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A beginner’s guide to psychogeography

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Page 1: Psychogeography

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p s y c h o g e o g r a p h y

Page 2: Psychogeography

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Page 3: Psychogeography

3

m a k i n g s e n s e

o f p s y c h o g e o g r a p h y CR

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d é r i v e

1 9 5 8G U Y D E B O R D

B U R E A U O F U N K N O W N D E S T I N A T I O N S

P S Y C H O G E O G R A P H I C

D E S T I N A T I O N F I E L D G U I D E

E d i te d a n d D e s i g n e d by J e ss i c a B u i e

Page 4: Psychogeography

T h e e d i t o r a n d d e s i g n e r w o u l d l i k e t o t h a n k t h e

f o l l o w i n g f o r c o n t r i b u t i n g t o t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f t h i s

c o l l e c t i o n o f e s s a y s :

K i m G a r z a

M i a C a ra m e r o s

W h i t n ey M c C a s k i l l

Lex i e S h o o k

E l i z a b e t h Ke l s o

M a r co M a r r o q u i n

L i l l i a n P e s o l i

I s s a G a l va n

E m i l y L a C r o i x

A l i D i a z -Te l l o

A n t h o ny Z u b i a

Page 5: Psychogeography

c o n t e n t s

m a k i n g s e n s e o f p s y c h o g e o g r a p h y 9 - 2 2s i m o n s a d l e r

C R I T I Q U E O F U R B A N G E O G R A P H Y 2 9 - 4 4 G U Y D E B O R D

T h e o r y o f t h e D é r i v e 4 5 - 67g u y d e b o r d

d e s t i n a t i o n f i e l d g u i d e 6 7 - 8 4b u r e a u o f u n k n o w n d e s t i n a t i o n s

Page 6: Psychogeography
Page 7: Psychogeography

m a k i n g s e n s e

S I M O N S A D L E R

o f p s y c h o g e o g r a p h y

Page 8: Psychogeography
Page 9: Psychogeography

R e b e l s a n d b o h e m i a n s t r a v e r s e c i t i e s ,

s c a t t e r i n g s i g n s , s t a g i n g e n i g m a s , l e a v i n g

c o d e d m e s s a g e s , u s u r p i n g t h e t e r r i t o r i a l

c l a i m s o f p r i e s t s a n d k i n g s b y t r a n s f o r m i n g

t h e s o c i a l p e r c e p t i o n o f s p e c i f i c u r b a n

s i t e s . O n t h e s e t r i p s , a n y t h i n g a n d n o t h i n g

a t a l l m a y h a p p e n .

S T E W A R T H O M E

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10

Page 11: Psychogeography

11

Th e e i g h te e n t h ce n t u r y p i c t u re s q u e a n d s u b l i m e

h a d p a i d h o m a g e to n a t u re , d e p i c t i n g i t a s a fo rce

p o i s e d to s u b s u m e o r ove r w h e l m h u m a n i t y, a t o d d s

w i t h t h e p a s to ra l v i s i o n o f p e o p l e a t e a s e i n a n

i d e a l l a n d s c a p e . B y a n a l o g y, t h e s i t u a t i o n i s t c i t y

wa s a t o d d s w i t h t h e Co r b u s i a n v i s i o n o f p e o p l e

a t e a s e i n a n i d e a l u r b a n l a n d s c a p e , a p l a ce w h e re

t h e s t r u g g l e w i t h n a t u re , w i t h t h e b o d y, w i t h s p a ce ,

a n d w i t h c l a s s h a d i n ex p l i c a b l y co m e to a n e n d .

Le Co r b u s i e r ’ s V i l l e Co n te m p o ra i n e (Co n te m p o ra r y

c i t y ) wa s fo reve r co n te m p o ra r y o n l y by f re ez i n g

t i m e a n d e n d i n g h i s to r y ( f i g . 2 . 1 3 ) .

I n p syc h o g e o g ra p hy a l l t h e s t r u g g l e s we re a c u te

a g a i n , m a k i n g a n o n s e n s e o f t h e Co r b u s i a n fa n t a sy

o f t h e c i t y a s s o m e t h i n g a b s t ra c t , ra t i o n a l , o r i d e a l .

D e b o rd re p o r te d t h a t “ t h e p r i m a r i l y u r b a n c h a ra c te r

o f t h e d r i f t , i n i t s e l e m e n t i n t h e g re a t i n d u s t r i a l l y

t ra n s fo r m e d c i t i e s — t h o s e ce n te r s o f p o ss i b i l i t i e s

a n d m e a n i n g s — co u l d b e ex p re ss e d i n M a r x ’ s

p h ra s e : ‘ M e n c a n s e e n o t h i n g a ro u n d t h e m t h a t i s

n o t t h e i r ow n i m a g e ; eve r y t h i n g s p e a k s to t h e m o f

t h e m s e l ve s . Th e i r ve r y l a n d s c a p e i s a l i ve . ’

making sense of psychogeography

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12

A s i t s n a m e i m p l i e d , p syc h o g e o g ra p hy a t te m p te d to

co m b i n e s u b j e c t i ve a n d o b j e c t i ve m o d e s o f s t u d y.

O n t h e o n e h a n d i t re co g n i ze d t h a t t h e s e l f c a n n o t

b e d i vo rce d f ro m t h e u r b a n e nv i ro n m e n t ; o n t h e

o t h e r h a n d , i t h a d to p e r t a i n to m o re t h a n j u s t t h e

p syc h e o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l i f i t wa s to b e u s e f u l i n t h e

co l l e c t i ve re t h i n k i n g o f t h e c i t y. Th e re a d e r s e n s e s

D e b o rd ’s d e s p e ra t i o n to n e g o t i a te t h i s p a ra d ox i n

h i s “ Th é o r i e d e l a d é r i ve ” ( Th e o r y o f t h e d é r i ve) ,

a key d o c u m e n t f i r s t p u b l i s h e d i n t h e B e l g i a n

s u r re a l i s t j o u r n a l Le s l èv re s n u e s i n 1 9 5 6 a n d

re p u b l i s h e d i n I n te r n a t i o n a l e s i t u a t i o n n i s te i n 1 9 5 8 .

Th e d r i f t , D e b o rd ex p l a i n e d , e n t a i l e d t h e s o r t o f

“ p l ay f u l co n s t r u c t i ve b e h av i o r ” t h a t h a d a l ways

d i s t i n g u i s h e d s i t u a t i o n i s t a c t i v i t i e s f ro m m e re

p a s t i m e s . Th e d r i f t s h o u l d n o t b e co n f u s e d ,

t h e n , w i t h “c l a s s i c a l n o t i o n s o f t h e j o u r n ey a n d

t h e s t ro l l ” ; d r i f te r s we re n ’ t l i ke t a d p o l e s i n a

t a n k , “ s t r i p p e d . . . o f i n te l l i g e n ce , s o c i a b i l i t y a n d

s ex u a l i t y,” b u t we re p e o p l e a l e r t to “ t h e

a t t ra c t i o n s o f t h e te r ra i n a n d t h e e n co u n te r s t h ey

f i n d t h e re ,” c a p a b l e a s a g ro u p o f a g re e i n g

u p o n d i s t i n c t , s p o n t a n e o u s p re fe re n ce s fo r

ro u te s t h ro u g h t h e c i t y.

making sense of psychogeography

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13making sense of psychogeography

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14

Page 15: Psychogeography

15

O n e o f D e b o rd ’s p r i o r i t i e s i n h e d g i n g t h e ro l e

o f s p o n t a n e i t y a n d c h a n ce i n t h e d r i f t wa s to

c re a te d i s t i n c t i o n s w i t h i t s b e t te r k n ow n s u r re a l i s t

p re ce d e n t s . “A n i n s u f f i c i e n t awa re n e ss o f t h e

l i m i t a t i o n s o f c h a n ce , a n d o f i t s i n ev i t a b l y

re a c t i o n a r y u s e , co n d e m n e d to d i s m a l f a i l u re t h e

ce l e b ra te d a i m l e ss a m b u l a t i o n a t te m p te d i n 1 92 3

by fo u r s u r re a l i s t s , b e g i n n i n g f ro m a tow n c h o s e n

by l o t , ” h e n o te d . 24 D e b o rd h a d s o m e to l e ra n ce

fo r s u r re a l i s t m e t h o d s ( h e wa s a m u s e d by a f r i e n d

w h o “ h a d j u s t wa n d e re d t h ro u g h t h e H a rz re g i o n o f

G e r m a ny w h i l e b l i n d l y fo l l ow i n g t h e d i re c t i o n s o f

a m a p o f Lo n d o n ” ) , b u t w h i l e s i t u a t i o n i s t s m a d e i t

t h e i r b u s i n e ss to d i s r u p t t h e b o u rg e o i s wo r l d v i ew,

t h ey h a d n o w i s h to p ro b l e m a t i ze a l l i n s t r u m e n t a l

k n ow l e d g e a n d a c t i o n . S u r re a l i s t a u to m a t i s m wa s ,

t h ey f e l t , c re a t i ve l y a n d p o l i t i c a l l y ex h a u s te d ,

Page 16: Psychogeography

16

“a g e n re o f o s te n t a t i o u s . . . ‘ we i rd n e ss . ’ ” D e b o rd

wa s re s i g n e d to t h e fa c t t h a t “ i n i t s i n fa n c y ” d r i f t

wo u l d b e p a r t l y d e p e n d e n t u p o n c h a n ce a n d wo u l d

h ave to a cco m m o d a te a d e g re e o f “ l e t t i n g g o .” 2 6

Th e p syc h o a n a l ys t J a cq u e s L a c a n h a d c l a i m e d t h a t

s u r re a l i s t p l ay o s c i l l a te d b e t we e n i n te n t i o n a n d

a u to m a t i s m , a n d m u c h t h e s a m e co u l d h ave b e e n

s a i d a b o u t p syc h o g e o g ra p h i c d r i f t . D e b o rd a n d

Wo l m a n t h e m s e l ve s d e c i d e d t h a t t h e d r i f t wa s a

co m b i n a t i o n o f c h a n ce a n d p l a n n i n g t h a t re a c h e d

va r i o u s s t a g e s o f e q u i l i b r i u m .

making sense of psychogeography

Page 17: Psychogeography

17

I n h i s co n ce r n t h a t “ l e t t i n g g o ” m i g h t co l l a p s e

b a c k i n to s u r re a l i s t a u to m a t i s m , D e b o rd ove r l o o ke d

t h e fa c t t h a t d r i f te r s co u l d n o t co m p l e te l y “ l e t

g o ’ ’ eve n i f t h ey wa n te d to . P syc h o g e o g ra p hy

wa s fo r m e d a n d va l i d a te d by a s i t u a t i o n i s t g ro u p

d i s co u r s e a n d c u l t u re t h a t co u l d n ’ t b e j u s t

b l a n ke d o u t a t w i l l . I n f a c t D e b o rd p re s e n te d t h e

s i t u a t i o n i s t m a p s o f P a r i s a n d t h e “ t h e o r y o f t h e

d é r i ve ” p re c i s e l y i n o rd e r to ra t i f y g ro u p a c t i v i t y,

co d i f y i n g a l l s o r t s o f ove r b l ow n p syc h o g e o g ra p h i c

te c h n i q u e s .

