Achille Mbembe explores the concept of superfluity in relation to Johannesburg and its transition to a metropolitan form.
Superfluity refers to the notions of indispensability and expendability, affecting both labor and life, people and things.
The study revisits the biopolitics of Johannesburg, post-apartheid, focusing on displacement, substitution, and condensation of experiences.
Definitions and Concepts
Metropolitan Modernity: Linked to civilization and capitalist rationalization, characterized by functional relations among people and things.
Superfluity: Not just aesthetics of surfaces but also the dialectics of indispensability and expendability.
Mimicry & Mimesis: Johannesburg started as a colonial town mimicking English cities but evolved its own unique aura through mimesis.
Delirium & Racial City: Johannesburg's growth intertwined with race and class dynamics affecting its spatial and social structures.
Historical Context
Johannesburg emerged from the gold rush, evolving from a mining camp to a central site of modernity in Africa.
Early history marked by mimicry and mimicry, with colonial settlers attempting to create a European city in Africa.
The development of a commercial civilization based on race, with significant influence from external financial and industrial interests.
Racial and Urban Dynamics
The interaction of race and class shaped Johannesburg's space, creating a unique social and racial relationship.
The apartheid era exacerbated racial divisions, contributing to the architectural and urban planning of the city.
Superfluity and Capitalism
Superfluity as discussed by Marx relates to the commodity form and its role in the economy and social relations.
Johannesburg's urban space reflects commodity aesthetics, with developments like Melrose Arch and Montecasino as examples of stylized urban spaces.
Contemporary Johannesburg
Post-apartheid Johannesburg is marked by spatial restructuring driven by private capital and city planning.
The cityscape is now characterized by commercial developments and a blend of local and global architectural influences.
Social and Cultural Implications
Johannesburg's modern landscape is shaped by commercialism, technology, and consumerism.
The city's social dynamics reflect a shift from racial to class-based divisions, with new urban spaces creating both exclusionary and inclusive environments.
Conclusion
The study asserts that the metropolis is neither static nor finite; it embodies excess, hysteria, and exclusions.
Johannesburg's urban form reveals transitions and the interplay of historical and modern influences, challenging the rigid binaries of race and identity.
Author Background
Achille Mbembe is a research professor in history and politics at the University of the Witwatersrand.
He is noted for his work on African modernity and the political life of sovereignty.