🗺️Psychogeography and Art Unit 2 – Theoretical Foundations

Key Concepts and Definitions

• Psychogeography explores the psychological effects of geographical environments on individuals
• Derives involve drifting through urban landscapes without a predetermined route or destination, allowing the environment to guide the journey
• Détournement repurposes existing elements (images, text, objects) to create new meanings and challenge dominant narratives
• Situationist International, a revolutionary group of artists and intellectuals, developed psychogeography as a critique of modern capitalist society
• Unitary Urbanism envisions a city designed for continuous drifting and the fulfillment of human desires, rather than functional efficiency
• Spectacle refers to the pervasive influence of media, advertising, and consumerism in shaping social relations and experiences
  • Debord argues that the spectacle creates a false sense of reality and alienates individuals from authentic experiences
• Psychogeographical mapping represents the subjective, emotional, and imaginative aspects of urban space, rather than objective geographical features

Historical Context and Origins

• Psychogeography emerged in the 1950s and 1960s, primarily through the work of the Situationist International
• The Situationists were influenced by Marxist theory, avant-garde art movements (Surrealism, Dadaism), and the socio-political climate of post-war Europe
• Guy Debord, a key figure in the Situationist International, published "Theory of the Dérive" (1956) and "The Society of the Spectacle" (1967), which laid the foundations for psychogeography
• The Lettrist International, a precursor to the Situationists, explored urban space through dérives and created psychogeographical maps of Paris
• The Situationists' critique of urbanism and everyday life was a response to the modernist urban planning principles of the Athens Charter (1933)
• Psychogeography also drew inspiration from the flâneur, a figure in 19th-century literature who wandered the city streets as a detached observer
• The events of May 1968 in France, which involved student protests and general strikes, were influenced by Situationist ideas and tactics

Theoretical Frameworks

• Marxist theory provides a foundation for psychogeography's critique of capitalist urban development and the commodification of space
  • Alienation, a key concept in Marxist thought, is central to the Situationists' understanding of the modern city and the spectacle
• Henri Lefebvre's theory of the production of space emphasizes the social and political dimensions of urban environments
  • Lefebvre's triad of spatial practice, representations of space, and representational spaces informs psychogeographical analysis
• The Situationists' notion of constructed situations aims to create moments of intense, authentic experience that subvert the spectacle and encourage participatory creativity
• Psychogeography is influenced by the Surrealists' interest in the unconscious, automatism, and the irrational aspects of urban life
• Michel de Certeau's concept of "walking rhetorics" and everyday practices of resistance resonates with psychogeography's emphasis on subversive urban exploration
• Affect theory, which examines the role of emotions and bodily sensations in shaping social and spatial experiences, has been applied to psychogeographical research

Influential Thinkers and Their Contributions

• Guy Debord, co-founder of the Situationist International, developed key concepts such as the dérive, détournement, and the society of the spectacle
• Ivan Chtcheglov, known as Gilles Ivain, wrote "Formulary for a New Urbanism" (1953), an influential text that envisioned a city designed for play and desire
• Asger Jorn, a Danish artist and Situationist, created psychogeographical maps and explored the notion of "unitary urbanism"
• Constant Nieuwenhuys, a Dutch artist, developed the concept of "New Babylon," a utopian city designed for continuous drifting and creative play
• Raoul Vaneigem, a Belgian Situationist, authored "The Revolution of Everyday Life" (1967), which critiqued consumer society and advocated for the transformation of everyday experiences
• Michel de Certeau, a French philosopher, analyzed everyday practices of resistance and the subversive potential of walking in the city
• Iain Sinclair, a British writer and filmmaker, has explored the psychogeography of London through his novels, essays, and documentary films
  • Sinclair's works, such as "Lights Out for the Territory" (1997) and "London Orbital" (2002), combine walking, historical research, and personal reflection