Th e re s u l t — a n o rg a n i ze d s p o n t a n e i t y—wa s

s o m e t h i n g o f a n o d d i t y, a n d i t ce r t a i n l y d i d n ’ t

co l l a te m u c h re a l d a t a . “A b a r, f o r exa m p l e , w h i c h

i s c a l l e d At t h e E n d o f t h e Wo r l d a t t h e l i m i t o f o n e

o f t h e s t ro n g e s t u n i t i e s o f a m b i a n ce i n Pa r i s , i s n o t

t h e re by c h a n ce ,” P o t l a tc h p l e a d e d . “ Eve n t s o n l y

b e l o n g to c h a n ce i f o n e d o e s n o t k n ow t h e g e n e ra l

l aws o f t h e i r c a te g o r y.” 3 0 Wi t h i t s d e te c t i ve ­

s t y l e i co n o g ra p hy, R a l p h R u m n ey ’s s i t u a t i o n i s t

p h o to g ra p h i c re co rd o f Ve n i ce ’s s t re e t s , m a d e a s h e

s t a l ke d A m e r i c a n B e a t a u t h o r A l a n A n s e n , l o o ke d

s u i t a b l y sys te m a t i c .

making sense of psychogeography

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B u t i t f a i l e d to y i e l d a ny t h i n g re m o te l y l i ke “d a t a ,”

i t s a u t h o r s t r u g g l i n g to ex p l a i n t h e s i g n i f i c a n ce

o f h i s e n co u n te r s w i t h c h i l d re n a n d w i t h o l d

a cq u a i n t a n ce s , a cco u n t fo r t h e ro m a n ce o f Ve n i ce ,

a n d i d e n t i f y “ s i n i s te r, ” “d e p re ss i n g ,” a n d “ b e a u t i f u l ”

zo n e s . R u m n ey c l e a r l y l a c ke d s e r i o u s n e ss , l e av i n g

u s u n ce r t a i n w h e t h e r h i s p ro j e c t wa s a f a i l u re o r

a w h o l e s o m e p u r s u i t o f s i t u a t i o n i s t p l ay. At o n e

p o i n t h e a t t r i b u te d A n s e n ’s e cce n t r i c b e h av i o r i n

t h e p h o to g ra p h s to t h e fa c t t h a t h e wa s “awa re o f

t h e p h o to g ra p h e r a n d i s s h ow i n g o f f , ” a n d t h e re

wa s a n o te o f c a p i t u l a t i o n to t h e i m p a l p a b i l i t y

o f “ p syc h o g e o g ra p h i c ” d a t a a s R u m n ey a d m i t te d

t h a t h i s re p o r t m i g h t h ave b e n e f i te d f ro m b e i n g

co n d u c te d by “o n e m o re co m p e te n t t h a n t h e

a u t h o r.” 3 1 A n n o u n c i n g h i s ex p u l s i o n s h o r t l y a f te r,

t h e S i t u a t i o n i s t I n te r n a t i o n a l re g re t f u l l y n o te d t h a t

Ve n i ce h a d ‘ ’c l o s e d i n o n t h e yo u n g m a n .”

making sense of psychogeography

Page 19: Psychogeography

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I n f a i r n e ss , p syc h o g e o g ra p h e r s re co g n i ze d t h a t

t h e i r s wa s a n e ce ss a r i l y i n exa c t s c i e n ce , d e a l i n g

w i t h i m p re c i s e d a t a . P o t l a tc h , d i s c u ss i n g re ce n t

te n d e n c i e s i n p o e t r y, n o te d t h e fa i l u re o f f i xe d

l i t e ra r y f o r m a n d t h e n i m p l i e d a l i n k to t h e fa i l u re

o f f i xe d p o l i t i c a l a n d u r b a n fo r m s . 3 3 To s e e k f i xe d

fo r m wa s fo l l y, t h e j o u r n a l n o te d , s i n ce i t d e n i e d

t h e s e re n d i p i to u s p ro ce ss e s t h a t c re a te l i t e ra t u re

p o l i t i c s , a n d c i t i e s a l i ke .

A n d i n a ny c a s e , eve n i f p e r m a n e n t l y f i xe d fo r m

co u l d b e d i s cove re d a n d i s o l a te d , i t wo u l d b e

a n i m p e d i m e n t to t h e d y n a m i c s o f c re a t i v i t y. S o

i n t h e i r M é m o i re s , D e b o rd a n d J o r n c h e e r f u l l y

re s i g n e d t h e m s e l ve s to u r b a n re l a t i v i t y, n o t i n g

t h a t “ t h e s e a m b i g u i t i e s d o n o t owe a ny t h i n g to

p syc h o l o g y— c i t i e s a re b o r n f ro m i n te r fe re n ce s

o f s i t u a t i o n s — t h e i n f l u e n ce s f o l l ow e a c h o t h e r

s u r p a ss i n g e a c h o t h e r w h i l e m e s h i n g .” 3 4

“ Th e s e c to r s o f a c i t y a re , a t a ce r t a i n l eve l ,

d e c i p h e ra b l e ,” D e b o rd a d m i t te d i n h i s 1 9 6 1 f i l m

C r i t i q u e d e l a s é p a ra t i o n (C r i t i q u e o f s e p a ra t i o n ) ,

a s t h e v i ewe r wa s s h ow n a e r i a l v i ews o f Pa r i s .

“ B u t t h e p e r s o n a l m e a n i n g t h ey h ave fo r u s i s

i n co m m u n i c a b l e , l i ke a l l t h a t c l a n d e s t i n i t y o f

making sense of psychogeography

Page 20: Psychogeography

20

p r i va te l i f e re g a rd i n g w h i c h we p o ss e ss n o t h i n g

b u t p i t i f u l d o c u m e n t s . ’ ’ Th e s i t u a t i o n i s t s wa n te d to

ke e p a g r i p o n re a l i t y n o n e t h e l e s s . Th e co m m e n t a r y

o f D e b o rd ’s f i l m S u r l e p a ss a g e d e q u e l q u e s

p e r s o n n e s à t rave r s u n e a ss ez co u r te u n i té d e

te m p s d re a m i l y re co l l e c te d t h e ex p e r i e n ce o f t h e

d r i f t : “ I t wa s a t ro m p e l ’o e i l re a l i t y by m e a n s o f

w h i c h o n e h a d to d i s cove r t h e p o te n t i a l r i c h n e ss

o f re a l i t y,” a s i f t h e s p e c i a l , u n re a l co n d i t i o n s o f

t h e d r i f t m i g h t o cc l u d e a m o re p ro fo u n d i n s i g h t

i n to t h e c i t y ; a p a g e o f M é m o i re s co m p l a i n e d a b o u t

“ fa l s e s to n ewo r k— t ro m p e l ’o e i l — n eve r e n o u g h —

n eve r s a t i s f y i n g .”

Th e D e b o rd i s t e l e m e n t re a c te d q u i c k l y a g a i n s t

t h o s e s i t u a t i o n i s t s fo r w h o m t h e mys te r i e s o f t h e

d r i f t we re g o i n g b eyo n d co o l re a s o n i n g a n d h e a d i n g

d ow n t h e s a m e m a g i c ro a d a s p o s t wa r B re to n i s t

s u r re a l i s m . I n 1 9 5 6 P o t l a tc h a t t a c ke d a “ fa c t i o n ,

co m p r i s i n g s o m e t i m e s t h e m o s t a d va n ce d i n t h e

s e a rc h fo r a n ew b e h av i o r,” w h i c h fo u n d i t s e l f

“d raw n to t h e t a s te o f t h e u n k n ow n , mys te r y a t a l l

co s t ” a n d “ to d i ve r s e o cc u l t i s t co n c l u s i o n s w h i c h

b o rd e r o n t h e o s o p hy.” Th e a r t i c l e ’ s to n e b e c a m e

m e n a c i n g : “ Th e a n a l ys i s a n d t h e re p re s e n t a t i o n o f

t h i s l a s t te n d e n c y eve n t u a l l y b ro u g h t u s to p u t a n

e n d to t h e re l a t i ve p o l i t i c a l f re e d o m w h i c h we h a d

u p t i l l n ow m u t u a l l y a cco rd e d o u r s e l ve s .”

making sense of psychogeography

Page 21: Psychogeography

21

A s i n t h e s to i c t ra d i t i o n o f t h e m a l e a r t i s t

p re s e n te d w i t h t h e f e m a l e n u d e , a d e g re e o f

re s i s t a n ce to t h e c h a r m s o f p syc h o g e o g ra p hy wa s

a p p l a u d e d . F ro m t h e o u t s e t p syc h o g e o g ra p hy

wa s re g a rd e d a s a s o r t o f t h e ra py, a f e t i s h i z a t i o n

o f t h o s e p a r t s o f t h e c i t y t h a t co u l d s t i l l re s c u e

d r i f te r s f ro m t h e c l u tc h e s o f f u n c t i o n a l i s m ,

exc i t i n g t h e s e n s e s a n d t h e b o d y. “ We w i l l p l ay

u p o n to p o p h o b i a a n d c re a te a to p o p h i l i a , ” t h e

S i t u a t i o n i s t I n te r n a t i o n a l p ro f l i g a te l y p ro m i s e d , 3

8 a n d t h e ove r w h e l m i n g l y m a l e d o m i n a te d

g ro u p ’s p e n c h a n t fo r g i r l i e i l l u s t ra t i o n s g ave i t s

a rc h i te c t u ra l co m m e n t a r y a n e s p e c i a l l y o d d c a s t .

A p a g e o f D e b o rd a n d J o r n ’s M é m o i re s d rew u p o n

t h e o l d m e t a p h o r o f t h e l a n d s c a p e a s a f e m a l e b o d y

( f i g . 2 . 1 5 ) .

making sense of psychogeography

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Th e c h u n k s o f f e m a l e b o d i e s , d i s a r m i n g l y c h o p p e d

u p , we re “ m ov i n g a cc i d e n t s ” — ”a cc i d e n t s ” l i ke

t h e ro l l s a n d d i p s o f t h e l a n d s c a p e , p e r h a p s , o r

“ m ov i n g ” i n t h e e m o t i o n a l s e n s e , o r i n t h e way t h a t

t h ey we re e n co u n te re d o n t h e m ove , o n t h e d r i f t .

