ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the links and relations with a focus on the city of Sortavala in the North Ladoga region. It focuses on some important methodological approaches and suggests authors' own method of inquiry. The chapter particularly builds on studies that have explored the literary and poetic connections to spatial theory. It reflects the author's personal involvement and investment in this place. The chapter explores how all three images (the border, crossroads, bridge) are associated with the imagined path through the chronotope of Sortavala at different stages of its history. The interpretation of old Finnish urban space or Soviet standard buildings in the chapter demonstrates how the non-linguistic signs and symbols can be read and reread. The chapter attempts to study Sortavala through two main theoretical approaches: the poetic exploring of space and a matrix-images method that allows us to interpret this particular place and its symbolic meanings and values.