Psychogeography in Art Practices

• Situationist artists created psychogeographical maps, collages, and détourned images to represent the subjective experience of urban space
  • Examples include Guy Debord's "The Naked City" (1957) and Asger Jorn's "The Mad Maps" (1960s)
• Psychogeography has influenced contemporary art practices, such as walking art, site-specific interventions, and participatory projects
• Francis Alÿs, a Belgian-Mexican artist, creates performative walks and interventions that explore the poetics and politics of urban space
  • Alÿs's work "Sometimes Making Something Leads to Nothing" (1997) involved pushing a block of ice through the streets of Mexico City until it melted
• Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller create immersive audio walks that guide participants through urban environments, blending fiction and reality
• Stalker, an Italian art collective, organizes collective walks and interventions in marginal urban areas, such as abandoned industrial sites and informal settlements
• The practice of psychogeography has been adopted by artists, activists, and community groups as a means of critically engaging with urban issues and fostering alternative narratives of place

Research Methods and Techniques

• Dérive, or drifting, is a central method in psychogeography, involving unplanned, intuitive exploration of urban environments
  • Dérives are often conducted in small groups and can last for varying durations, from a few hours to several days
• Psychogeographical mapping represents the subjective, emotional, and imaginative aspects of urban space
  • Maps may incorporate collage, détournement, and unconventional symbols or notations to challenge traditional cartographic conventions
• Interviews and ethnographic methods are used to gather individual narratives and experiences of urban space
• Archival research and historical analysis provide context for understanding the social, political, and cultural factors that shape urban environments
• Photographic and video documentation capture the sensory and affective qualities of urban space
• GPS tracking and digital mapping technologies are sometimes employed to record and visualize psychogeographical explorations
• Collaborative and participatory methods engage local communities in the co-creation of psychogeographical knowledge and interventions

Critical Debates and Controversies

• Critics argue that psychogeography, as practiced by the Situationists, was primarily a male-dominated, Eurocentric discourse that neglected issues of gender, race, and postcolonial perspectives
• The commodification and institutionalization of psychogeography in contemporary art and academia have been seen as contradicting its original subversive and anti-capitalist intentions
• The emphasis on individual subjective experience in psychogeography has been criticized for potentially obscuring the structural and systemic factors that shape urban environments
• The relationship between psychogeography and gentrification has been debated, with some arguing that psychogeographical practices may unintentionally contribute to the aestheticization and commodification of urban space
• The ethical implications of conducting dérives and psychogeographical interventions in marginalized or low-income communities have been questioned
• The effectiveness of psychogeography as a means of political resistance and social change has been debated, with some critics arguing that it remains a largely symbolic or aesthetic practice
• The role of digital technologies and virtual spaces in contemporary psychogeographical practices has been a subject of discussion and experimentation

Applications and Real-World Examples

• Urban planners and designers have drawn on psychogeographical principles to create more inclusive, participatory, and emotionally engaging public spaces
  • The High Line in New York City, an elevated park built on a former railway line, incorporates elements of drift and discovery in its design
• Psychogeography has been used in tourism and place branding to create immersive, narrative-driven experiences of cities and regions
  • The "Detour" app offers location-aware audio walks that blend historical facts, personal stories, and creative storytelling to guide users through urban environments
• Activists and community groups have employed psychogeographical methods to challenge dominant narratives of place and advocate for social and environmental justice
  • The Anti-Eviction Mapping Project in San Francisco uses mapping and storytelling to document the impact of gentrification and displacement on local communities
• Mental health professionals have explored the therapeutic potential of psychogeographical practices, such as mindful walking and sensory exploration of urban environments
• Educators have incorporated psychogeography into curriculum to foster critical thinking, creativity, and place-based learning
  • The "Sensing the City" project in London engages primary school students in sensory explorations and creative mapping of their local environments
• Artists and cultural organizations have used psychogeography to create site-specific installations, performances, and participatory events that engage the public in reimagining urban spaces
  • The "Elastic City" project in New York organizes participatory walks and interventions that blur the boundaries between art, performance, and everyday life