Th e ex p e r i e n ce o f d e l v i n g b o d i l y i n to t h e u r b a n

l a n d s c a p e wa s l i ke b e i n g “ h a l f b u r i e d b e t we e n t h e

m o u n d s o f E a s te r I s l a n d .” 3 9 A n o t h e r o f D e b o rd ’s

m e t a p h o r s , i n d i s t i n c t l y p o o r t a s te , s u g g e s te d

t h a t t h e d r i f te r co u l d ra p e t h e n i g h t s t re e t s o f

Lo n d o n ’s E a s t E n d — ”J a c k t h e R i p p e r i s p ro b a b l y

p syc h o g e o g ra p h i c i n l ove .” 4 0 Th e l i n ka g e o f

s ex u a l p rowe ss to t h e c i t y a n d to revo l u t i o n wa s

co m p l e te d by a f a m o u s p i e ce o f s i t u a t i o n i s t i n s p i re d

M ay ‘ 6 8 g ra f f i t i : “ I c a m e i n t h e co b b l e s to n e s .”

making sense of psychogeography

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S o p syc h o g e o g ra p hy o f fe re d a s e n s e o f v i o l e n t

e m o t i ve p o ss e ss i o n ove r t h e s t re e t s . E xo t i c a n d

exc i t i n g t re a s u re s we re to b e fo u n d i n t h e c i t y by

t h o s e d r i f te r s a b l e to co n q u e r h e r, a b l e to ove rco m e

t h e ex h a u s t i o n a n d e u p h o r i a o f t h e d r i f t . “ I n 1 9 5 3 –

1 9 5 4 ,” C h tc h e g l ov b o a s te d , “ we d r i f te d fo r t h re e o r

fo u r m o n t h s ; t h a t ’ s t h e ex t re m e l i m i t , t h e c r i t i c a l

p o i n t . I t ’ s a m i ra c l e i t d i d n ’ t k i l l u s .” I n t h i s w i l l to

p o ss e ss t h e c i t y t h e re wa s s o m e t h i n g m o re t h a n

m e re f e t i s h i z a t i o n . L i ke t h e i m p e r i a l i s t p owe r s t h a t

t h ey o f f i c i a l l y o p p o s e d , i t wa s a s i f s i t u a t i o n i s t s

f e l t t h a t t h e ex p l o ra t i o n o f a l i e n q u a r te r s (o f

t h e c i t y ra t h e r t h a n t h e g l o b e) wo u l d a d va n ce

c i v i l i z a t i o n .

M o re p o i g n a n t l y fo r t h e h a n d f u l o f f e m a l e o r n o n

E u ro p e a n p syc h o g e o g ra p h e r s , t h e d r i f t co u l d

m o m e n t a r i l y d e f y t h e w h i te p a t r i a rc hy o f u r b a n

s p a ce t i m e , t h e l i ke s o f M i c h è l e B e r n s te i n a n d

A b d e l h a f i d K h a t i b “ re c l a i m i n g t h e n i g h t ” : K h a t i b

wa s t w i ce a r re s te d fo r b re a k i n g t h e p o l i ce c u r few

i m p o s e d o n A l g e r i a n re s i d e n t s . 4 3 Re p o r t s o n

p syc h o g e o g ra p hy we re p re s e n te d a s i f t h ey we re

p ro d u ce d by a m i l i t a r y ra t h e r t h a n a n a r t i s t i c ava n t ­

g a rd e . A s we l l a s h av i n g a n a u t i c a l d e r i va t i o n ,

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D e b o rd b o r rowe d t h e i d e a o f d r i f t f ro m m i l i t a r y

t a c t i c i a n s , w h o d e f i n e d i t a s ‘ ’ a c a l c u l a te d a c t i o n

d e te r m i n e d by t h e a b s e n ce o f a p ro p e r l o c u s .” 4 5

Fo r C l a u s ew i t z i t h a d b e e n a n “ a r t o f t h e we a k ,”

fo r vo n B ü l ow a m a n e u ve r “ w i t h i n t h e e n e my ’s

f i e l d o f v i s i o n .” 4 6 Th e p owe r o f p syc h o g e o g ra p hy,

i t s e e m e d , l ay p re c i s e l y i n i t s i n tox i c a t i n g

co m b i n a t i o n o f s u b j e c t i ve a n d o b j e c t i ve — fe t i s h i s t i c

a n d m i l i t a r i s t i c — a p p ro a c h e s to u r b a n ex p l o ra t i o n .

P syc h o g e o g ra p hy wa s m e re l y a p re p a ra t i o n , a

re co n n a i s s a n ce fo r t h e d ay w h e n t h e c i t y wo u l d b e

s e i ze d fo r re a l . Th e d r i f t , D e b o rd ex p l a i n e d , “ t a ke s

o n a d o u b l e m e a n i n g : a c t i ve o b s e r va t i o n o f p re s e n t ­

d ay u r b a n a g g l o m e ra t i o n s a n d d eve l o p m e n t o f

hy p o t h e s e s o n t h e s t r u c t u re o f a s i t u a t i o n i s t c i t y.”

making sense of psychogeography

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26

Page 27: Psychogeography

CR

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IQ

UE

GUY DEBORD

OF

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BA

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RA

PH

Y

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Page 29: Psychogeography

“A n i n t o x i c a t i o n c o m e s o v e r t h e m a n w h o w a l k s l o n g a n d

a i m l e s s l y t h r o u g h t h e s t r e e t s . W i t h e a c h s t e p , t h e w a l k t a k e s

o n g r e a t e r m o m e n t u m ; e v e r w e a k e r g r o w t h e t e m p t a t i o n s o f

s h o p s , o f b i s t r o s , o f s m i l i n g w o m e n , e v e r m o r e i r r e s i s t i b l e t h e

m a g n e t i s m o f t h e n e x t s t r e e t c o r n e r , o f a d i s t a n t m a s s o f f o l i a g e ,

o f a s t r e e t n a m e . T h e n c o m e s h u n g e r . O u r m a n w a n t s n o t h i n g

t o d o w i t h t h e m y r i a d p o s s i b i l i t i e s o f f e r e d t o s a t e h i s a p p e t i t e .

L i k e a n a s c e t i c a n i m a l , h e f l i t s t h r o u g h u n k n o w n d i s t r i c t s ­ u n t i l ,

u t t e r l y e x h a u s t e d , h e s t u m b l e s i n t o h i s r o o m , w h i c h r e c e i v e s h i m

c o l d l y a n d w e a r s a s t r a n g e a i r .

WALTER BENJAMIN:

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Page 31: Psychogeography

31

O f a l l t h e a f fa i r s we p a r t i c i p a te i n , w i t h o r w i t h o u t

i n te re s t , t h e g ro p i n g q u e s t fo r a n ew way o f l i f e

i s t h e o n l y t h i n g t h a t re m a i n s re a l l y exc i t i n g .

Ae s t h e t i c a n d o t h e r d i s c i p l i n e s h ave p rove d

g l a r i n g l y i n a d e q u a te i n t h i s re g a rd a n d m e r i t t h e

g re a te s t i n d i f f e re n ce . We s h o u l d t h e re fo re d e l i n e a te

s o m e p rov i s i o n a l te r ra i n s o f o b s e r va t i o n , i n c l u d i n g

t h e o b s e r va t i o n o f ce r t a i n p ro ce ss e s o f c h a n ce a n d

p re d i c t a b i l i t y i n t h e s t re e t s .

Th e wo rd p syc h o g e o g ra p hy, s u g g e s te d by

a n i l l i t e ra te Ka by l e a s a g e n e ra l te r m fo r t h e

p h e n o m e n a a f ew o f u s we re i nve s t i g a t i n g a ro u n d

t h e s u m m e r o f 1 9 5 3 , i s n o t to o i n a p p ro p r i a te . I t i s

n o t i n co n s i s te n t w i t h t h e m a te r i a l i s t p e r s p e c t i ve

t h a t s e e s l i f e a n d t h o u g h t a s co n d i t i o n e d by

o b j e c t i ve n a t u re . G e o g ra p hy, fo r exa m p l e , d e a l s

w i t h t h e d e te r m i n a n t a c t i o n o f g e n e ra l n a t u ra l

fo rce s , s u c h a s s o i l co m p o s i t i o n o r c l i m a t i c

co n d i t i o n s , o n t h e e co n o m i c s t r u c t u re s o f a

s o c i e t y, a n d t h u s o n t h e co r re s p o n d i n g co n ce p t i o n

t h a t s u c h a s o c i e t y c a n h ave o f t h e wo r l d .

P syc h o g e o g ra p hy s e t s fo r i t s e l f t h e s t u d y o f

t h e p re c i s e l aws a n d t h e e f f e c t s o f t h e g e o g ra p h i c a l

e nv i ro n m e n t , w h e t h e r co n s c i o u s l y o rg a n i ze d o r n o t ,

o n t h e e m o t i o n s a n d b e h av i o r o f i n d i v i d u a l s .

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Th e c h a r m i n g l y va g u e a d j e c t i ve p syc h o g e o g ra p h i c a l

c a n b e a p p l i e d to t h e f i n d i n g s a r r i ve d a t by t h i s

t y p e o f i nve s t i g a t i o n , to t h e i r i n f l u e n ce o n h u m a n

fe e l i n g s , a n d m o re g e n e ra l l y to a ny s i t u a t i o n o r

co n d u c t t h a t s e e m s to re f l e c t t h e s a m e s p i r i t o f

d i s cove r y.

I t h a s l o n g b e e n s a i d t h a t t h e d e s e r t i s

m o n o t h e i s t i c . I s i t i l l o g i c a l o r d evo i d o f i n te re s t

to o b s e r ve t h a t t h e d i s t r i c t i n P a r i s b e t we e n

P l a ce d e l a Co n t re s c a r p e a n d R u e d e l ’A r b a l è te

co n d u ce s ra t h e r to a t h e i s m , to o b l i v i o n a n d to

t h e d i s o r i e n t a t i o n o f h a b i t u a l re f l exe s? H i s to r i c a l

co n d i t i o n s d e te r m i n e w h a t i s co n s i d e re d “ u s e f u l . ”

B a ro n H a u ss m a n n ’s u r b a n re n ewa l o f Pa r i s u n d e r

t h e s e co n d E m p i re , fo r exa m p l e , wa s m o t i va te d

critique of urban geography

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by t h e d e s i re to o p e n u p b ro a d t h o ro u g h fa re s

e n a b l i n g t h e ra p i d c i rc u l a t i o n o f t ro o p s a n d t h e

u s e o f a r t i l l e r y a g a i n s t i n s u r re c t i o n s . B u t f ro m a ny

s t a n d p o i n t o t h e r t h a n t h a t o f f a c i l i t a t i n g p o l i ce

co n t ro l , H a u ss m a n n ’s P a r i s i s a c i t y b u i l t by a n

i d i o t , f u l l o f s o u n d a n d f u r y, s i g n i f y i n g n o t h i n g .

P re s e n t ­ d ay u r b a n i s m ’s m a i n p ro b l e m i s e n s u r i n g

t h e s m o o t h c i rc u l a t i o n o f a ra p i d l y i n c re a s i n g

n u m b e r o f m o to r ve h i c l e s .

A f u t u re u r b a n i s m m ay we l l a p p l y i t s e l f to n o l e s s

u t i l i t a r i a n p ro j e c t s , b u t i n t h e ra t h e r d i f f e re n t

co n tex t o f p syc h o g e o g ra p h i c a l p o ss i b i l i t i e s . Th e

p re s e n t a b u n d a n ce o f p r i va te a u to m o b i l e s i s o n e

o f t h e m o s t a s to n i s h i n g s u cce ss e s o f t h e co n s t a n t

p ro p a g a n d a by w h i c h c a p i t a l i s t p ro d u c t i o n

p e r s u a d e s t h e m a ss e s t h a t c a r ow n e r s h i p i s o n e

o f t h e p r i v i l e g e s o u r s o c i e t y re s e r ve s fo r i t s m o s t

p r i v i l e g e d m e m b e r s . B u t a n a rc h i c a l p ro g re ss o f te n

e n d s u p co n t ra d i c t i n g i t s e l f , a s w h e n we s avo r

t h e s p e c t a c l e o f a p o l i ce c h i e f i s s u i n g a f i l m e d

a p p e a l u rg i n g P a r i s i a n c a r ow n e r s to u s e p u b l i c

t ra n s p o r t a t i o n .

