a beginner's guide to psychogeography

7/30/2019 A Beginner's Guide to Psychogeography

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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 4G U Y D E B O R D

T h e o r y o f t h e D r i v e 4 5 - 6 7g 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


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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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T he e i g h t eent h c en t u r y p i c t u r es q ue and s ub l i m e had

p a i d ho m ag e t o na t u r e , d ep i c t i ng i t a s a f o r c e p o i s ed

t o s ub s um e o r o v e r w he l m hum an i t y, a t o d d s w i t h t he

p as t o r a l v i s i o n o f p eo p l e a t eas e i n an i d ea l l and s c ap e .

B y ana l o g y , t he s i t ua t i o n i s t c i t y w as a t o d d s w i t h t he

C o r b u s i a n v i s i on 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 and s c ap e , a p l ac e w her e t he s t r ug g l e w i t h na t u r e , w i t h

t he b o d y , w i t h s p ac e , and w i t h c l a s s had i nex p l i c ab l y

c o m e t o an end . L e C o r b us i e r s V i l l e C o nt em p o r a i ne

( C o nt em p o r a r y c i t y ) w as f o r ev e r c o nt em p o r a r y o n l y b y

f r eez i ng t i m e and end i ng h i s t o r y ( f i g . 2 . 1 3 ) .

I n p s yc ho g eo g r ap hy a l l t he s t r ug g l es w er e ac u t e ag a i n ,

m ak i ng a no ns ens e o f t he C o r b us i an f an t as y o f t he c i t y

as s o m et h i ng ab s t r ac t , r a t i o na l , o r i d ea l . Deb o r d r ep o r t ed

t ha t t he p r i m ar i l y u r b an c ha r ac t e r o f t he d r i f t , i n i t s

e l em ent i n t he g r ea t i nd us t r i a l l y t r ans f o r m ed c i t i e s t ho s e

c ent e r s o f p o s s i b i l i t i e s and m ean i ng s c o u l d b e ex p r es s ed

i n M ar x s p h r as e : M en c an s ee no t h i ng a r o und t hem t ha t

i s no t t he i r o w n i m ag e ; ev e r y t h i ng s p eak s t o t hem o f

t hem s e l v es . T he i r v e r y l and s c a p e i s a l i v e .

simon sadler making sense of psychogeography


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A s i t s nam e i m p l i ed , p s yc ho g eo g r ap hy a t t em p t ed t o

c o m b i ne s ub j ec t i v e and o b j ec t i v e m o d es o f s t ud y . O n t he

o ne hand i t r ec o g n i z ed t ha t t he s e l f c an no t b e d i v o r c ed

f r o m t he u r b an env i r o nm ent ; o n t he o t he r ha nd , i t had

t o p e r t a i n t o m o r e t han j u s t t he p s yc he o f t he i nd i v i d ua l

i f i t w as t o b e us e f u l i n t he c o l l ec t i v e r e t h i nk i ng o f t he

c i t y . The r ead er s ens es De b o r d s d es p er a t i o n t o neg o t i a t e

t h i s p a r ad o x i n h i s T ho r i e d e l a d r i v e ( T heo r y o f t he

d r i v e ) , a k ey d o c um ent f i r s t p ub l i s hed i n t he B e l g i an

s u r r ea l i s t j o u r na l L es l v r es nues i n 1 9 5 6 and r ep ub l i s hed

i n I n t e r na t i o na l e s i t ua t i o nn i s t e i n 1 9 5 8 .

T he d r i f t , Deb o r d ex p l a i ned , en t a i l ed t he s o r t o f p l ay f u l

c o ns t r uc t i v e b ehav i o r t ha t had a l w ays d i s t i ng u i s hed

s i t ua t i o n i s t ac t i v i t i e s f r o m m er e p as t i m es . T he d r i f t

s ho u l d no t b e c o n f us ed , t hen , w i t h c l a s s i c a l no t i o ns o f

t he j o u r ney and t he s t r o l l ; d r i f t e r s w er en t l i k e t ad p o l es

i n a t ank , s t r i p p ed . . . o f i n te l l i g enc e , s o c i ab i l i t y and

s ex ua l i t y , b u t w er e p eo p l e a l e r t t o t he a t t r ac t i o ns o f t he

t e r r a i n and t he enc o unt e r s t hey f i nd t he r e , c ap ab l e as a

g r o up o f ag r ee i ng up o n d i s t i nc t , s p o nt aneo us p r e f e r enc es

f o r r o u t es t h r o ug h t he c i t y .



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11simon sadler making sense of psychogeography


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12 simon sadler making sense of psychogeography


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O ne o f Deb o r d s p r i o r i t i e s i n hed g i ng t he

r o l e o f s p o nt ane i t y and c hanc e i n t he

d r i f t w as t o c r ea t e d i s t i nc t i o ns w i t h i t s

b e t t e r k no w n s u r r ea l i s t p r ec ed en t s . A n

i ns u f f i c i en t aw ar enes s o f t he l i m i t a t i o ns o f

c hanc e , and o f i t s i nev i t ab l y r eac t i o na r y

us e , c o nd em ned t o d i s m a l f a i l u r e t he

c e l eb r a t ed a i m l es s am b u l a t i o n a t t em p t ed

i n 1 9 2 3 b y f o u r s u r r ea l i s t s , b eg i nn i ng f r o m

a t o w n c ho s en b y l o t , he no t ed . 2 4 Deb o r d

had s o m e t o l e r anc e f o r s u r r ea l i s t m et ho d s

( he w as am us ed b y a f r i end w ho had

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 er m any w h i l e b l i nd l y f o l l o w i ng t he

d i r ec t i o ns o f a m ap o f L o nd o n ) , b u t w h i l e

s i t ua t i o n i s t s m ad e i t t he i r b us i nes s t o

d i s r up t t he b o ur g eo i s w o r l d v i ew, t hey had

no w i s h t o p r o b l em at i z e a l l i n s t r um ent a l

k no w l ed g e and ac t i o n . S u r r ea l i s t

au t o m at i s m w as , t hey f e l t , c r ea t i v e l y and

p o l i t i c a l l y ex haus t ed ,



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a g enr e o f o s t en t a t i o us . . . w e i r d nes s .

