Ed Soja - The Postmodern City / Bonaventure Hotel

Extract from an Open University program shown on BBC2 in the early 90s. Ed Soja discusses the postmodern nature of the Bonaventure Hotel
I have now uploaded the full version of the documentary to KZbin:
Los Angeles - City of the Future?
Part 1: • Los Angeles - City of ...
Part 2: • Los Angeles - City of ...
Part 3: • Los Angeles - City of ...
Part 4: • Los Angeles - City of ...
I do not own the copyright to this material, all credit to the Open University.

[@ExiledQ]

I accidentally wondered into The Bonaventure via a sky bridge while exploring Los Angeles as a teenager and thought I was in a dream. It is to this day the most breathtaking architectural experience I have ever had.

[@johnscavens9168]

The Bonaventure was fantastic!There was a great Japanese restaurant where I took my date who was a double for Sean Young in Bladerunner.But,when I got to L.A. in 1982,I was staying at a dive hotel near the Greyhound station where a guy got murdered in the lobby on the third night I was there.I`d go up to the Bonaventure and hang out in there,often writing songs in those gondola shaped seats while colorful Mariachis walked around on the main floor and played some great guitar!However the best event I went to there was the Beatlefest and I bought a Beatle t-shirt.Man,that place was something else!

[@Dana_Danarosana]

The first time I ever saw the Bonaventure, I was in awe. I've been there many times now. I've never once felt lost or disconnected. All of the signage is very clear and the building is simply beautiful inside and out. Another John Portman masterpiece just like the RenCen!!

[@blindlight]

r.i.p Ed

[@aeonjoey3d]

thanks for posting this

[@chrslve]

This is wonderful. Thank you!

[@ThomasSounness]

I've been looking for something that speaks of post-modernism and modernism placed against it - this shows nice comparative features, including the disconnection of the centre from the downtown - the lack of pedestrian access is the most interesting part - to me it separates and criticises those who wish to walk - and I wonder about how it works if you compare it with a Gruen designed shopping mall - the comparison seems to be all 'anchor' no retail tenancies with which to stimulate 'desire'.

[@micaiahiam]

Thank you for sharing this small diamond. Really good introduction to postmodern condition and theory.

[@Reido003]

I love the part where he says people get lost and dislocated and can't find the shops, it's brilliant.

[@GeekFilter]

I was a kid in the 70s when this was built, but it makes me wonder were we that much less able to navigate internal spaces 45+ years ago? I’ve lived in Los Angeles for 30 years and I haven’t heard anyone ever complain that they got lost in the Bonaventure.

[@Wendededed]

Periferalised in these [post modern] spaces. And the way you accomodate yourself to them and the way you survive in them, is essentially to submit to forms of oversee, social control, authority. Which is invisable, by the way, because part of being lost is that even when you are willing to submit to authority, you can't find it!

[@blindlight]

RIP Ed!

[@Garcival]

Hi fellow! Great video. Do you know where I could find a longer version? Thanks!

[@SunshineIsNeeded]

Shout out to Prof Deb!!!!

[@whoitisnot]

@avant1277 It underwent a major renovation earlier this year, so we'll see. I plan on making it fun regardless. Just going there for a couple of days to be alone. Sounds perfect doesn't it. Maybe I'll make a mockumentary while I'm there. :)

[@avant1277]

@whoitisnot awesome! maybe you can video it? maybe you can try chilling in one of the "gondolas" and see if you find it relaxing or not. how is the walk from checking in to the room? do you have to go via strange empty boutiques? do you feel lost? how are the different entrances and ways into the building? and most importantly does the inside become the outside and the outside the inside? heheh :)

[@whoitisnot]

I'm staying there next weekend. Not sure how exited I should be(?). I would like the *fun* part of post-modernism.

[@quiescentquiescent]

maybe you may look into the idea of public space with authors like Mike Davis, Jane Jacob, and Michael Fulton for the pedestrian/mall idea

[@sgtmcwallace]

BAM

[@whoitisnot]

@avant1277 It underwent a major renovation earlier this year, so we'll see. I plan on making it fun regardless. Just going there for a couple of days to be alone. Sounds perfect doesn't it? Maybe I'll make a mockumentary while I'm there. :) Think anyone would notice?

[@jeongderho]

it is Bonaventure Hotel he is talking about. kool vedio!

[@vulcanprincess1584]

or is becoming lost a challenge to people to overcome it on their own accord or by getting help from others? does it form a hierarchy necessarily?

[@AnthonyWW68]

Jesus Christ! What over-the-top over-analysis of just a building. It's OK to like it, or not like it - I live in an urban village situation and realize the advantages of it, but ever since I was a kid - seeing Logan's Run (the buildings weren't the villains) and visiting Tomorrowland - I had an affection for this "Let's be futuristic" architecture. I think it has its place, and can be amazing at times. Maybe you won't want to stay there all the time, but a building that I CHOOSE to enter being "oppressive" and making me want to submit? Asinine.

[@jameslambie7851]

where can I find the whole programme for this?

[@avant1277]

Hi James, check the description for links to the full programme, it's split into 4 parts, the first is at kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppy8eqqimM92has

[@Sophisima]

where can i find the full program?? thanks for this though.

[@momsonthenet394]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppy8eqqimM92has

[@omgirtehpwn]

It's strangely calming to know that one of the canonical texts on postmodernism is based on an old man getting lost in a hotel. I'm sure his daughter listens to terrible music and things just aren't as good as the were when he was your age.

[@tree00z]

I'm Fredric Jameson bitch!

[@JAMAICADOCK]

They used this hotel in Invasion of the Bodysnatchers with Donald Sutherland.

[@MrBiesCzad]

Try to understand Libeskind's symbolic of emptiness. Entrance - or indifference - between emty space and close inside of hi-tech builldings is the "essence" of post-modern architecture.

[@ricobert1]

If this interview is any indicator, Soja has made a career out of holding forth extensively on positions that are exceedingly hazy. Slap the phrase post-modern in there and I guess you get tenure in an academic post.

[@HiddenShaco]

Wow. Much geography. Very ggr.

[@megansalt]

at some points I think he's pushing the "postmodern" mold too hard.

[@BijanIzadi]

"hotel" *cringe* This is the kind of stuff that I make sure not to go into