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We k n ow w i t h w h a t b l i n d f u r y s o m a ny u n p r i v i l e g e d

p e o p l e a re re a d y to d e fe n d t h e i r m e d i o c re

a d va n t a g e s . S u c h p a t h e t i c i l l u s i o n s o f p r i v i l e g e

a re l i n ke d to a g e n e ra l i d e a o f h a p p i n e ss p reva l e n t

a m o n g t h e b o u rg e o i s i e a n d m a i n t a i n e d by a sys te m

o f p u b l i c i t y t h a t i n c l u d e s M a l ra u x ’s a e s t h e t i c s a s

we l l a s Co c a ­ Co l a a d s – a n i d e a o f h a p p i n e ss w h o s e

c r i s i s m u s t b e p rovo ke d o n eve r y o cc a s i o n by eve r y

m e a n s .

Th e f i r s t o f t h e s e m e a n s i s u n d o u b te d l y t h e

sys te m a t i c p rovo c a t i ve d i s s e m i n a t i o n o f a h o s t o f

p ro p o s a l s te n d i n g to t u r n t h e w h o l e o f l i f e i n to

a n exc i t i n g g a m e , co m b i n e d w i t h t h e co n s t a n t

d e p re c i a t i o n o f a l l c u r re n t d i ve r s i o n s ( to t h e

ex te n t , o f co u r s e , t h a t t h e s e l a t te r c a n n o t b e

[d i ve r te d ] to s e r ve i n co n s t r u c t i o n s o f m o re

i n te re s t i n g a m b i a n ce s) . Th e g re a te s t d i f f i c u l t y i n

s u c h a n u n d e r t a k i n g i s to co nvey t h ro u g h t h e s e

a p p a re n t l y ex t rava g a n t p ro p o s a l s a s u f f i c i e n t

d e g re e o f s e r i o u s s e d u c t i o n .

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To a cco m p l i s h t h i s we c a n e nv i s a g e a n a d ro i t u s e

o f c u r re n t l y p o p u l a r m e a n s o f co m m u n i c a t i o n . B u t

a d i s r u p t i ve s o r t o f a b s te n t i o n , o r d e m o n s t ra t i o n s

d e s i g n e d to ra d i c a l l y f r u s t ra te t h e fa n s o f t h e s e m e a n s

o f co m m u n i c a t i o n , c a n a l s o p ro m o te a t l i t t l e ex p e n s e a n

a t m o s p h e re o f u n e a s i n e ss ex t re m e l y favo ra b l e fo r t h e

i n t ro d u c t i o n o f a f ew n ew co n ce p t i o n s o f p l e a s u re .

Th e i d e a t h a t t h e c re a t i o n o f a c h o s e n e m o t i o n a l s i t u a t i o n

d e p e n d s o n l y o n t h e t h o ro u g h u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d

c a l c u l a te d a p p l i c a t i o n o f a ce r t a i n n u m b e r o f co n c re te

te c h n i q u e s i n s p i re d t h i s s o m ew h a t to n g u e ­ i n ­ c h e e k

“ P syc h o g e o g ra p h i c a l G a m e o f t h e We e k ,” p u b l i s h e d i n

P o t l a tc h # 1 :

I n a cco r d a n ce w i t h w h a t yo u a r e s e e k i n g , c h o o s e a

co u n t r y, a l a r g e o r s m a l l c i t y, a b u s y o r q u i e t s t r e e t . B u i l d

a h o u s e . Fu r n i s h i t . U s e d e co ra t i o n s a n d s u r r o u n d i n g s

to t h e b e s t a d va n t a g e . C h o o s e t h e s e a s o n a n d t h e t i m e

o f d ay. B r i n g to g e t h e r t h e m o s t s u i t a b l e p e o p l e , w i t h

a p p r o p r i a te r e co r d s a n d d r i n k s . Th e l i g h t i n g a n d t h e

co nve r s a t i o n s h o u l d o bv i o u s l y b e s u i t e d to t h e o cc a s i o n ,

a s s h o u l d b e t h e we a t h e r o r yo u r m e m o r i e s . I f t h e r e h a s

b e e n n o e r r o r i n yo u r c a l c u l a t i o n s , t h e r e s u l t s h o u l d p r ove

s a t i s f y i n g .

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36 critique of urban geography

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37critique of urban geography

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38

We n e e d to f l o o d t h e m a r ke t – eve n i f f o r t h e

m o m e n t m e re l y t h e i n te l l e c t u a l m a r ke t – w i t h a

m a ss o f d e s i re s w h o s e f u l f i l l m e n t i s n o t b eyo n d t h e

c a p a c i t y o f h u m a n i t y ’ s p re s e n t m e a n s o f a c t i o n o n

t h e m a te r i a l wo r l d , b u t o n l y b eyo n d t h e c a p a c i t y o f

t h e o l d s o c i a l o rg a n i z a t i o n . I t i s t h u s n o t w i t h o u t

p o l i t i c a l i n te re s t to p u b l i c l y co u n te r p o i s e s u c h

d e s i re s to t h e e l e m e n t a r y d e s i re s t h a t a re e n d l e ss l y

re h a s h e d by t h e f i l m i n d u s t r y a n d i n p syc h o l o g i c a l

n ove l s l i ke t h o s e o f t h a t o l d h a c k M a u r i a c . ( A s M a r x

ex p l a i n e d to p o o r P ro u d h o n , “ I n a s o c i e t y b a s e d

o n p ove r t y, t h e p o o re s t p ro d u c t s a re i n ev i t a b l y

co n s u m e d by t h e g re a te s t n u m b e r.” )

Th e revo l u t i o n a r y t ra n s fo r m a t i o n o f t h e wo r l d , o f

a l l a s p e c t s o f t h e wo r l d , w i l l co n f i r m a l l t h e d re a m s

o f a b u n d a n ce . Th e s u d d e n c h a n g e o f a m b i a n ce

i n a s t re e t w i t h i n t h e s p a ce o f a f ew m e te r s ; t h e

ev i d e n t d i v i s i o n o f a c i t y i n to zo n e s o f d i s t i n c t

p syc h i c a t m o s p h e re s ; t h e p a t h o f l e a s t re s i s t a n ce

t h a t i s a u to m a t i c a l l y fo l l owe d i n a i m l e ss s t ro l l s

( a n d w h i c h h a s n o re l a t i o n to t h e p hys i c a l co n to u r

o f t h e te r ra i n ) ; t h e a p p e a l i n g o r re p e l l i n g c h a ra c te r

o f ce r t a i n p l a ce s – t h e s e p h e n o m e n a a l l s e e m to b e

n e g l e c te d .

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I n a ny c a s e t h ey a re n eve r e nv i s a g e d a s d e p e n d i n g

o n c a u s e s t h a t c a n b e u n cove re d by c a re f u l

a n a l ys i s a n d t u r n e d to a cco u n t . P e o p l e a re q u i te

awa re t h a t s o m e n e i g h b o r h o o d s a re g l o o my a n d

o t h e r s p l e a s a n t . B u t t h ey g e n e ra l l y s i m p l y a s s u m e

t h a t e l e g a n t s t re e t s c a u s e a f e e l i n g o f s a t i s fa c t i o n

a n d t h a t p o o r s t re e t s a re d e p re ss i n g , a n d l e t

i t g o a t t h a t . I n f a c t , t h e va r i e t y o f p o ss i b l e

co m b i n a t i o n s o f a m b i e n ce s , a n a l o g o u s to t h e

b l e n d i n g o f p u re c h e m i c a l s i n a n i n f i n i te n u m b e r

o f m i x t u re s , g i ve s r i s e to f e e l i n g s a s d i f f e re n t i a te d

a n d co m p l ex a s a ny o t h e r fo r m o f s p e c t a c l e c a n

evo ke .

Th e s l i g h te s t d e mys t i f i e d i nve s t i g a t i o n reve a l s

t h a t t h e q u a l i t a t i ve l y o r q u a n t i t a t i ve l y d i f f e re n t

i n f l u e n ce s o f d i ve r s e u r b a n d e co r s c a n n o t b e

d e te r m i n e d s o l e l y o n t h e b a s i s o f t h e h i s to r i c a l

p e r i o d o r a rc h i te c t u ra l s t y l e , m u c h l e s s o n t h e

b a s i s o f h o u s i n g co n d i t i o n s .

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40 critique of urban geography

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41critique of urban geography

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42

Th e re s e a rc h t h a t we a re t h u s l e d to u n d e r t a ke o n t h e

a r ra n g e m e n t o f t h e e l e m e n t s o f t h e u r b a n s e t t i n g , i n

c l o s e re l a t i o n w i t h t h e s e n s a t i o n s t h ey p rovo ke , e n t a i l s

b o l d hy p o t h e s e s t h a t m u s t b e co n s t a n t l y co r re c te d i n

t h e l i g h t o f ex p e r i e n ce , by c r i t i q u e a n d s e l f ­ c r i t i q u e .

Ce r t a i n o f D e C h i r i co ’s p a i n t i n g s , w h i c h we re c l e a r l y

i n s p i re d by a rc h i te c t u ra l l y o r i g i n a te d s e n s a t i o n s , exe r t

i n t u r n a n e f f e c t o n t h e i r o b j e c t i ve b a s e to t h e p o i n t

o f t ra n s fo r m i n g i t : t h ey te n d t h e m s e l ve s to b e co m e

b l u e p r i n t s o r m o d e l s . D i s q u i e t i n g n e i g h b o r h o o d s o f

a rc a d e s co u l d o n e d ay c a r r y o n a n d f u l f i l l t h e a l l u re o f

t h e s e wo r k s .

I s c a rce l y k n ow o f a ny t h i n g b u t t h o s e t wo h a r b o r s

a t d u s k p a i n te d by C l a u d e Lo r ra i n – w h i c h a re i n t h e

Lo u v re a n d w h i c h j u x t a p o s e ex t re m e l y d i s s i m i l a r

u r b a n a m b i a n ce s – t h a t c a n r i va l i n b e a u t y t h e

Pa r i s M e t ro m a p s . I a m n o t , o f co u r s e , t a l k i n g a b o u t

m e re p hys i c a l b e a u t y – t h e n ew b e a u t y c a n o n l y

b e a b e a u t y o f s i t u a t i o n – b u t s i m p l y a b o u t t h e

p a r t i c u l a r l y m ov i n g p re s e n t a t i o n , i n b o t h c a s e s , o f

a s u m o f t p o ss i b i l i t i e s .