Deb o r d w as r es i g ned t o t he f ac t t ha t

i n i t s i n f anc y d r i f t w o u l d b e p a r t l y

d ep end ent up o n c hanc e and w o u l d hav e

t o ac c o m m o d at e a d eg r ee o f l e t t i ng

g o . 2 6 T he p s yc ho ana l ys t Jac q ues L ac an

had c l a i m ed t ha t s u r r ea l i s t p l ay o s c i l l a t ed

b et w een i n t en t i o n and au t o m at i s m , and

m uc h t he s am e c o u l d hav e b een s a i d

ab o ut p s yc ho g eo g r ap h i c d r i f t . Deb o r d and

W o l m an t hem s e l v es d ec i d ed t ha t t he d r i f t

w as a c o m b i na t i o n o f c hanc e and p l ann i ng

t ha t r eac hed v a r i o us s t ag es o f eq u i l i b r i um .



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I n h i s c o nc er n t ha t l e t t i ng g o m i g ht c o l l ap s e b ac k

i n t o s u r r ea l i s t au t o m at i s m , D eb o r d o v er l o o k ed t he f ac t

t ha t d r i f t e r s c o u l d no t c o m p l e t e l y l e t g o ev en i f t hey

w ant ed t o . Ps yc ho g eo g r ap hy w as f o r m ed and v a l i d a t ed b y

a s i t ua t i o n i s t g r o up d i s c o ur s e and c u l t u r e t ha t c o u l d n t

b e j u s t b l ank ed o u t a t w i l l . I n f ac t Deb o r d p r es en t ed t he

s i t ua t i o n i s t m ap s o f Pa r i s and t he t heo r y o f t he d r i v e

p r ec i s e l y i n o r d er t o r a t i f y g r o up ac t i v i t y, c o d i f y i ng a l l

s o r t s o f o v e r b l o w n p s yc ho g eo g r ap h i c t ec hn i q u es .

T he r es u l t an o r g an i z ed s p o nt ane i t y w as s o m et h i ng

o f an o d d i t y , and i t c e r t a i n l y d i d n t c o l l a t e m uc h r ea l

d a t a . A b a r, f o r ex am p l e , w h i c h i s c a l l ed A t t he E nd o f

t he W o r l d a t t he l i m i t o f o ne o f t he s t r o ng es t un i t i e s

o f am b i anc e i n Pa r i s , i s no t t he r e b y c hanc e , Po t l a t c h

p l ead ed . E v ent s o n l y b e l o ng t o c hanc e i f o ne d o es no t

k no w t he g ener a l l aw s o f t he i r c a t eg o r y. 3 0 W i t h i t s

d e t ec t i v e s t y l e i c o no g r ap hy , R a l p h R um ney s s i t ua t i o n i s t

p ho t o g r ap h i c r ec o r d o f V en i c e s s t ree t s , m ad e as he

s t a l k ed A m er i c an B eat au t ho r A l an A ns en , l o o k ed s u i t ab l y

s ys t em at i c .



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B ut i t f a i l ed t o y i e l d any t h i ng r em o t e l y

l i k e d a t a , i t s au t ho r s t r ug g l i ng t o

ex p l a i n t he s i g n i f i c anc e o f h i s enc o unt e r s

w i t h c h i l d r en and w i t h o l d ac q ua i n t anc es ,

ac c o unt f o r t he r o m anc e o f V en i c e , and

i d ent i f y s i n i s t e r, d ep r es s i ng , and

b eaut i f u l z o nes . R um ney c l ea r l y l ac k ed

s e r i o us nes s , l eav i ng us unc er t a i n w het her

h i s p r o j ec t w as a f a i l u r e o r a w ho l es o m e

p ur s u i t o f s i t ua t i o n i s t p l ay . At o ne p o i n t

he a t t r i b u t ed A ns en s ec c ent r i c b ehav i o r

i n t he p ho t o g r ap hs t o t he f ac t t ha t he

w as aw ar e o f t he p ho t o g r ap her and

i s s ho w i ng o f f , and t he r e w as a no t e

o f c ap i t u l a t i o n t o t he i m p a l p ab i l i t y o f

p s yc ho g eo g r ap h i c d a t a as R um ney

ad m i t t ed t ha t h i s r ep o r t m i g ht hav e

b ene f i t ed f r o m b e i ng c o nd uc t ed b y o ne

m o r e c o m p et ent t han t he au t ho r . 3 1

A nno unc i ng h i s ex p u l s i o n s ho r t l y a f t e r ,

t he S i t ua t i o n i s t I n t e r na t i o na l r eg r e t f u l l yno t ed t ha t V en i c e had c l o s ed i n o n t he

yo ung m an .



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I n f a i r nes s , p s yc ho g eo g r ap her s r ec o g n i z ed t ha t t he i r s w as

a nec es s a r i l y i nex ac t s c i enc e , d ea l i ng w i t h i m p r ec i s e d a t a .

Po t l a t c h , d i s c us s i ng r ec ent t end en c i es i n p o et r y , no t ed

t he f a i l u r e o f f i x ed l i t e r a r y f o r m and t hen i m p l i ed a l i nk t o

t he f a i l u r e o f f i x ed p o l i t i c a l a nd u r b an f o r m s . 3 3 To s eek

f i x ed f o r m w as f o l l y, t he j o u r na l no t ed , s i nc e i t d en i ed t he

s e r end i p i t o us p r o c es s es t ha t c r ea t e l i t e r a t u r e p o l i t i c s ,

and c i t i e s a l i k e .

