was just a skit, and he asks for money, showing he was actually a performer or beggar, not genuinely seeking love.
The ending leaves the woman alone and visibly disappointed.
The film blend romance and social critique, using a simple scenario to explore deception.
The film’s title suggests the woman’s emotional “waiting for the next one” and a metaphorical waiting for chance, which remains unresolved.

“The Man Who Could Walk through Walls” by Marcel Ayme (1941):

Marcel Aymé was a French writer who wrote novels and short stories, often featuring characters encountering extraordinary situations.
The story follows Dutilleul, an office worker who discovers he has the ability to walk through walls.
At first, he uses his power, sneaking into places and surprising people.
As the story progresses, Dutilleul becomes more adventurous, using his gift to explore forbidden spaces and gain personal freedom.
Eventually, his powers attract attention and danger, and he faces consequences for overstepping boundaries.
The story blends fantasy and subtle social commentary, exploring how extraordinary abilities affect ordinary life.
It was written during World War II in France, a time of social and political problems, adding a layer of context about freedom and restriction.

A Gentleman in Moscow (Excerpt) by Amor Towles (2019):

Amor Towles is a contemporary American author known for writing historical fiction with rich characterization and detailed settings.
The excerpt follows Count Alexander Rostov, a Russian aristocrat placed under house arrest in the Metropol Hotel after the Russian Revolution.
Rostov must adapt to a confined life while the world outside changes dramatically.
He observes and interacts with the hotel staff, guests, and visitors, forming relationships despite his restricted freedom.
The text emphasizes routine and the passage of time, showing how a person can find meaning even in confinement.

"Some people put on a little music when they’re talking with someone else, or when they’re eating dinner—just to fill the room with a certain kind of background sound. Ambient music is designed to do exactly that, without needing you to focus on it—and it’s a newer genre than you might think. Consider the examples below, beginning with composer Brian Eno’s effort to make airports less stressful, and then discuss with your team: should we be playing more ambient music and fewer pop songs, podcasts, and YouTube videos when the goal is just to keep away the quiet? Or is ambient music best reserved for liminal spaces—is it, in fact, music for airports?"

Ambient 1: Music for Airports by Brian Eno (1979):

Brian Eno is a contemporary English musician, composer, and producer.
He is widely regarded as a pioneer of ambient and experimental music.
The music is ambient, slow, and minimal, designed to create a calming atmosphere.
It uses loops, layered synthesizers, and piano motifs to produce a sense of space.
The album was intended for airports and public spaces, to reduce anxiety and stress in chaotic environments.
Tracks flow seamlessly, without clear beginnings or endings.
The sound encourages relaxation, allowing listeners to experience time differently.

Music for Nine Postcards by Hiroshi Yoshimura (1982):

Hiroshi Yoshimura was a Japanese musician and composer.
It is an ambient album that features calm, minimal electronic compositions.
It is designed to be listened to passively, blending naturally into the listener’s environment.
The music uses soft synthesizer tones, simple melodies, and gentle repetition.
Each track is named after a postcard from a specific place, connecting sound to a feeling of geographical or emotional space.

Sleep by Max Richter (2015):

Max Richter is a contemporary composer known for blending classical, electronic, and minimalist music.
It is an eight-hour ambient/classical composition.
The piece is intended to accompany a full night’s sleep, blending music with restful, calming soundscapes.
It uses slow-moving piano, strings, soft electronics, and subtle rhythms to create a meditative environment.
The composition explores the relationship between sound and consciousness, encouraging listeners to experience dream-like states.
Sleep combines minimalist repetition with gentle variation, mirroring natural sleep cycles and circadian rhythms.
Live performances often run overnight, with audiences lying down or listening quietly to experience the full work.