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43

A l o n g w i t h va r i o u s m o re d i f f i c u l t m e a n s o f

i n te r ve n t i o n , a re n ova te d c a r to g ra p hy s e e m s

a p p ro p r i a te fo r i m m e d i a te u t i l i z a t i o n . Th e

p ro d u c t i o n o f p syc h o g e o g ra p h i c a l m a p s , o r eve n

t h e i n t ro d u c t i o n o f a l te ra t i o n s s u c h a s m o re o r

l e s s a r b i t ra r i l y t ra n s p o s i n g m a p s o f t wo d i f f e re n t

re g i o n s , c a n co n t r i b u te to c l a r i f y i n g ce r t a i n

wa n d e r i n g s t h a t ex p re ss n o t s u b o rd i n a t i o n to

ra n d o m n e ss b u t to t a l i n s u b o rd i n a t i o n to h a b i t u a l

i n f l u e n ce s ( i n f l u e n ce s g e n e ra l l y c a te g o r i ze d a s

to u r i s m , t h a t p o p u l a r d r u g a s re p u g n a n t a s s p o r t s

o r b u y i n g o n c re d i t ) . A f r i e n d re ce n t l y to l d m e t h a t

h e h a d j u s t wa n d e re d t h ro u g h t h e H a rz re g i o n o f

G e r m a ny w h i l e b l i n d l y fo l l ow i n g t h e d i re c t i o n s o f a

m a p o f L o n d o n . Th i s s o r t o f g a m e i s o bv i o u s l y o n l y

a f e e b l e b e g i n n i n g i n co m p a r i s o n to t h e co m p l e te

c re a t i o n o f a rc h i te c t u re a n d u r b a n i s m t h a t w i l l

s o m e d ay b e w i t h i n t h e p owe r o f eve r yo n e .

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44

M e a nw h i l e we c a n d i s t i n g u i s h s eve ra l s t a g e s o f

p a r t i a l , l e s s d i f f i c u l t p ro j e c t s , b e g i n n i n g w i t h t h e

m e re d i s p l a ce m e n t o f e l e m e n t s o f d e co ra t i o n f ro m

t h e l o c a t i o n s w h e re we a re u s e d to s e e i n g t h e m . Fo r

exa m p l e , i n t h e p re ce d i n g i s s u e o f t h i s j o u r n a l [ Le s

Lèv re s N u e s] M a rce l M a r i ë n p ro p o s e d t h a t w h e n

g l o b a l re s o u rce s h ave ce a s e d to b e s q u a n d e re d o n

t h e i r ra t i o n a l e n te r p r i s e s t h a t a re i m p o s e d o n u s

to d ay, a l l t h e e q u e s t r i a n s t a t u e s o f a l l t h e c i t i e s

o f t h e wo r l d b e a s s e m b l e d i n a s i n g l e d e s e r t . Th i s

wo u l d o f fe r to t h e p a ss e r s by – t h e f u t u re b e l o n g s to

t h e m – t h e s p e c t a c l e o f a n a r t i f i c i a l c ava l r y c h a rg e

w h i c h co u l d eve n b e d e d i c a te d to t h e m e m o r y o f

t h e g re a te s t m a ss a c re s o f h i s to r y, f ro m Ta m e r l a n e

to R i d g way. I t wo u l d a l s o re s p o n d to o n e o f t h e

m a i n d e m a n d s o f t h e p re s e n t g e n e ra t i o n : e d u c a t i ve

va l u e .

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I n f a c t , n o t h i n g re a l l y n ew c a n b e ex p e c te d u n t i l

t h e m a ss e s i n a c t i o n awa ke n to t h e co n d i t i o n s

t h a t a re i m p o s e d o n t h e m i n a l l d o m a i n s o f l i f e ,

a n d to t h e p ra c t i c a l m e a n s o f c h a n g i n g t h e m . “ Th e

i m a g i n a r y i s t h a t w h i c h te n d s to b e co m e re a l , ”

w ro te a n a u t h o r w h o s e n a m e , o n a cco u n t o f h i s

n o to r i o u s i n te l l e c t u a l d e g ra d a t i o n , I h ave s i n ce

fo rg o t te n .Th e i nvo l u n t a r y re s t r i c t i ve n e ss o f s u c h

a s t a te m e n t co u l d s e r ve a s a to u c h s to n e ex p o s i n g

va r i o u s fa rc i c a l l i t e ra r y revo l u t i o n s : t h a t w h i c h

te n d s to re m a i n u n re a l i s e m p t y b a b b l e .

L i f e , f o r w h i c h we a re re s p o n s i b l e , p re s e n t s

p owe r f u l m o t i ve s fo r d i s co u ra g e m e n t a n d

i n n u m e ra b l e m o re o r l e s s v u l g a r d i ve r s i o n s a n d

co m p e n s a t i o n s . A ye a r d o e s n ’ t g o by w h e n p e o p l e

we l ove d h ave n ’ t s u cc u m b e d , fo r l a c k o f h av i n g

c l e a r l y g ra s p e d t h e p re s e n t p o ss i b i l i t i e s , to

s o m e g l a r i n g c a p i t u l a t i o n . B u t t h e e n e my tc a m p

o b j e c t i ve l y co n d e m n s p e o p l e to i m b e c i l i t y a n d

a l re a d y n u m b e r s m i l l i o n s o f i m b e c i l e s ; t h e a d d i t i o n

o f a f ew m o re m a ke s n o d i f f e re n ce .

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Th e p r i m a r y m o ra l d e f i c i e n c y re m a i n s

i n d u l g e n ce , i n a l l i t s fo r m s .

critique of urban geography

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t h e o r y

o f t h e

d é r i v e

1 9 5 8G U Y D E B O R D

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48

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49

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50 GUY DEBORD - THEORY OF THE DÉRIVE

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51

“ M e n c a n s e e n o t h i n g a r o u n d t h e m t h a t i s n o t

t h e i r o w n i m a g e ; e v e r y t h i n g s p e a k s t o t h e m o f

t h e m s e l v e s . T h e i r v e r y l a n d s c a p e i s a l i v e . ”

I n h i s s t u d y P a r i s e t l ’ a g g l o m é ra t i o n p a r i s i e n n e

( B i b l i o t h è q u e d e S o c i o l o g i e Co n te m p o ra i n e ,

P.U . F. , 1 9 52 ) C h o m b a r t d e L a u we n o te s t h a t “ a n

u r b a n n e i g h b o r h o o d i s d e te r m i n e d n o t o n l y by

g e o g ra p h i c a l a n d e co n o m i c fa c to r s , b u t a l s o t h e

i m a g e t h a t i t s i n h a b i t a n t s a n d t h o s e o f o t h e r by

g e o g ra p h i c a l a n d e co n o m i c fa c to r s , b u t a l s o by

t h e i m a g e t h a t i t s i n h a b i t a n t s a n d t h o s e o f o t h e r

n e i g h b o r h o o d s h ave o f i t . ”

by g e o g ra p h i c a l a n d e co n o m i c fa c to r s , b u t a l s o by

t h e i m a g e t h a t i t s i n h a b i t a n t s a n d t h o s e o f o t h e r

n e i g h b o r h o o d s n e i g h b o r h o o d s h ave o f i t . ” I n t h e

s a m e wo r k , i n o rd e r to i l l u s t ra te “ t h e n a r row n e ss

o f t h e re a l P a r i s i n w h i c h e a c h i n d i v i d u a l l i ve s

. . . w i t h i n a g e o g ra p h i c a l a re a w h o s e ra d i u s i s

ex t re m e l y s m a l l , ” h e d i a g ra m s a l l t h e m ove m e n t s

m a d e i n t h e s p a ce o f o n e ye a r by a s t u d e n t l i v i n g

i n t h e 1 6 t h A r ro n d i s s e m e n t . S u c h d a t a — exa m p l e s

o f a m o d e r n p o e t r y c a p a b l e o f p rovo k i n g s h a r p

e m o t i o n a l re a c t i o n s ( i n t h i s p a r t i c u l a r c a s e ,

o u t ra g e a t t h e fa c t t h a t a nyo n e ’s l i f e c a n b e s o

p a t h e t i c a l l y l i m i te d ) — o r eve n B u rg e ss ’ s t h e o r y

o f C h i c a g o ’s s o c i a l a c t i v i t i e s a s b e i n g d i s t r i b u te d

i n d i s t i n c t co n ce n t r i c zo n e s , w i l l u n d o u b te d l y

p rove u s e f u l i n d eve l o p i n g d é r i ve s . I f c h a n ce p l ays

a n i m p o r t a n t ro l e i n d é r i ve s t h i s i s b e c a u s e t h e

m e t h o d o l o g y o f p syc h o g e o g ra p h i c a l o b s e r va t i o n

i s s t i l l i n i t s i n fa n c y. B u t t h e a c t i o n o f c h a n ce i s

n a t u ra l l y co n s e r va t i ve a n d i n a n ew s e t t i n g te n d s

to re d u ce eve r y t h i n g to h a b i t o r to a n a l te r n a t i o n

b e t we e n a l i m i te d n u m b e r o f va r i a n t s .

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52 GUY DEBORD - THEORY OF THE DÉRIVE

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53GUY DEBORD - THEORY OF THE DÉRIVE

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54 GUY DEBORD - THEORY OF THE DÉRIVE

d i s cove re d by d é r i ve r s m ay te n d to f i xa te t h e m

a ro u n d n ew h a b i t u a l a xe s , to w h i c h t h ey w i l l

co n s t a n t l y b e d raw n b a c k . A n i n s u f f i c i e n t awa re n e ss

o f t h e l i m i t a t i o n s o f c h a n ce , a n d o f i t s i n ev i t a b l y

re a c t i o n a r y e f f e c t s , co n d e m n e d to a d i s m a l f a i l u re

t h e fa m o u s a i m l e ss wa n d e r i n g a t te m p te d i n 1 92 3

by fo u r s u r re a l i s t s b e g i n n i n g f ro m a tow n c h o s e n

by l o t . Wa n d e r i n g i n o p e n co u n t r y i s n a t u ra l l y

d e p re ss i n g , a n d t h e i n te r ve n t i o n s o f c h a n ce

a re p o o re r t h e re t h a n a ny w h e re e l s e . B u t t h i s

m i n d l e ss n e ss i s p u s h e d m u c h f u r t h e r by a ce r t a i n

P i e r re Ve n d r ye s ( i n M é d i u m , M ay 1 9 5 4 ) , w h o t h i n k s

h e c a n re l a te t h i s a n e cd o te to va r i o u s p ro b a b i l i t y

ex p e r i m e n t s , o n t h e g ro u n d t h a t t h ey a l l s u p p o s e d l y

P ro g re ss m e a n s b re a k i n g t h ro u g h f i e l d s w h e re

c h a n ce h o l d s sway by c re a t i n g n ew co n d i t i o n s

m o re favo ra b l e to o u r p u r p o s e s . We c a n s ay, t h e n ,

t h a t t h e ra n d o m n e ss o f a d é r i ve i s f u n d a m e n t a l l y

d i f f e re n t f ro m t h a t o f t h e s t ro l l , b u t a l s o t h a t t h e

f i r s t p syc h o g e o g ra p h i c a l a t t ra c t i o n s

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55GUY DEBORD - THEORY OF THE DÉRIVE

i nvo l ve t h e s a m e s o r t o f a n t i d e te r m i n i s t l i b e ra t i o n .

O n e c a n d é r i ve a l o n e , b u t a l l i n d i c a t i o n s a re t h a t

t h e m o s t f r u i t f u l n u m e r i c a l a r ra n g e m e n t co n s i s t s

o f s eve ra l s m a l l g ro u p s o f t wo o r t h re e p e o p l e w h o

h ave re a c h e d t h e s a m e l eve l o f awa re n e ss , s i n ce

c ro ss ­ c h e c k i n g t h e s e d i f f e re n t g ro u p s ’ i m p re ss i o n s

m a ke s i t p o ss i b l e to a r r i ve a t m o re o b j e c t i ve co n ­

c l u s i o n s .