A nd i n any c as e , ev en i f p e r m anent l y f i x ed f o r m c o u l d b e

d i s c o v er ed and i s o l a t ed , i t w o u l d b e an i m p ed i m ent t o t he

d ynam i c s o f c r ea t i v i t y . S o i n t he i r M m o i r es , Deb o r d and

Jo r n c heer f u l l y r es i g ned t hem s e l v es t o u r b an r e l a t i v i t y ,

no t i ng t ha t t hes e am b i g u i t i e s d o no t o w e any t h i ng

t o p s yc ho l o g y c i t i e s a r e b o r n f r o m i n t e r f e r enc es o f

s i t ua t i o ns t he i n f l uenc es f o l l o w eac h o t he r s u r p as s i ng

eac h o t he r w h i l e m es h i ng . 3 4 T he s ec t o r s o f a c i t y

a r e , a t a c e r t a i n l ev e l , d ec i p her ab l e , Deb o r d ad m i t t ed

i n h i s 1 9 6 1 f i l m C r i t i q ue d e l a s p ar a t i o n ( C r i t i q ue o f

s ep ar a t i o n) , a s t he v i ew er w as s ho w n ae r i a l v i ew s o f

Pa r i s . B u t t he p e r s o n a l m ean i ng t hey hav e f o r us i s

i nc o m m un i c ab l e , l i k e a l l



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t ha t c l and es t i n i t y o f p r i v a t e l i f e r eg a r d i ng w h i c h w e

p o s s es s no t h i ng b u t p i t i f u l d o c um ent s . T he s i t ua t i o n i s t s

w ant ed t o k eep a g r i p o n r ea l i t y no net he l es s . T he

c o m m ent a r y o f Deb o r d s f i l m S u r l e p as s ag e d e q ue l q ues

p er s o nnes t r av e r s une as s ez c o ur t e un i t d e t em p s

d r eam i l y r ec o l l ec t ed t he ex p er i enc e o f t he d r i f t : I t

w as a t r o m p e l o e i l r ea l i t y b y m eans o f w h i c h o ne had

t o d i s c o v er t he p o t en t i a l r i c hnes s o f r ea l i t y, a s i f t he

s p ec i a l , un r ea l c o nd i t i o n s o f t he d r i f t m i g h t o c c l ud e a

m o r e p r o f o und i n s i g h t i n t o t he c i t y ; a p ag e o f M m o i r es

c o m p l a i ned ab o ut f a l s e s t o new o r k t r o m p e l o e i l nev er

eno ug h nev er s a t i s f y i ng .

T he Deb o r d i s t e l em ent r eac t ed q u i c k l y ag a i ns t t ho s e

s i t ua t i o n i s t s f o r w ho m t he m ys t e r i e s o f t he d r i f t w er e

g o i ng b eyo nd c o o l r eas o n i ng and head i ng d o w n t he

s am e m ag i c r o ad as p o s t w ar B r e t o n i s t s u r r ea l i s m . I n

1 9 5 6 Po t l a t c h a t t ac k ed a f ac t i o n , c o m p r i s i ng s o m et i m es

t he m o s t ad v anc ed i n t h e s ea r c h f o r a new b ehav i o r ,

w h i c h f o und i t s e l f d r aw n t o t he t as t e o f t he unk no w n ,

m ys t e r y a t a l l c o s t and t o d i v e r s e o c c u l t i s t c o nc l us i o ns

w h i c h b o r d er o n t he o s o p hy . T he a r t i c l e s t o ne b ec a m e

m enac i ng : T he ana l ys i s and t he r ep r es en t a t i o n o f t h i s

l a s t t end enc y ev ent ua l l y b r o ug ht us t o p u t an end t o

t he r e l a t i v e p o l i t i c a l f r eed o m w h i c h w e had up t i l l no w

m ut ua l l y ac c o r d ed o u r s e l v es .



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A s i n t he s t o i c t r ad i t i o n o f t he m a l e a r t i s t p r es en t ed w i t h t he f em a l e nud e ,

a d eg r ee o f r es i s t anc e t o t he c ha r m s o f p s yc ho g eo g r ap hy w as ap p l aud ed .

F r o m t he o u t s e t p s yc ho g eo g r ap hy w as r eg ar d ed as a s o r t o f t he r ap y , a

f e t i s h i z a t i o n o f t ho s e p a r t s o f t he c i t y t ha t c o u l d s t i l l r e s c ue d r i f t e r s

f r o m t he c l u t c hes o f f unc t i o na l i s m , ex c i t i ng t he s ens es and t he b o d y .

W e w i l l p l ay up o n t o p o p ho b i a and c r ea t e a t o p o p h i l i a , t he S i t ua t i o n i s t

I n t e r na t i o na l p r o f l i g a t e l y p r o m i s ed , 3 8 and t he o v er w he l m i ng l y m a l e

d o m i na t ed g r o up s p enc hant f o r g i r l i e i l l u s t r a t i o ns g av e i t s a r c h i t ec t u r a l

c o m m ent a r y an es p ec i a l l y o d d c as t . A p ag e o f Deb o r d and Jo r n s M m o i r es

d r ew up o n t he o l d m et ap ho r o f t he l and s c ap e as a f em a l e b o d y ( f i g . 2 . 1 5 ) .



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T he c hunk s o f f em a l e b o d i es , d i s a r m i ng l y c ho p p ed up , w er e

m o v i ng ac c i d ent s ac c i d ent s l i k e t he r o l l s and d i p s

o f t he l and s c ap e , p e r hap s , o r m o v i ng i n t he em o t i o na l

s ens e , o r i n t he w ay t ha t t hey w er e enc o unt e r ed o n t he

m o v e , o n t he d r i f t . T he ex p er i enc e o f d e l v i ng b o d i l y i n t o

t he u r b an l and s c ap e w as l i k e b e i ng ha l f b u r i ed b e t w een

t he m o und s o f E as t e r I s l and . 3 9 A no t her o f Deb o r d s

m et ap ho r s , i n d i s t i nc t l y p o o r t as t e , s ug g es t ed t ha t t he

d r i f t e r c o u l d r ap e t he n i g h t s t r ee t s o f L o nd o n s E as t

E nd Jac k t he R i p p er i s p r o b ab l y p s yc ho g eo g r ap h i c i n

l o v e . 4 0 T he l i nk ag e o f s ex ua l p r o w es s t o t he c i t y and t o

r ev o l u t i o n w as c o m p l e t ed b y a f am o us p i ec e o f s i t ua t i o n i s t -

i n s p i r ed M ay 6 8 g r a f f i t i : I c am e i n t he c o b b l es t o nes .



