The Beauty of Liminality
Why we feel nostalgic looking at liminal spaces on the internet
Liminal (noun): relating to a transitional stage of a process
My perception of the word liminal came from internet culture, where visuals of liminal spaces were posted on Reddit and Tumblr, expressing a sense of nostalgia and surrealism. The most common depiction was the famous backrooms. The endless corridors were devoid of human presence, their vapid walls lit dimly with a cold yellow light. They were adopted into the horror genre by indie video games and obscure no-face YouTubers. The backrooms, poolrooms, and synthwave aesthetic instilled a sense of nostalgia in me, and I couldn’t help but wonder why. Growing up in Mumbai, these spaces were never familiar to me. They simply were not a part of my culture. Yet, somehow, I too feel nostalgic looking at these images.
It is not the places, but what they represent makes me feel nostalgic. The word liminal means relating to a transitional stage of a process. The adjective could be thought in conjecture with places, things and even people. When you visit a place at a time when you are not meant to, it feels alive in an incorporeal sense. Imagine visiting a school at night. The corridors are luminous, and the classrooms are silent. A stark contrast to what you are used to witnessing. The utilitarian value of a bench and a blackboard has left your cognisance, and you appreciate the beauty of the handicraft. The world speaks to you, and only you, because there is no one around. This is when the world feels magical. You feel nostalgic looking at liminal spaces because you stopped noticing liminality as you grew up. You started building systems to make sense of the world. To process information faster and immediately know what actionable step you have to take.
Remember the car rides you took at night when you were a kid. You would feel extremely sleepy, yet your eyes would be open slightly, taking in the warm streetlight that illuminated empty roads. The shops would be shut down, and a dog would be running along the footpath, amusing himself by barking at the car. Nothing substantial happened in liminality, precisely why it reeked of beauty. There was no utility you could derive from it, except feeling a great appreciation for the world.
The everyday world is a beautiful place. Please take some time out and look at it, sense it, even talk to it, and perhaps it shall talk back.
