9.4 Psychogeography and the politics of public space

Psychogeography explores how public spaces shape our behavior and emotions. It reveals hidden power dynamics and inequalities in cities through techniques like dérive and détournement. This approach challenges traditional urban perceptions and highlights issues of inclusion and spatial justice.

By creating alternative narratives and experiences, psychogeography disrupts conventional understandings of cities. It empowers citizens to reclaim public spaces, fostering creativity and community engagement. These practices can influence urban planning policies and promote more inclusive, flexible approaches to public space design.

Psychogeography in Public Space

Intersection of Psychology, Geography, and Politics

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• Psychogeography examines how physical spaces influence human behavior and emotions in urban environments
• Public spaces reflect power structures, social norms, and governmental policies through design, accessibility, and permitted uses
• Henri Lefebvre's "right to the city" concept emphasizes citizens' collective rights to shape and access urban spaces
• Psychogeographical techniques reveal hidden power dynamics and social inequalities in urban landscapes
  • Dérive involves unplanned journeys through cities
  • Détournement repurposes existing elements to create new meanings
• Politics of surveillance and control in public spaces analyzed through psychogeographical practices
  • CCTV cameras impact behavior and perception of safety
  • Hostile architecture discourages certain uses of public space (spikes on ledges)
• Different social groups experience and navigate public spaces uniquely
  • Highlights issues of inclusion, exclusion, and spatial justice
  • Example: Accessibility for people with disabilities in urban planning

Challenging Traditional Urban Perceptions

• Psychogeography disrupts conventional understandings of urban spaces
• Encourages alternative ways of perceiving and interacting with the environment
• Dérive reveals hidden aspects of cities, challenging official narratives and maps
  • Example: Discovering unofficial community gardens in vacant lots
• Psychogeographical mapping creates subjective, emotional cartographies
  • Contrasts with traditional, objective representations of urban spaces
  • Example: Fear maps highlighting areas perceived as unsafe by residents
• Exposes inequalities and power imbalances in public space use and design
  • Highlights experiences of marginalized groups
  • Example: Mapping gentrification patterns in neighborhoods

Psychogeography vs Dominant Narratives

Subverting Conventional Spatial Understanding

• Psychogeographical interventions transform meaning and function of public spaces
  • Situationist practices question prescribed uses of urban areas
  • Example: Guerrilla gardening in neglected urban spaces
• Concept of "spectacle" critiques commodification of public space
  • Challenges dominance of consumerist culture in urban environments
  • Example: Adbusting campaigns that modify commercial billboards
• Emphasis on personal and collective experience challenges notion of public areas as neutral
  • Reveals underlying political and social dynamics
  • Example: Documenting diverse uses of public parks across social classes

Alternative Representations and Experiences

• Psychogeography creates alternative narratives about urban spaces
  • Contrasts with official city branding and tourism narratives
  • Example: Underground city tours highlighting forgotten histories
• Exposes hidden or overlooked aspects of urban environments
  • Reveals informal economies and social networks
  • Example: Mapping street vendor locations and their impact on local communities
• Challenges the primacy of visual perception in understanding cities
  • Incorporates multisensory experiences in urban exploration
  • Example: Sound maps documenting urban noise pollution and quiet zones

Psychogeography for Reclaiming Public Space

Empowering Citizen Engagement

• Psychogeographical practices promote sense of ownership and agency in urban environments
• Participatory projects foster collective decision-making about public space use
  • Community mapping initiatives involve residents in urban planning
  • Example: Collaborative online maps for identifying needed improvements
• Tactical urbanism implements small-scale interventions demonstrating alternative uses
  • Often temporary projects with potential for permanent change
  • Example: Pop-up parks in parking spaces (parklets)
• Reveals and activates "terrain vague" or overlooked urban spaces
  • Expands definition and potential of public areas
  • Example: Transforming abandoned lots into community gardens

Fostering Creativity and Community

• Encourages playful and creative interactions with urban environment
  • Counteracts privatization and commercialization of public spaces
  • Example: Street art festivals reclaiming walls and buildings
• Psychogeographical art projects challenge social norms in public spaces
  • Encourages diverse forms of expression and community engagement
  • Example: Interactive public sculptures that change based on visitor input
• Détournement repurposes existing elements of urban landscape
  • Subverts original meanings to create new, democratized spaces
  • Example: Transforming unused phone booths into mini-libraries

Psychogeography's Influence on Policy

Informing Urban Planning and Design

• Psychogeographical research provides insights into lived experiences of urban spaces
  • Informs evidence-based policy-making for public area design and management
  • Example: Using emotional mapping to guide park redesign projects
• Integration of psychogeographical principles leads to more inclusive urban planning
  • Promotes flexible and user-centered approaches to public space development
  • Example: Designing multi-use spaces adaptable to different community needs
• Emphasis on emotional and psychological impacts influences mental health policies
  • Addresses well-being in urban environments
  • Example: Creating "healing gardens" in hospital grounds and public areas

Challenging and Reshaping Regulations

• Psychogeography questions zoning laws restricting multifunctionality of public areas
  • Promotes more flexible use of urban spaces
  • Example: Advocating for mixed-use zoning in formerly single-use districts
• Activism and advocacy pressure policymakers to address spatial inequality
  • Promotes equitable access to public resources
  • Example: Campaigns for improved public transportation to underserved areas
• Environmental psychology informed by psychogeography guides sustainable urban policies
  • Focuses on creating resilient urban spaces
  • Example: Incorporating green corridors for biodiversity and public enjoyment
• Critique of spectacle and consumerism influences policies on advertising and cultural heritage
  • Addresses commercialization in public spaces
  • Example: Regulations limiting digital billboards in historic districts