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S o p s yc ho g eo g r ap hy o f f e r ed a s ens e

o f v i o l en t em o t i v e p o s s es s i o n o v er t he

s t r ee t s . E x o t i c and ex c i t i ng t r eas u r es w er e

t o b e f o und i n t he c i t y b y t ho s e d r i f t e r s

ab l e t o c o nq uer he r , ab l e t o o v e r c o m e t he

ex haus t i o n and eup ho r i a o f t he d r i f t . I n

1 9 5 3 1 9 5 4 , C h t c heg l o v b o as t ed , w e d r i f t ed

f o r t h r ee o r f o u r m o nt hs ; t ha t s t he ex t r em e

l i m i t , t he c r i t i c a l p o i n t . I t s a m i r ac 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 t o p o s s es s t he

c i t y t he r e w as s o m et h i ng m o r e t han m er e

f e t i s h i z a t i o n . L i k e t he i m p er i a l i s t p o w er s

t ha t t hey o f f i c i a l l y o p p o s ed , i t w as as i f

s i t ua t i o n i s t s f e l t t ha t t he ex p l o r a t i o n o f

a l i en q ua r t e r s ( o f t he c i t y r a t he r t han t he

g l o b e) w o u l d ad v anc e c i v i l i z a t i o n . M o r e

p o i g nant l y f o r t he hand f u l o f f em a l e o r

no n E ur o p ean p s yc ho g eo g r ap her s , t he

d r i f t c o u l d m o m ent a r i l y d e f y t he w h i t e

p at r i a r c hy o f u r b an s p ac e t i m e , t he l i k es o f

M i c h l e B e r n s t e i n a n d A b d e l h a f i d K h a t i b r ec l a i m i ng t he n i g h t : Kha t i b w as t w i c e

a r r es t ed f o r b r eak i ng t he p o l i c e c u r f ew

i m p o s ed o n A l g e r i an r es i d en t s . 4 3 R ep o r t s o n

p s yc ho g eo g r ap hy w er e p r es en t ed as i f t hey

w er e p r o d uc ed b y a m i l i t a r y r a t he r t han an

ar t i s t i c avantgarde . As we l l as hav ing a naut i ca l



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22

d er i v a t i o n , Deb o r d b o r r o w ed t he i d ea o f

d r i f t f r o m m i l i t a r y t ac t i c i ans , w ho d e f i ned

i t a s a c a l c u l a t ed ac t i o n d e t e r m i n ed b y

t he ab s enc e o f a p r o p er l o c us . 4 5 F o r

C l aus ew i t z i t had b een an a r t o f t he

w eak , f o r v o n B l o w a m aneuv er w i t h i n

t he enem y s f i e l d o f v i s i o n . 4 6 T he

p o w er o f p s yc ho g eo g r ap hy , i t s eem ed , l ay

p r ec i s e l y i n i t s i n t o x i c a t i ng c o m b i na t i o n

o f s ub j ec t i v e and o b j ec t i v e f e t i s h i s t i c

and m i l i t a r i s t i c ap p r o ac hes t o u r b an

ex p l o r a t i o n . Ps yc ho g eo g r ap hy w as m er e l y

a p r ep ar a t i o n , a r ec o nna i s s anc e f o r t he

d ay w hen t he c i t y w o u l d b e s e i z ed f o r

r ea l . T he d r i f t , Deb o r d ex p l a i ned , t ak es

o n a d o ub l e m ean i ng : ac t i v e o b s e r v a t i o n

o f p r es en td ay u r b an ag g l o m er a t i o ns

and d ev e l o p m ent o f hyp o t hes es o n t he

s t r uc t u r e o f a s i t ua t i o n i s t c i t y .



23/88


24/88

24


25/88

C

R

ITIQ

U

E

GUY DEBORD

O

F

U

R

B

A

N

GE

O

G

R

A

PH

Y


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27/88

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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29/88

29

O f a l l t he a f f a i r s w e p a r t i c i p a t e i n , w i t h o r w i t ho ut

i n t e r es t , t he g r o p i ng q ue s t f o r a new w ay o f l i f e i s t he

o n l y t h i ng t ha t r em a i ns r ea l l y ex c i t i ng . A es t he t i c and

o t her d i s c i p l i nes h av e p r ov ed g l a r i ng l y i nad eq u at e i n

t h i s r eg a r d and m er i t t he g r ea t es t i nd i f f e r enc e . W e

s ho u l d t he r e f o r e d e l i nea t e s o m e p r o v i s i o na l t e r r a i ns

o f o b s e r v a t i o n , i nc l ud i ng t he o b s e r v a t i o n o f c e r t a i n

p r o c es s es o f c hanc e and p r ed i c t ab i l i t y i n t h e s t r ee t s .

T he w o r d p s yc ho g eo g r ap hy , s ug g es t ed b y an i l l i t e r a t e

Kab y l e as a g ener a l t e r m f o r t he p heno m en a a f ew o f us

w er e i nv es t i g a t i ng a r o und t he s um m er o f 1 9 5 3 , i s no t t o o

i nap p r o p r i a t e . I t i s no t i nc o ns i s t en t w i t h t he m at e r i a l i s t

p e r s p ec t i v e t ha t s ees l i f e and t ho ug ht as c o nd i t i o ned

b y o b j ec t i v e na t u r e . G eo g r ap hy , f o r ex am p l e , d ea l s w i t h

t he d e t e r m i nant ac t i o n o f g ener a l na t u r a l f o r c es , s uc h as

s o i l c o m p o s i t i o n o r c l i m at i c c o nd i t i o ns , o n t he ec o no m i c

s t r uc t u r es o f a s o c i e t y , and t hus o n t he c o r r es p o nd i ng

c o nc ep t i o n t ha t s uc h a s o c i e t y c a n hav e o f t he w o r l d .

