Migration, power and the line: ceremonies of collective transgression in the spatial archetypes of Elias Canetti

This paper will explore tbe relationship between Canetti's idea of migration and its relationship to the modern spectacle. By defining the sensation of being in a crowd as a reaersal of the fear of being touched, Canetti establishes a framework for rethinking conventional discourses on the relationship between power and space which focus almost exclusively on vision as the model through which individuals are controlled in space. Using Canetti's work on crowds as a framework, the paper will consider the role of "touching" and its relationship to architectural space, power and movement. By exploring the architectural dimensions of Canetti's theory of crowds, the paper will show how the spatial archetypes that Canetti uses to categorize crowd behavior delineate deep-seated power structures that have influenced urban planning throughout the modern era.