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56

I t i s p re fe ra b l e fo r t h e co m p o s i t i o n o f t h e s e g ro u p s

to c h a n g e f ro m o n e d é r i ve to a n o t h e r. Wi t h m o re

t h a n fo u r o r f i ve p a r t i c i p a n t s , t h e s p e c i f i c a l l y

d é r i ve c h a ra c te r ra p i d l y d i m i n i s h e s , a n d i n a ny c a s e

i t i s i m p o ss i b l e fo r t h e re to b e m o re t h a n te n o r

t we l ve p e o p l e w i t h o u t t h e d é r i ve f ra g m e n t i n g i n to

s eve ra l s i m u l t a n e o u s d é r i ve s .

Th e p ra c t i ce o f s u c h s u b d i v i s i o n i s i n f a c t o f g re a t

i n te re s t , b u t t h e d i f f i c u l t i e s i t e n t a i l s h ave s o fa r

p reve n te d i t f ro m b e i n g o rg a n i ze d o n a s u f f i c i e n t

s c a l e . Th e ave ra g e d u ra t i o n o f a d é r i ve i s o n e

d ay, co n s i d e re d a s t h e t i m e b e t we e n t wo p e r i o d s

o f s l e e p . Th e s t a r t i n g a n d e n d i n g t i m e s h ave n o

n e ce ss a r y re l a t i o n to t h e s o l a r d ay, b u t i t s h o u l d b e

n o te d t h a t t h e l a s t h o u r s o f t h e n i g h t a re g e n e ra l l y

u n s u i t a b l e fo r d é r i ve s .

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B u t t h i s d u ra t i o n i s m e re l y a s t a t i s t i c a l ave ra g e . Fo r

o n e t h i n g , a d é r i ve ra re l y o cc u r s i n i t s p u re fo r m :

i t i s d i f f i c u l t fo r t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s to avo i d s e t t i n g

a s i d e a n h o u r o r t wo a t t h e b e g i n n i n g o r e n d o f t h e

d ay fo r t a k i n g c a re o f b a n a l t a s k s ; a n d towa rd t h e

e n d o f t h e d ay fa t i g u e te n d s to e n co u ra g e s u c h a n

a b a n d o n m e n t . B u t m o re i m p o r t a n t l y, a d é r i ve o f te n

t a ke s p l a ce w i t h i n a d e l i b e ra te l y l i m i te d p e r i o d o f

a f ew h o u r s , o r eve n fo r t u i to u s l y d u r i n g fa i r l y b r i e f

m o m e n t s ; o r i t m ay l a s t fo r s eve ra l d ays w i t h o u t

i n te r r u p t i o n . I n s p i te o f t h e ce ss a t i o n s i m p o s e d by

t h e n e e d fo r s l e e p , ce r t a i n d é r i ve s o f a s u f f i c i e n t

i n te n s i t y h ave b e e n s u s t a i n e d fo r t h re e o r fo u r

d ays , o r eve n l o n g e r. I t i s t r u e t h a t i n t h e c a s e o f a

s e r i e s o f d é r i ve s ove r a ra t h e r l o n g p e r i o d o f t i m e

i t i s a l m o s t i m p o ss i b l e to d e te r m i n e p re c i s e l y w h e n

t h e s t a te o f m i n d p e c u l i a r to o n e d é r i ve g i ve s way

to t h a t o f a n o t h e r. O n e s e q u e n ce o f d é r i ve s wa s

p u r s u e d w i t h o u t n o t a b l e i n te r r u p t i o n fo r a ro u n d

t wo m o n t h s .

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S u c h a n ex p e r i e n ce g i ve s r i s e to n ew o b j e c t i ve

co n d i t i o n s o f b e h av i o r t h a t b r i n g a b o u t t h e

d i s a p p e a ra n ce o f a g o o d n u m b e r o f t h e o l d o n e s .

Th e i n f l u e n ce o f we a t h e r o n d é r i ve s , a l t h o u g h re a l ,

i s a s i g n i f i c a n t f a c to r o n l y i n t h e c a s e o f p ro l o n g e d

ra i n s , w h i c h m a ke t h e m v i r t u a l l y i m p o ss i b l e .

Th e s p a t i a l f i e l d o f a d é r i ve m ay b e p re c i s e l y d e l i m ­

i te d o r va g u e , d e p e n d i n g o n w h e t h e r t h e g o a l i s to

s t u d y a te r ra i n o r to e m o t i o n a l l y d i s o r i e n t o n e s e l f .

I t s h o u l d n o t b e fo rg o t te n t h a t t h e s e t wo a s p e c t s

o f d é r i ve s ove r l a p i n s o m a ny ways t h a t i t i s i m p o s ­

s i b l e to i s o l a te o n e o f t h e m i n a p u re s t a te .

GUY DEBORD - THEORY OF THE DÉRIVE

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60 GUY DEBORD - THEORY OF THE DÉRIVE

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B u t t h e u s e o f t a x i s , f o r exa m p l e , c a n p rov i d e a

c l e a r e n o u g h d i v i d i n g l i n e : I f i n t h e co u r s e o f a

d é r i ve o n e t a ke s a t a x i , e i t h e r to g e t to a s p e c i f i c

d e s t i n a t i o n o r s i m p l y to m ove , s ay, t we n t y m i n u te s

to t h e we s t , o n e i s co n ce r n e d p r i m a r i l y w i t h a p e r ­

s o n a l t r i p o u t s i d e o n e ’s u s u a l s u r ro u n d i n g s . I f , o n

t h e o t h e r h a n d , o n e s t i c k s to t h e d i re c t ex p l o ra t i o n

o f a p a r t i c u l a r te r ra i n , o n e i s co n ce n t ra t i n g p r i m a r i ­

l y o n re s e a rc h fo r a p syc h o g e o g ra p h i c a l u r b a n i s m .

GUY DEBORD - THEORY OF THE DÉRIVE

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I n eve r y c a s e t h e s p a t i a l f i e l d d e p e n d s f i r s t o f a l l

o n t h e p o i n t o f d e p a r t u re — t h e re s i d e n ce o f t h e

s o l o d é r i ve r o r t h e m e e t i n g p l a ce s e l e c te d by a

g ro u p . Th e m a x i m u m a re a o f t h i s s p a t i a l f i e l d d o e s

n o t ex te n d b eyo n d t h e e n t i re t y o f a l a rg e c i t y a n d

i t s s u b u r b s . At i t s m i n i m u m i t c a n b e l i m i te d to a

s m a l l s e l f ­ co n t a i n e d a m b i a n ce : a s i n g l e n e i g h b o r ­

h o o d o r eve n a s i n g l e b l o c k o f h o u s e s i f i t ’ s i n ­

te re s t i n g e n o u g h ( t h e ex t re m e c a s e b e i n g a s t a t ­

i c ­ d é r i ve o f a n e n t i re d ay w i t h i n t h e S a i n t ­ L a z a re

t ra i n s t a t i o n ) .

GUY DEBORD - THEORY OF THE DÉRIVE

Th e ex p l o ra t i o n o f a f i xe d s p a t i a l f i e l d e n t a i l s

e s t a b l i s h i n g b a s e s a n d c a l c u l a t i n g d i re c t i o n s o f

p e n e t ra t i o n . I t i s h e re t h a t t h e s t u d y o f m a p s

co m e s i n — o rd i n a r y o n e s a s we l l a s e co l o g i c a l

a n d p syc h o g e o g ra p h i c a l o n e s — a l o n g w i t h t h e i r

co r re c t i o n a n d i m p rove m e n t . I t s h o u l d g o w i t h o u t

s ay i n g t h a t we a re n o t a t a l l i n te re s te d i n a ny m e re

exo t i c i s m t h a t m ay a r i s e f ro m t h e fa c t t h a t o n e i s

ex p l o r i n g a n e i g h b o r h o o d fo r t h e f i r s t t i m e . B e s i d e s

i t s u n i m p o r t a n ce , t h i s a s p e c t o f t h e p ro b l e m i s

co m p l e te l y s u b j e c t i ve a n d s o o n fa d e s away.

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63GUY DEBORD - THEORY OF THE DÉRIVE

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I n t h e “ p o ss i b l e re n d ez vo u s ,” o n t h e o t h e r h a n d ,

t h e e l e m e n t o f ex p l o ra t i o n i s m i n i m a l i n co m p a r i s o n

w i t h t h a t o f b e h av i o ra l d i s o r i e n t a t i o n . Th e s u b j e c t

i s i nv i te d to co m e a l o n e to a ce r t a i n p l a ce a t a

s p e c i f i e d t i m e . H e i s f re e d f ro m t h e b o t h e r s o m e

o b l i g a t i o n s o f t h e o rd i n a r y re n d ez vo u s s i n ce t h e re

i s n o o n e to wa i t fo r. B u t s i n ce t h i s “ p o ss i b l e

re n d ez vo u s ” h a s b ro u g h t h i m w i t h o u t wa r n i n g to

a p l a ce h e m ay o r m ay n o t k n ow, h e o b s e r ve s t h e

s u r ro u n d i n g s . I t m ay b e t h a t t h e s a m e s p o t h a s

b e e n s p e c i f i e d fo r a “ p o ss i b l e re n d ez vo u s ” fo r

s o m e o n e e l s e w h o s e i d e n t i t y h e h a s n o way o f

k n ow i n g .

S i n ce h e m ay n eve r eve n h ave s e e n t h e o t h e r

p e r s o n b e fo re , h e w i l l b e e n co u ra g e d to s t a r t u p

co nve r s a t i o n s w i t h va r i o u s p a ss e r s by. H e m ay m e e t

n o o n e , o r h e m ay eve n by c h a n ce t m e e t t h e p e r s o n

w h o h a s a r ra n g e d t h e “ p o ss i b l e re n d ez vo u s .” I n a ny

c a s e , p a r t i c u l a r l y i f t h e t i m e a n d p l a ce h ave b e e n

we l l c h o s e n , h i s u s e o f t i m e w i l l t a ke a n u n ex p e c te d

t u r n . H e m ay eve n te l e p h o n e s o m e o n e e l s e w h o

d o e s n ’ t k n ow w h e re t h e f i r s t “ p o ss i b l e re n d ez vo u s ”

h a s t a ke n h i m , i n o rd e r to a s k fo r a n o t h e r o n e to

b e s p e c i f i e d . O n e c a n s e e t h e v i r t u a l l y u n l i m i te d

re s o u rce s o f t h i s p a s t i m e .