Ps yc ho g eo g r ap hy s e t s f o r i t s e l f t he s t ud y o f t he p r ec i s e

l aw s and t he

guy debord critique of urban geography


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30

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 es e r t i s m o no t he i s t i c . I s i t

i l l o g i c a l o r d ev o i d o f i n t e r es t t o

o b s er v e t ha t t he d i s t r i c t i n Pa r i s

b e t w een P l ac e d e l a C o nt r es c a r p e

and R ue d e l A r b a l t e c o nd uc es

r a t he r t o a t he i s m , t o o b l i v i o n and

t o t he d i s o r i en t a t i o n o f hab i t ua l

r e f l ex es ? H i s t o r i c a l c o nd i t i o ns

d et e r m i ne w hat i s c o ns i d e r ed

us e f u l . B a r o n H aus s m ann s u r b an

r enew a l o f Pa r i s und er t he s ec o nd

e f f ec t s o f t he g eo g r ap h i c a l

env i r o nm ent , w het he r c o ns c i o us l y

o r g an i z ed o r no t , o n t he em o t i o ns

and b ehav i o r o f i nd i v i d ua l s .

T he c ha r m i ng l y v ag ue ad j ec t i v e

p s yc ho g eo g r ap h i c a l c an b e ap p l i ed

t o t he f i nd i ng s a r r i v ed a t b y t h i s

t yp e o f i nv es t i g a t i o n , t o t he i r

i n f l uenc e o n hum an f ee l i ng s , and

m o r e g ener a l l y t o any s i t ua t i o n o r

c o nd uc t t ha t s eem s t o r e f l ec t t he

s am e s p i r i t o f d i s c o v er y .



31/88

31

E m p i r e , f o r ex am p l e , w as m o t i v a t ed b y t he d es i r e t o o p en

up b r o ad t ho r o ug h f a r es enab l i ng t he r ap i d c i r c u l a t i o n

o f t r o o p s and t he us e o f a r t i l l e r y ag a i ns t i n s u r r ec t i o ns .

B u t f r o m any s t and p o i n t o t he r t han t ha t o f f ac i l i t a t i n g

p o l i c e c o nt r o l , H aus s m ann s Pa r i s i s a c i t y b u i l t b y an

i d i o t , f u l l o f s o und and f u r y , s i g n i f y i ng no t h i ng . P r es en t -

d ay u r b an i s m s m a i n p r o b l em i s ens u r i ng t he s m o o t h

c i r c u l a t i o n o f a r ap i d l y i nc r eas i ng num b er o f m o t o r

v eh i c l es .

A f u t u r e u r b an i s m m ay w e l l ap p l y i t s e l f t o no l e s s

u t i l i t a r i an p r o j ec t s , b u t i n t he r a t he r d i f f e r en t c o nt ex t o f

p s yc ho g eo g r ap h i c a l p o s s i b i l i t i e s . T he p r es en t ab und anc e

o f p r i v a t e au t o m o b i l e s i s o ne o f t he m o s t as t o n i s h i ng

s uc c es s es o f t he c o ns t an t p r o p ag and a b y w h i c h c ap i t a l i s t

p r o d uc t i o n p e r s uad es t he m as s es t ha t c a r o w ner s h i p i so ne o f t he p r i v i l eg es o u r s o c i e t y r es e r v es f o r i t s m o s t

p r i v i l eg ed m em b er s . B u t ana r c h i c a l p r o g r es s o f t en end s

up c o nt r ad i c t i ng i t s e l f , a s w hen w e s av o r t he s p ec t ac l e o f

a p o l i c e c h i e f i s s u i ng a f i l m ed ap p ea l u r g i ng Pa r i s i an c a r

o w ner s t o us e p ub l i c t r ans p o r t a t i o n .



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32

W e k now w i t h w hat b l i nd f u r y s o m any unp r i v i l e g ed

p eo p l e a r e r ead y t o d e f end t he i r m ed i o c r e ad v ant ag es .

S uc h p a t he t i c i l l u s i o ns o f p r i v i l eg e a r e l i nk ed t o a g ener a l

i d ea o f hap p i nes s p r ev a l en t am o ng t he b o ur g eo i s i e

and m a i n t a i ne d b y a s ys t em o f p ub l i c i t y t ha t i nc l ud es

M a l r aux s aes t he t i c s a s w e l l a s C o c a- C o l a ad s an i d ea

o f hap p i nes s w h o s e c r i s i s m us t b e p r o vo k ed o n ev e r y

o c c as i o n b y ev e r y m eans .

T he f i r s t o f t hes e m eans i s und o u b t ed l y t he s ys t em at i c

p r o v o c at i v e d i s s em i na t i o n o f a ho s t o f p r o p o s a l s t end i n g

t o t u r n t he w ho l e o f l i f e i n t o an ex c i t i ng g am e , c o m b i ned

w i t h t he c o ns t an t d ep r ec i a t i o n o f a l l c u r r en t d i v e r s i o n s

( t o t he ex t en t , o f c o u r s e , t ha t t hes e l a t t e r c anno t b e

[d i v e r t ed ] t o s e r v e i n c o ns t r uc t i o ns o f m o r e i n t e r es t i ng

am b i anc es ) . T he g r ea t es t d i f f i c u l t y i n s uc h an und er t ak i ng

i s t o c o nv ey t h r o ug h t hes e ap p ar en t l y ex t r av ag ant

p r o p o s a l s a s u f f i c i en t d eg r ee o f s e r i o us s ed uc t i o n .



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33

To ac c o m p l i s h t h i s w e c an env i s ag e an ad r o i t u s e

o f c u r r en t l y p o p u l a r m eans o f c o m m un i c a t i o n . B u t

a d i s r up t i v e s o r t o f ab s t en t i o n , o r d em o ns t r a t i o ns

d es i g ned t o r ad i c a l l y f r us t r a t e t he f ans o f t hes e m ea ns

o f c o m m un i c a t i o n , c an a l s o p r o m o t e a t l i t t l e ex p ens e an

a t m o s p her e o f uneas i n es s ex t r em e l y f av o r ab l e f o r t he

i n t r o d uc t i o n o f a f ew new c o nc ep t i o ns o f p l eas u r e .

