Beautiful places with which something is wrong: 40 examples of liminal spaces
There are places that at first glance are quiet and peaceful, which, nevertheless, cause an unaccountable feeling of anxiety and anxiety. Psychologists call them liminal spaces, in the people they are often called bad places. But most often people do not find words for them, just not wanting to go there. Tell me, do you also get goosebumps when you look at these places?
Remember your old apartment right before you move out of it. Empty rooms, bare walls, ringing echoes - this definitely caused a feeling of anxiety. Perhaps then you mistook it for nostalgia, but it's not that simple. It turns out that there is even a special term for such places — liminal spaces. We understand what it is, and get acquainted with the most terrible examples.
Take a look at the pictures below. What do they have in common? There can be many options: there are no people in the frame, and it's very creepy to look at it. This is not all that unites them.
Liminal spaces are understood as the most ordinary places that are currently in an unusual state for them. Because of this, their appearance causes anxiety and a sense of disorientation in the observers or people who are there.
The word "liminal" implies that such places are transitional, which we do not pay attention to when going from one point to another.
Typical liminal spaces include an empty corridor of a school or hospital, an unfurnished apartment, playgrounds without children.
The most interesting thing is that the effect of liminal spaces does not only affect those who get into them live. Even a photo is sometimes enough to experience the full range of emotions for yourself.
Liminal spaces are often discussed on the English-language Internet, especially on Reddit. The latter even has a special Liminal Space theme, in which users post their own photos from such places. In addition, this effect has spawned two more Internet phenomena: dreamcore and weirdcore.
"I was driving on the NAVIGATOR in search of a diner and suddenly realized that the last car had passed by more than an hour ago"
Do not go around the corner
Always stay on the illuminated side, and the forces of evil will not touch you
The Oval Office in the period between two presidents
Mars is attacking
Entrance to the infinity pool
Liquid Abyss
Rainy evening
Go, go to the counter…
Pool Mazes
Grandma's basement
I can only hear the quiet hum of the lamps and your footsteps
Colored corridors
International Space Station at night
Water
An empty aquarium restaurant causes a feeling of longing
The view outside the window doesn't seem real
Not there!
The dust is coming
"My friend was tested for coronavirus. In this room he was waiting for a call"
Into the unknown
Waiting for the green
Fear Output
"The exam class is right down the hall and to the left. Good luck to you!
Shades of blue
Desert Sands
In the fog
"I filmed it on my phone to understand what scared me so much in this place"
Artistic intent
A strange place for games and entertainment
Railway
"I came here for a conference. Aw, is there anyone alive"?
Red or blue?