GUY DEBORD - THEORY OF THE DÉRIVE

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“ B e y o n d t h e d i s c o v e r y o f u n i t i e s o f a m b i -

a n c e , o f t h e i r m a i n c o m p o n e n t s a n d t h e i r

s p a t i a l l o c a l i z a t i o n , o n e c o m e s t o p e r c e i v e

t h e i r p r i n c i p a l a x e s o f p a s s a g e , t h e i r e x -

i t s a n d t h e i r d e f e n s e s . ”

GUY DEBORD - THEORY OF THE DÉRIVE

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O u r l o o s e l i f e s t y l e a n d eve n ce r t a i n a m u s e m e n t s

co n s i d e re d d u b i o u s t h a t h ave a l ways b e e n e n j oye d

a m o n g o u r e n to u ra g e — s l i p p i n g by n i g h t i n to

h o u s e s u n d e rg o i n g d e m o l i t i o n , h i t c h h i k i n g n o n s to p

a n d w i t h o u t d e s t i n a t i o n t h ro u g h P a r i s d u r i n g a

t ra n s p o r t a t i o n s t r i ke i n t h e n a m e o f a d d i n g to t h e

co n f u s i o n , wa n d e r i n g i n s u b te r ra n e a n c a t a co m b s

fo r b i d d e n to t h e p u b l i c , e tc . — a re ex p re ss i o n s o f a

m o re g e n e ra l s e n s i b i l i t y w h i c h i s n o d i f f e re n t f ro m

t h a t o f t h e d é r i ve . Wr i t te n d e s c r i p t i o n s c a n b e n o

m o re t h a n p a sswo rd s to t h i s g re a t g a m e .

GUY DEBORD - THEORY OF THE DÉRIVE

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Th e l e s s o n s d raw n f ro m d é r i ve s e n a b l e u s to d raw

u p t h e f i r s t s u r veys o f t h e p syc h o g e o g ra p h i c a l

a r t i c u l a t i o n s o f a m o d e r n c i t y. B eyo n d t h e

d i s cove r y o f u n i t i e s o f a m b i a n ce , o f t h e i r m a i n

co m p o n e n t s a n d t h e i r s p a t i a l l o c a l i z a t i o n , o n e

co m e s to p e rce i ve t h e i r p r i n c i p a l a xe s o f p a ss a g e ,

t h e i r ex i t s a n d t h e i r d e fe n s e s . O n e a r r i ve s

a t t h e ce n t ra l hy p o t h e s i s o f t h e ex i s te n ce o f

p syc h o g e o g ra p h i c a l p i vo t a l p o i n t s . O n e m e a s u re s

t h e d i s t a n ce s t h a t a c t u a l l y s e p a ra te t wo re g i o n s o f

a c i t y, d i s t a n ce s t h a t m ay h ave l i t t l e re l a t i o n w i t h

t h e p hys i c a l d i s t a n ce b e t we e n t h e m .

Wi t h t h e a i d o f o l d m a p s , a e r i a l p h o to g ra p h s a n d

ex p e r i m e n t a l d é r i ve s , o n e c a n d raw u p h i t h e r to

l a c k i n g m a p s o f i n f l u e n ce s , m a p s w h o s e i n ev i t a b l e

i m p re c i s i o n a t t h i s e a r l y s t a g e i s n o wo r s e t h a n t h a t

o f t h e f i r s t n av i g a t i o n a l c h a r t s . Th e o n l y d i f f e re n ce

i s t h a t i t i s n o l o n g e r a m a t te r o f p re c i s e l y

d e l i n e a t i n g s t a b l e co n t i n e n t s , b u t o f c h a n g i n g

a rc h i te c t u re a n d u r b a n i s m .

To d ay t h e d i f f e re n t u n i t i e s o f a t m o s p h e re a n d o f

d we l l i n g s a re n o t p re c i s e l y m a r ke d o f f , b u t a re

s u r ro u n d e d by m o re o r l e s s ex te n d e d a n d i n d i s t i n c t

b o rd e r i n g re g i o n s . Th e m o s t g e n e ra l c h a n g e

t h a t d é r i ve ex p e r i e n ce l e a d s to p ro p o s i n g i s t h e

co n s t a n t d i m i n u t i o n o f t h e s e b o rd e r re g i o n s , u p to

t h e p o i n t o f t h e i r co m p l e te s u p p re ss i o n .

GUY DEBORD - THEORY OF THE DÉRIVE

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B U R E A U O F U N K N O W N D E S T I N A T I O N S

P S Y C H O G E O G R A P H I C

D E S T I N A T I O N F I E L D G U I D E

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H o w t o U s e T h i s G U I D E

p s y c h o g e o g r a p h i c f i e l d g u i d e

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Th i s P syc h o g e o g ra p h i c D e s t i n a t i o n K i t i s o f f e re d

by t h e B u re a u o f U n k n ow n D e s t i n a t i o n s a s a

p rovo c a t i o n to p o te n t i a l voya g e r s , a n i nv i t a t i o n to

t a ke a d ay, g e t o n a t ra i n , a n d g o s o m e p l a ce yo u

k n ow n o t h i n g a b o u t . Th e B u re a u h a s g i ve n away

ove r a h u n d re d ra i l t r i p s to t h e a d ve n t u ro u s , a n d

n ow h o p e s to ex p a n d o p e ra t i o n s by g i v i n g t rave l e r s

t h e m e a n s to u n k n ow t h e i r ow n d e s t i n a t i o n s .

Th i s k i t o f f e r s a va r i e t y o f m e t h o d s o f u n k n ow i n g ,

s o m e t h o u g h t s a b o u t w hy u n k n ow, a n d a h a n d y

fo l d a b l e m i n i ­ n o te b o o k to u s e i n re co rd i n g yo u r

ex p e r i e n ce . Fo r t h o s e d e p a r t i n g f ro m t h e B u re a u ’s

b a s e i n N ew Yo r k , t h e re ’ s a p re ­ p r i n te d s e t o f d e s t i ­

n a t i o n c a rd s to p l ay w i t h . Fo r o t h e r s , a b l a n k s e t to

f i l l i n a n d wo r k f ro m .

p s y c h o g e o g r a p h i c f i e l d g u i d e

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Th e m e t h o d i s s i m p l e :

1 ) G i v e y o u r s e l f a d a y .

2 ) H e a d f o r a t r a i n s t a t i o n , u n k n o w

y o u r d e s t i n a t i o n , s e t f o r t h .

A nyo n e u s i n g t h i s k i t i s i nv i te d to co py, s h a re , a n d

a d a p t i t f re e l y, a n d to s e n d w h a t yo u f i n d b a c k to

t h e B u re a u to co n t r i b u te to t h e o n g o i n g d o c u m e n ­

t a t i o n o f t h e p ro j e c t .

p s y c h o g e o g r a p h i c f i e l d g u i d e

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H o w t o U n k n o w

I t ’ s i d e a l to s t a r t f ro m a ce n t ra l s t a t i o n o r o n e t h a t

h a s a s m a ny l i n e s a s p o ss i b l e . Yo u r g o a l i s to a s ­

s i g n yo u r s e l f a d e s t i n a t i o n i n a way t h a t ke e p s i t a

s u r p r i s e . H e re a re a f ew ways yo u m i g h t g o a b o u t

d o i n g t h a t . a d j u s t , re m i x , & i nve n t a s yo u d e s i re .

A l l o f t h e s e te c h n i q u e s wo r k b e s t w h e n yo u t a ke

t h e re s u l t s s e r i o u s l y. Wh a t i f yo u r d e s t i n a t i o n i s a

p l a ce yo u ’ ve b e e n b e fo re? S o m e t i m e s t h e fa m i l i a r

i s t h e m o s t u n k n ow n . Wh a t i f yo u ’ re a f ra i d i t w i l l b e

a b o r i n g p l a ce? U n b o re i t . Le t i t u n b o re yo u . Wh a t

i f yo u ’d ra t h e r g o to t h e n ex t s to p o n t h e l i n e , o r

t h e l a s t , o r s o m e p l a ce yo u h ave a ye n fo r ? Yo u c a n

g o o n a n o rd i n a r y exc u r s i o n a ny t i m e — t h i s i s yo u r

c h a n ce to u n k n ow.

p s y c h o g e o g r a p h i c f i e l d g u i d e

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Y E S , I T ’ S A K I N D O F G A M E . S o p l a y h a r d .

1 ) S h u f f l e u pI f yo u r s t a t i o n o f fe r s f re e p r i n te d t i m e t a b l e s ( a s

t h o s e i n n ew yo r k d o) , g a t h e r t h e m a l l u p , s h u f f l e ,

a n d p i c k o n e ra n d o m l y. D e c i d e i n a d va n ce h ow to

c h o o s e a m o n g t h e d e s t i n a t i o n s o n t h e t i m e t a b l e (g o

a l l t h e way to t h e e n d o f t h e l i n e , o r h a l f way t h e re ,

o r ro l l a d i e fo r t h e n u m b e r o f s to p s yo u ’ l l g o) .

Wi t h s o m e ex t ra p re p a ra t i o n t i m e , yo u c a n g a t h ­

e r t h e n a m e s o f a l l t h e d e s t i n a t i o n s t h a t t a ke o n e

to t h re e h o u r s o f t rave l t i m e a n d w r i te t h e m o n to

i n d ex c a rd s (o r t h e b l a n k c a rd s i n t h i s k i t ) . Yo u a n d

yo u r f r i e n d s c a n u s e t h e s e c a rd s fo r v i r t u a l l y e n d ­

l e s s a d ve n t u re s .

p s y c h o g e o g r a p h i c f i e l d g u i d e

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2 ) T i m i n g t h e T i m e t a b l e s

C h o o s e a n e x a c t t i m e y o u w a n t t o a r r i v e a t y o u r

d e s t i n a t i o n . S e a r c h a l l t h e a v a i l a b l e t i m e t a b l e s

f o r t h e d e s t i n a t i o n w h i c h m o s t p r e c i s e l y m a t c h e s

y o u r a r r i v a l t i m e . A l t e r n a t e l y , c h o o s e a n e x a c t

l e n g t h o f t r a v e l , a n d m a t c h y o u r d e s t i n a t i o n t o

t h a t ( t h i s r e q u i r e s a b i t m o r e f i g u r i n g ) .

3 ) T h e R i g h t H a n d D o e s n ’ t K n o w w h a t

t h e L e f t H a n d i s D o i n g

U n f o l d a t r a n s p o r t a t i o n m a p , o r w a l k u p t o o n e

i n t h e s t a t i o n . Av e r t y o u r e y e s a n d l e t y o u r l e f t

h a n d s w e e p a c r o s s t h e m a p u n t i l i t f i n d s a s p o t .

W r i t e d o w n t h e d e s t i n a t i o n n e a r e s t t o y o u r l e f t

i n d e x f i n g e r . T h i s , o f c o u r s e , i s a c l a s s i c .

p s y c h o g e o g r a p h i c f i e l d g u i d e

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4 ) T h e E a s y U n k n o w n

I f y o u ’ r e n o t a l l t h a t f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e c i t y y o u ’ r e

i n , a l m o s t a n y d e s t i n a t i o n w i l l b e u n k n o w n . G o

t o t h e s t a t i o n a n d c h o o s e b y w h i m s i c a l c r i t e r i a .

C h 0 o s e a p l a c e b y i t s e v o c a t i v e n a m e ( Va l h a l ­

l a , o r B a b y l o n , f o r i n s t a n c e , i f y o u h a p p e n t o b e

s t a r t i n g f r o m N e w Yo r k ) , o r t a k e t h e f i r s t t r a i n

t h a t ’ s l e a v i n g a n d d e c i d e h o w l o n g y o u ’ l l s t a y

a b o a r d , o r f o l l o w a p a s s e n g e r w i t h a n i n t e r e s t ­

i n g h a t .

p s y c h o g e o g r a p h i c f i e l d g u i d e

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79

5 ) T h e B u d g e t U n k n o w n

I f t ra i n t rave l i s b eyo n d yo u r m e a n s a t t h e m o m e n t ,

o rd i n a r y b u s a n d s u bway t r i p s o f f e r p l e n t y o f u n ­

k n ow n . Ad d fe r r i e s i n to t h e m i x i f yo u h ave t h e m .