T he i d ea t ha t t he c r ea t i o n o f a c ho s en em o t i o na l s i t ua t i o n

d ep end s o n l y o n t he t ho r o ug h und er s t and i ng and

c a l c u l a t ed ap p l i c a t i o n o f a c e r t a i n num b er o f c o nc r e t e

t ec hn i q ues i n s p i r ed t h i s s o m ew hat t o ng ue- i n - c heek

Ps yc ho g eo g r ap h i c a l G am e o f t he W eek , p ub l i s hed i n

Po t l a t c h # 1 :

I n a c c o rda n c e w i t h wh a t yo u a r e se e k i n g , ch o o se a

c o u n t r y, a l a r ge o r sma l l c i t y , a bu sy o r qu i e t s t r e e t . B u i l d

a h o u se . Fu r n i sh i t . Use de c o r a t i o n s a n d su r r o u n d i n gs

t o t h e be s t a dv a n t a ge . Ch o o se t h e se a so n a n d t h e t i me

o f da y. B r i n g t o ge t h e r t h e mo s t s u i t a b l e pe o p l e , w i t h

a ppr o pr i a t e r e c o r ds a n d d r i n k s . T h e l i gh t i n g a n d t h ec o n ve r sa t i o n sh o u l d o bv i o u s l y be su i t e d t o t h e o c c a s i o n ,

a s sh o u l d be t h e we a t h e r o r yo u r me mo r i e s . I f t h e r e h a s

be 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 su l t sh o u l d p r o v e

s a t i s f y i ng .



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34 guy debord critique of urban geography


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35guy debord critique of urban geography


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36

W e need t o f l o o d t he m ar k e t ev en i f f o r

t he m o m ent m er e l y t he i n t e l l ec t ua l m ar k e t

w i t h a m as s o f d es i r es w ho s e f u l f i l l m ent

i s no t b eyo nd t he c ap ac i t y o f hum an i t y s

p r es en t m eans o f ac t i o n o n t he m at e r i a l

w o r l d , b u t o n l y b eyo nd t he c ap ac i t y o f t he

o l d s o c i a l o r g an i z a t i o n . I t i s t hus no t w i t ho ut

p o l i t i c a l i n t e r es t t o p ub l i c l y c o unt e r p o i s e

s uc h d es i r es t o t he e l em ent a r y d es i r es t ha t

a r e end l es s l y r ehas hed b y t he f i l m i nd us t r y

and i n p s yc ho l o g i c a l no v e l s l i k e t ho s e o f

t ha t o l d hac k M aur i ac . ( A s M ar x ex p l a i ned

t o p o o r P r o ud ho n , I n a s o c i e t y b as ed o n

p o v er t y, t he p o o r es t p r o d uc t s a r e i nev i t ab l y

c o ns um ed b y t he g r ea t es t num b er . )



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37

T he r ev o l u t i o na r y t r ans f o r m at i o n o f t he

w o r l d , o f a l l a s p ec t s o f t he w o r l d , w i l lc o n f i r m a l l t he d r eam s o f ab und an c e . T he

s ud d en c hang e o f am b i anc e i n a s t r ee t

w i t h i n t he s p ac e o f a f ew m et e r s ; t he

ev i d ent d i v i s i o n o f a c i t y i n t o z o nes o f

d i s t i nc t p s yc h i c a t m o s p her es ; t he p a t h

o f l eas t r es i s t anc e t ha t i s au t o m at i c a l l y

f o l l o w ed i n a i m l es s s t r o l l s ( and w h i c h

has no r e l a t i o n t o t he p hys i c a l c o n t o ur o f

t he t e r r a i n ) ; t he ap p ea l i ng o r r ep e l l i ng

c har ac t e r o f c e r t a i n p l ac es t hes e

p heno m ena a l l s eem t o b e neg l ec t ed .

I n any c as e t hey a r e nev er env i s ag ed

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

unc o v er ed b y c a r e f u l ana l ys i s and t u r ned

t o ac c o unt . Peo p l e a r e q u i t e aw ar e t ha t

s o m e ne i g hb o r ho o d s a r e g l o o m y and

o t her s p l eas an t . B u t t hey g ener a l l y

s i m p l y as s um e t ha t e l eg ant s t r ee t s c aus e

a f ee l i ng o f s a t i s f ac t i o n and t ha t p o o r

s t r ee t s a r e d ep r es s i ng , and l e t i t g o

a t t ha t . I n f ac t , t he v a r i e t y o f p o s s i b l e

c o m b i na t i o ns o f am b i enc es , ana l o g o us

t o t he b l end i ng o f p u r e c hem i c a l s i n an

i n f i n i t e num b er o f m i x t u r es , g i v es r i s e t of ee l i ng s as d i f f e r en t i a t ed an d c o m p l ex as

any o t he r f o r m o f s p ec t ac l e c an ev o k e .

T he s l i g h t es t d em ys t i f i ed i nv es t i g a t i o n

r ev ea l s t ha t t he q ua l i t a t i v e l y o r

q uant i t a t i v e l y d i f f e r en t i n f l uenc es

o f d i v e r s e u r b an d ec o r s c anno t b e

d et e r m i ned s o l e l y o n t he b as i s o f t he

h i s t o r i c a l p e r i o d o r a r c h i t ec t u r a l s t y l e ,

m uc h l e s s o n t he b as i s o f ho us i ng

c o nd i t i o ns .



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39guy debord critique of urban geography


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40

Th e re s e a rch t h a t w e a re t h u s l e d t o u n de r t a ke o n t h e

a r ra n ge me n t o f t h e e le me n t s o f t h e u rba n s e t t in g , i n c lo s e

re la t io n w i t h t h e s e n s a t io n s t h e y p ro vo ke , e n t a i l s bo l d

h y po t h e s e s t h a t mu s t be co n s t a n t ly co r re c t e d in t h e l igh t o f

e x pe r ie n ce , by c r i t iqu e a n d s e l f - c r i t iqu e .

