Center and Periphery
In his book "Culture and ambiguity," Masao Yamaguchi, a scholar of Cultural Anthropology, proposed the framework of "Center and Periphery" as a Binary Opposition. According to Yamaguchi, all levels of social structures are built upon the organic organization of the "Center" and the "Periphery." The "Center" represents order, while the "Periphery" represents the dynamic force that reproduces it. The central part of human society tends to become inert and rigid. It is always the "peripheral existence" that shakes it up and prompts reorganization. In spatial terms, this peripheral existence can be found in the outskirts of a village, across the river, or beyond a mountain pass. In terms of time, it can be found during twilight, at night, and on holidays when the values of everyday life are reversed. The "Center" can be seen as the majority with the following structural characteristics:
- Minimal deviation and high similarity among individuals
- Tendency to flock together and prefer conformity (fear of standing out)
- Differentiation in the vertical direction
- Establishment of identity through vertical differentiation
- Preference for competition and finding value in winning or losing, with a focus on numerical evaluation.
This concept seems similar to the notion of the Masses. In contemporary society, the characteristics of the majority can be understood by considering who has left the most descendants. It refers to those who have adapted to the capitalist society after the Industrial Revolution, assuming equal and free personalities under the law, but with the commodification of personality itself, resulting in a class-based perspective. "Value" can be replaced by price (determined by the balance of supply and demand). Price equals the value of goods, and high wages equal the value of individuals. Within the vertical structure, there exists a boundary between a small number of capitalists and a large number of workers. Both capitalists and workers are slaves to the "rules." The biggest characteristic of slaves is that they are unaware of their own slavery. People are involved in production as workers and at the same time consume goods as consumers. Many people think that the things necessary for their lives are "things to buy." They settle down and own houses. Their thought processes are stable and highly similar. They are brainwashed by common sense and are literally unaware of this fact. It is similar to the concept of the Rebellion of the Masses. Although it may not be exactly the same, it can be interpreted in that way.
For further reading on the "periphery" of Kyoto, you can refer to the article "Thinking about the 'periphery' of Kyoto" Study Meeting @Books×Coffee Sol. by Nagatarogu.