S i m p l y p i c k t h e d e s t i n a t i o n yo u k n ow l e a s t a b o u t o r

a d a p t o n e o f t h e o t h e r m e t h o d s a b ove . O r s e t o u t

o n fo o t u s i n g p syc h o g e o g ra p h i c a l sys te m s : n av i g a te

o n e c i t y u s i n g a m a p f ro m a n o t h e r, d raw a d i a ­

g ra m o r p i c t u re o n a m a p a n d t r y to wa l k i t , f o l l ow

a p a r t i c u l a r co l o r, g o i n g f ro m re d to re d to re d a l l

a f te r n o o n

p s y c h o g e o g r a p h i c f i e l d g u i d e

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80

6 ) A L i t t l e H e l p f r o m Y o u r F r i e n d s

G o to t h e s t a t i o n w i t h o n e o r m o re f r i e n d s , a g re e i n g

to t rave l to s e p a ra te d e s t i n a t i o n s . H ave e a c h p e r ­

s o n c h o o s e a d e s t i n a t i o n t h ey k n ow n o t h i n g a b o u t ,

t h e n t ra d e d e s t i n a t i o n s w i t h e a c h o t h e r, c re a t i n g a

d o u b l e l aye r o f t h e u n k n ow n . O r m a ke a c h a i n w i t h

yo u r f r i e n d s , p ay i n g fo r wa rd : b u y a t i c ke t fo r o n e

f r i e n d w h o w i l l t h e n b u y a t i c ke t fo r a n o t h e r, a n d s o

o n .

p s y c h o g e o g r a p h i c f i e l d g u i d e

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7 ) D e s t i n a t i o n P a r t y

G a t h e r a l i s t o f a l l t h e d e s t i n a t i o n s t h e r i g h t d i s ­

t a n ce away. G a t h e r t i m e t a b l e s fo r a l l t h o s e d e s t i ­

n a t i o n s ( a s m a ny co p i e s o f t h e t i m e t a b l e s a s yo u

h ave d e s t i n a t i o n s) . G a t h e r b l a n k n o te b o o k s , o r

m a te r i a l s to m a ke t h e m f ro m re c yc l e d p a p e r. G a t h ­

e r c a rd s fo r t h e n a m e s o f d e s t i n a t i o n s . G a t h e r b i g

e nve l o p e s . G e t to g e t h e r w i t h f r i e n d s ove r p i z z a o r

m ex i c a n fo o d a n d f i l l a n e nve l o p e fo r e a c h d e s t i n a ­

t i o n . I n c l u d e a c a rd w i t h t h e d e s t i n a t i o n , a t i m e t a ­

b l e , a n o te b o o k . S e a l t h e e nve l o p e s a n d d i s t r i b u te

h oweve r yo u l i ke . Fe e l f re e to a d a p t t h i s a cco rd i n g

to yo u r ow n i d e a s a n d d e s i re s .

p s y c h o g e o g r a p h i c f i e l d g u i d e

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W h y U n k n o w ?

p s y c h o g e o g r a p h i c f i e l d g u i d e

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83

A l l a ro u n d u s i s a mys te r i o u s l a n d s c a p e w h i c h

O CC U P I E S t h e s a m e s p a t i a l d i m e n s i o n s a s t h e o n e

we a re i n t i m a te l y f a m i l i a r w i t h . Th e u n k n ow n i s

eve r yw h e re i n te r t w i n e d w i t h t h e k n ow n ; to s e e i t ,

we o n l y n e e d b re a k o u r ow n h a b i t s . Ta ke a w ro n g

t u r n i n g o n e d ay.

N av i g a te by m i s m a tc h e d m a p s . G e t o n a t ra i n w i t h ­

o u t k n ow i n g w h e re yo u ’ l l e n d u p . P syc h o g e o g ra p hy

i s t h e a r t o f m ov i n g t h ro u g h s p a ce a cco rd i n g to

f e e l i n g s a n d e f f e c t s ra t h e r t h a n o rd i n a r y p u r p o s ­

e s . L i ke a l l t h e ex p e r i m e n t a l a r t s , i t s e e k s to b re a k

ro u t i n e ways o f b e i n g , h o p i n g fo r t h e f re s h n e ss o f

n ew ex p e r i e n ce . P syc h o g e o g ra p hy h a s a h i s to r y t h a t

b e g i n s i n Pa r i s w i t h t h e p o e t B a u d e l a i re ’ s f avo r i te

f i g u re , t h e “ f l a n e u r ” o r d r i f te r — o n e w h o s p e n d s t h e

d ay wa l k i n g t h ro u g h t h e c i t y w i t h n o o t h e r p u r p o s e

t h a n to ex p e r i e n ce i t s a m b i a n ce s .

p s y c h o g e o g r a p h i c f i e l d g u i d e

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84 p s y c h o g e o g r a p h i c f i e l d g u i d e

L a te r, G u y D e b o rd a n d h i s co m p a n i o n s i n t h e Le t ­

t r i s t a n d S i t u a t i o n i s t m ove m e n t s b r i e f l y h e l d t h e

d re a m t h a t “ t h e n ew t y p e o f b e a u t y c a n o n l y b e a

b e a u t y o f s i t u a t i o n s .” O n l y a n a r t o f c re a t i n g “ s i t u ­

a t i o n s ,” t h ey t h o u g h t , h a d t h e p o te n t i a l to c h a n g e

h ow p e o p l e l i ve d a n d fe l t . Th e s i t u a t i o n s t h ey

l ove d i nvo l ve d c i t i e s , g o i n g f ro m o n e p l a ce to a n ­

o t h e r, c h a n ce e n co u n te r s .

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85

H e re ’s D e b o rd :

“ O f a l l t h e a f fa i r s we p a r t i c i p a te i n , w i t h o r w i t h -

o u t i n t e r e s t , t h e g r o p i n g q u e s t fo r a n ew way o f

l i f e i s t h e o n l y t h i n g t h a t r e m a i n s r e a l l y exc i t i n g .

Ae s t h e t i c a n d o t h e r d i s c i p l i n e s h ave p r ove d g l a r -

i n g l y i n a d e q u ate i n t h i s r e g a r d a n d m e r i t t h e g r e a t -

e s t i n d i f fe r e n ce . We s h o u l d t h e r e fo r e d e l i n e a te

s o m e p r ov i s i o n a l t e r ra i n s o f o b s e r va t i o n , i n c l u d i n g

t h e o b s e r va t i o n o f ce r t a i n p r o ce ss e s o f c h a n ce a n d

p r e d i c t a b i l i t y i n t h e s t r e e t s . . . .”

p s y c h o g e o g r a p h i c f i e l d g u i d e

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86

P s y c h o g e o g r a p h y s e t s f o r i t s e l f t h e s t u d y o f

t h e p r e c i s e l a w s a n d s p e c i f i c e f f e c t s o f t h e

g e o g r a p h i c a l e n v i r o n m e n t , w h e t h e r c o n s c i o u s l y

o r g a n i z e d o r n o t , o n t h e e m o t i o n s a n d b e h a v i o r

o f i n d i v i d u a l s . T h e c h a r m i n g l y v a g u e a d j e c t i v e

p s y c h o g e o g r a p h i c a l c a n b e a p p l i e d t o t h e

f i n d i n g s a r r i v e d a t b y t h i s t y p e o f i n v e s t i g a t i o n ,

t o t h e i r i n f l u e n c e o n h u m a n f e e l i n g s , a n d m o r e

g e n e r a l l y t o a n y s i t u a t i o n o r c o n d u c t t h a t s e e m s

t o r e f l e c t t h e s a m e s p i r i t o f d i s c o v e r y. ”

p s y c h o g e o g r a p h i c f i e l d g u i d e

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87

D raw i n g f ro m a va r i e t y o f a r t i s t i c s o u rce s b eyo n d

t h e S i t u a t i o n i s t s ( s u r re a l i s t g a m e s , co n ce p t u a l

a n d l a n d a r t , J o h n C a g e ’s l ove o f c h a n ce , A l a n

Ka p row ’s h a p p e n i n g s , F l u x u s , re ce n t d eve l o p m e n t s

i n u n c re a t i ve w r i t i n g ) a s we l l a s a l o n g i n te re s t

i n t rave l a s a p syc h i c fo r m ( Au s t ra l i a n s o n g l i n e s ,

p i l g r i m a g e s , a rc t i c ex p l o ra t i o n s , t a l e s o f wa l k i n g

t h e H i n d u Ku s h a n d r i d i n g t h e Tra n s ­ S i b e r i a n

ex p re ss) , Th e B u re a u o f U n k n ow n D e s t i n a t i o n s h a s

s e t o u t to d eve l o p a p ra c t i ce o f u n k n ow i n g .

T i c ke t s we re g i ve n away b e c a u s e u n ex p e c te d

g i f t s p ro m p t a c t i o n . Tra i n s we re c h o s e n b e c a u s e

o f t h e i r p e c u l i a r l y co n te m p l a t i ve a t m o s p h e re , a t

o n ce m e l a n c h o l y a n d h o p e f u l . by p ro m p t i n g t ra i n

j o u r n eys to u n k n ow n d e s t i n a t i o n s , t h e b u re a u

h o p e s to p hys i c a l i ze t h e s i t u a t i o n o f b e i n g c a r r i e d

a l o n g towa rd s d e s t i ny.

p s y c h o g e o g r a p h i c f i e l d g u i d e

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88

Th e g o a l i s to i n te r r u p t o rd i n a r y i n s t r u m e n t a l i t i e s ,

to i n te r ve n e i n t h e d r i ve to g e t s o m ew h e re a n d g e t

o n w i t h i t . To s te p a s i d e , eve n , f ro m o u r ow n p re fe r ­

e n ce s . J o h n C a g e wa s a m a s te r a t t h i s :

“ . . . . t h e a n s w e r m u s t t a k e t h e

f o r m o f p a r a d o x : a p u r p o s e f u l

p u r p o s e l e s s n e s s o r a p u r p o s e l e s s

p l a y . T h i s p l a y , h o w e v e r , i s a n

a f f i r m a t i o n o f l i f e — n o t a n a t t e m p t

t o b r i n g o r d e r o u t o f c h a o s n o r t o

s u g g e s t i m p r o v e m e n t s i n c r e a t i o n ,

b u t s i m p l y a w a y o f w a k i n g u p t o t h e

v e r y l i f e w e ’ r e l i v i n g , w h i c h i s s o

e x c e l l e n t o n c e o n e g e t s o n e ’ s m i n d

a n d o n e ’ s d e s i r e s o u t o f i t s w a y a n d

l e t s i t a c t o f i t s o w n a c c o r d . ”

Th e B u re a u o f U n k n ow n D e s t i n a t i o n s favo r s

i n te r r u p t i o n , d i s r u p t i o n a n d d e to u r. I t f avo r s

a b s t a i n i n g f ro m p u r p o s e fo r a t i m e . I t f avo r s s i m p l y

e m b a r k i n g .

p s y c h o g e o g r a p h i c f i e l d g u i d e

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