C e r t a in o f D e C h i r i co s pa in t in gs , w h ich w e re c le a r ly i n s p i re d

by a rch i t e c t u ra l l y o r ig in a t e d s e n s a t io n s , e x e r t i n t u rn a n

e f fe c t o n t h e i r o b je c t i ve ba s e t o t h e po in t o f t r a n s fo rmin g

i t : t h e y t e n d t h e ms e lve s t o be co me b lu e pr in t s o r mo de l s .

D i s qu ie t in g n e igh bo rh o o ds o f a rca de s co u ld o n e da y ca r ry o n

a n d fu l f i l l t h e a l l u re o f t h e s e w o rks .

I s c a r c e l y k no w o f any t h i ng b u t t ho s e t w o ha r b o r s a t d us k

p a i n t ed b y C l aud e L o r r a i n w h i c h a r e i n t he L o uv r e and

w h i c h j ux t ap o s e ex t r em e l y d i s s i m i l a r u r b an am b i anc es

t ha t c an r i v a l i n b eaut y t he Pa r i s M e t r o m ap s . I am no t ,

o f c o u r s e , t a l k i ng ab o ut m er e p hys i c a l b eau t y t he new

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 on b u t s i m p l y

ab o ut t he p a r t i c u l a r l y m o v i ng p r es en t a t i o n , i n b o t h c as es ,

o f a s um o f t p o s s i b i l i t i e s .



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41

A l o ng w i t h v a r i o us m o r e d i f f i c u l t m eans o f i n t e r v en t i o n , a

r eno v at ed c a r t o g r ap hy s eem s ap p r o p r i a t e f o r i m m ed i a t e

u t i l i z a t i o n . T he p r o d uc t i o n o f p s yc ho g eo g r ap h i c a l m ap s ,

o r ev en t he i n t r o d uc t i o n o f a l t e r a t i o ns s uc h as m o r e

o r l e s s a r b i t r a r i l y t r ans p o s i ng m ap s o f t w o d i f f e r en t

r eg i o ns , c an c o nt r i b u t e t o c l a r i f y i ng c e r t a i n w and er i ng s

t ha t ex p r es s no t s ub o r d i na t i o n t o r and o m nes s b u t

t o t a l i n s ub o r d i na t i o n t o hab i t ua l i n f l uenc es ( i n f l uenc es

g ener a l l y c a t eg o r i z ed as t o u r i s m , t ha t p o p u l a r d r ug

as r ep ug nant as s p o r t s o r b uy i ng o n c r ed i t ) . A f r i end

r ec ent l y t o l d m e t ha t he had j u s t w and er ed t h r o ug h

t he H ar z r eg i o n o f G er m any w h i l e b l i nd l y f o l l o w i ng t he

d i r ec t i o ns o f a m ap o f L o nd o n . T h i s s o r t o f g am e i s

o b v i o us l y o n l y a f eeb l e b eg i n n i ng i n c o m p ar i s o n t o t he

c o m p l e t e c r ea t i o n o f a r c h i t ec t u r e and u r b an i s m t ha t w i l l

s o m ed ay b e w i t h i n t he p o w er o f ev e r yo ne .



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42

M eanw h i l e w e c an d i s t i ng u i s h s ev e r a l s t ag es o f

p a r t i a l , l e s s d i f f i c u l t p r o j ec t s , b eg i nn i ng w i t h t he m er e

d i s p l ac em ent o f e l em e nt s o f d ec o r a t i o n f r o m t he l o c a t i o ns

w her e w e a r e us ed t o s ee i ng t hem . F o r ex am p l e , i n t he

p r ec ed i ng i s s ue o f t h i s j o u r na l [L es L v r es N ues ] M ar c e l

M ar i n p r o p o s ed t ha t w he n g l o b a l r es o ur c es hav e c eas ed

t o b e s q uand er ed o n t he i r r a t i o na l en t e r p r i s es t ha t a r e

i m p o s ed o n us t o d ay , a l l t he eq ues t r i an s t a t ues o f a l l

t he c i t i e s o f t he w o r l d b e as s em b l ed i n a s i ng l e d es e r t .

T h i s w o u l d o f f e r t o t he p as s e r s b y t he f u t u r e b e l o ng s t o

t hem t he s p ec t ac l e o f a n a r t i f i c i a l c av a l r y c ha r g e w h i c h

c o u l d ev en b e d ed i c a t ed t o t he m em o r y o f t he g r ea t es t

m as s ac r es o f h i s t o r y, f r o m Tam er l ane t o R i d g w ay. I t w o u l d

a l s o r es p o nd t o o ne o f t he m a i n d em and s o f t he p r es e n t

g ener a t i o n : ed uc a t i v e v a l ue .



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I n f ac t , no t h i ng r ea l l y new c an b e ex p ec t ed

unt i l t he m as s es i n ac t i o n aw ak en t o t he

c o nd i t i o ns t ha t a r e i m p o s ed o n t hem i n

a l l d o m a i ns o f l i f e , and t o t he p r ac t i c a l

m eans o f c hang i ng t hem . T he i m ag i na r y

i s t ha t w h i c h t end s t o b ec o m e r ea l , w r o t e

an au t ho r w ho s e na m e , o n ac c o unt o f

h i s no t o r i o us i n t e l l ec t ua l d eg r ad at i o n ,

I hav e s i nc e f o r g o t t en .T he i nv o l un t a r y

r es t r i c t i v enes s o f s uc h a s t a t em ent c o u l d

s e r v e as a t o uc hs t o ne ex p o s i ng v a r i o us

f a r c i c a l l i t e r a r y r ev o l u t i o ns : t ha t w h i c h

t end s t o r em a i n un r ea l i s em p t y b ab b l e .

L i f e , f o r w h i c h w e a r e r es p o ns i b l e ,

p r es en t s p o w er f u l m o t i v es f o r

d i s c o ur ag em ent and i nnum er ab l e m o r e o r

l e s s v u l g a r d i v e r s i o ns and c o m p ens a t i o ns .

