이방인, 타자, 이웃의 도시적 공존: 테주 콜의 『열린 도시』(Open City)를 중심으로
The City Among Strangers, Unfamiliar Others, and Co-dwellers: An Analysis of Teju Cole's Open City
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The city is primarily a space occupied by modern individuals with an attitude of mutual indifference, yet people have tended to view this from a more negative perspective than a positive one. This paper explores whether such an attitude, particularly in the context of migration, can contribute to the redefinition of a new sense of identity. Specifically, it examines whether the urban identity depicted in Open City (2011) by Nigerian-American novelist Teju Cole—one that avoids the burden of emotional exchange—can serve as a viable alternative. In this context, the term “open” in “Open City” does not necessarily connote openness in the conventional sense, allowing for debate regarding its interpretation. To develop this discussion, the paper engages with Georg Simmel's theory of defensive mechanisms in the metropolis to investigate whether an unstable identity—one that allows migrants to retain their origins without necessitating perfect assimilation into the local population—can offer new possibilities. This inquiry extends beyond the context of civil wars and conflicts to consider its relevance in the settlement processes of migrant populations emerging in the post-COVID-19 era. Furthermore, drawing on Richard Sennett's analyses of migrant and refugee attitudes, the study examines how the protagonist and narrator of Open City, Julius, moves through the city, transcends its spatial boundaries, and appropriates it as his own. Finally, it considers whether, through this process, he can confront his uncertainties, sense of alienation, and personal shortcomings.
Abstract
The city is primarily a space occupied by modern individuals with an attitude of mutual indifference, yet people have tended to view this from a more negative perspective than a positive one. This paper explores whether such an attitude, particularly in the context of migration, can contribute to the redefinition of a new sense of identity. Specifically, it examines whether the urban identity depicted in Open City (2011) by Nigerian-American novelist Teju Cole—one that avoids the burden of emotional exchange—can serve as a viable alternative. In this context, the term “open” in “Open City” does not necessarily connote openness in the conventional sense, allowing for debate regarding its interpretation. To develop this discussion, the paper engages with Georg Simmel's theory of defensive mechanisms in the metropolis to investigate whether an unstable identity—one that allows migrants to retain their origins without necessitating perfect assimilation into the local population—can offer new possibilities. This inquiry extends beyond the context of civil wars and conflicts to consider its relevance in the settlement processes of migrant populations emerging in the post-COVID-19 era. Furthermore, drawing on Richard Sennett's analyses of migrant and refugee attitudes, the study examines how the protagonist and narrator of Open City, Julius, moves through the city, transcends its spatial boundaries, and appropriates it as his own. Finally, it considers whether, through this process, he can confront his uncertainties, sense of alienation, and personal shortcomings.