Not the person you asked, but I’m guessing it’s because it feels oddly empty and strange (notice how the back wall is a mirror that feels like a wrong and overly dark window, and the seats are odd). Essentially its a liminal space, which many people find unsettling.
Edited to add: plus the steam in the room causes the light to seem strange and overly diffuse
Thanks for the insight. I think the back wall is actually glass, as you can see there is a door on the far right. It is pretty common to have an outdoor open air bathing section at hot springs, so I guess that is what is there.
I guess if one has never been to a hot spring or bathhouse before then this image could appear odd.
I thought it might be a window, but it was so dark I wasn’t sure. Still very liminal.
& i think maybe it might be creepier to someone who has been in those spaces before? Often people who find liminal spaces creepy it’s because they’re used to them in a different context than the photo. So usually the bathhouse would have people and it would probably be light outside, which isn’t the case here.
Thanks for being so patient with me. I wasn’t aware of the term liminal spaces, but looked into it. I guess I don’t have those feelings, but understand that some (many) people do.
If anyone else stumbles across this, I found this page insightful.
Ooo I’m glad I could introduce someone to the concept :) it’s one of those random things I’ve spent way too much time thinking about lol I find them so interesting
Not the person you asked, but I’m guessing it’s because it feels oddly empty and strange (notice how the back wall is a mirror that feels like a wrong and overly dark window, and the seats are odd). Essentially its a liminal space, which many people find unsettling.
Edited to add: plus the steam in the room causes the light to seem strange and overly diffuse
Thanks for the insight. I think the back wall is actually glass, as you can see there is a door on the far right. It is pretty common to have an outdoor open air bathing section at hot springs, so I guess that is what is there.
I guess if one has never been to a hot spring or bathhouse before then this image could appear odd.
I thought it might be a window, but it was so dark I wasn’t sure. Still very liminal.
& i think maybe it might be creepier to someone who has been in those spaces before? Often people who find liminal spaces creepy it’s because they’re used to them in a different context than the photo. So usually the bathhouse would have people and it would probably be light outside, which isn’t the case here.
I dunno definely interesting lol
Thanks for being so patient with me. I wasn’t aware of the term liminal spaces, but looked into it. I guess I don’t have those feelings, but understand that some (many) people do.
If anyone else stumbles across this, I found this page insightful.
Ooo I’m glad I could introduce someone to the concept :) it’s one of those random things I’ve spent way too much time thinking about lol I find them so interesting