A yea r d o es n t g o b y w hen p eo p l e w e

l o v ed hav en t s uc c um b ed , f o r l ac k o f

hav i ng c l ea r l y g r as p ed t he p r es en tp o s s i b i l i t i e s , t o s o m e g l a r i ng c ap i t u l a t i o n .

B ut t he enem y t c am p o b j ec t i v e l y

c o nd em ns p eo p l e t o i m b ec i l i t y and a l r ead y

num b er s m i l l i o ns o f i m b ec i l e s ; t he ad d i t i o n

o f a f ew m o r e m ak es no d i f f e r enc e .



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T he p r i m ar y m o r a l d e f i c i enc y r em a i ns

i nd u l g enc e , i n a l l i t s f o r m s .



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t h e o r y

o f t h ed r i v e

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


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48 GUY DEBORD - THEORY OF TH E DRIVE


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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 ud y Pa r i s e t l ag g l o m r a t i o n p a r i s i enne

( B i b l i o t hq ue d e S o c i o l o g i e C o nt em p o r a i ne , P . U. F. , 1 9 5 2 )

C ho m b ar t d e L auw e no t es t ha t an u r b an ne i g hb o r ho o d

i s d e t e r m i ned no t o n l y b y g eo g r ap h i c a l and ec o no m i c

f ac t o r s , b u t a l s o t he i m ag e t ha t i t s i nhab i t an t s and

t ho s e o f o t he r b y g eo g r ap h i c a l and ec o no m i c f ac t o r s ,

b u t a l s o b y t he i m ag e t ha t i t s i nhab i t a n t s and t ho s e o f

o t he r ne i g hb o r h o o d s hav e o f i t .

b y g eo g r ap h i c a l and ec o no m i c f ac t o r s , b u t a l s o b yt he i m ag e t ha t i t s i nhab i t an t s and t ho s e o f o t he r

ne i g hb o r ho o d s ne i g hb o r ho o d s hav e o f i t . I n t he s am e

w o r k , i n o r d er t o i l l u s t r a t e t he na r r o w nes s o f t he

r ea l Pa r i s i n w h i c h eac h i nd i v i d ua l l i v es . . . w i t h i n a

g eo g r ap h i c a l a r ea w ho s e r ad i us i s ex t r em e l y s m a l l , he

d i ag r am s a l l t he m o v em ent s m ad e i n t he s p ac e o f o ne

year b y a s t ud ent l i v i ng i n t he 1 6 t h A r r o nd i s s em en t . S uc h

d at a ex am p l es o f a m o d er n p o et r y c ap ab l e o f p r o v o k i ng

s har p em o t i o na l r eac t i o ns ( i n t h i s p a r t i c u l a r c as e , o u t r ag e

at t he f ac t t ha t anyo ne s l i f e c an b e s o p a t he t i c a l l y

l i m i t ed ) o r ev en B ur g es s s t heo r y o f C h i c ag o s s o c i a l

ac t i v i t i e s a s b e i ng d i s t r i b u t ed i n d i s t i nc t c o nc ent r i c

z o nes , w i l l und o ub t ed l y p r o v e us e f u l i n d ev e l o p i ng

d r i v es . I f c hanc e p l ays an i m p o r t an t r o l e i n d r i v es

t h i s i s b ec aus e t he m et ho d o l o g y o f p s yc ho g eo g r ap h i c a l

o b s e r v a t i o n i s s t i l l i n i t s i n f anc y. B u t t he ac t i o n o f c hanc e

i s na t u r a l l y c o ns e r v a t i v e and i n a new s e t t i ng t end s t o

r ed uc e ev e r y t h i ng t o hab i t o r t o an a l t e r na t i o n b e t w een

a l i m i t ed num b er o f v a r i an t s . P r o g r es s m eans b r eak i ng

t h r o ug h f i e l d s w her e c hanc e ho l d s s w ay b y c r ea t i ng new

c o nd i t i o ns m o r e f av o r ab l e t o o u r p u r p o -

GUY DEBORD - THEORY OF TH E DRIVE


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50

s es . W e c an s ay , t hen , t ha t t he r and o m nes s o f a d r i v e i s

f und am ent a l l y d i f f e r en t f r o m t ha t o f t he s t r o l l , b u t a l s o t ha t t he f i r s t

p s yc ho g eo g r ap h i c a l a t t r ac t i o ns d i s c o v er ed b y d r i v e r s m ay t end t o f i x a t e

t hem a r o und new hab i t ua l ax es , t o w h i c h t hey w i l l c o ns t an t l y b e d r aw n

b ac k . A n i n s u f f i c i en t aw ar enes s o f t he l i m i t a t i o ns o f c hanc e , and o f i t s

i nev i t ab l y r eac t i o na r y e f f ec t s , c o nd em ned t o a d i s m a l f a i l u r e t he f am o us

a i m l es s w and er i ng a t t em p t ed i n 1 9 2 3 b y f o u r s u r r ea l i s t s b eg i n n i ng f r o m

a t o w n c ho s en b y l o t . Wand er i ng i n o p en c o unt r y i s na t u r a l l y d ep r es s i ng ,

and t he i n t e r v en t i o ns o f c han c e a r e p o o r e r t he r e t han anyw her e e l s e . B u t

t h i s m i nd l es s nes s i s p us hed m uc h f u r t he r b y a c e r t a i n P i e r r e Vend r yes

( i n M d i um , M ay 1 9 5 4 ) , w ho t h i n k s he c an r e l a t e t h i s anec d o t e t o v a r i o us

p r o b ab i l i t y ex p er i m ent s , o n t he g r o und t ha t t hey a l l s up p o s ed l y i nv o l v e



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t he s am e s o r t o f an t i d e t e r m i n i s t l i b e r a t i o n . O ne c an

d r i v e a l o ne , b u t a l l i nd i c a t i o n s a r e t ha t t he m o s t

f r u i t f u l num er i c a l a r r ang em ent c o ns i s t s o f s ev e r a l

s m a l l g r o up s o f t w o o r t h r ee p eo p l e w ho hav e r eac hedt he s am e l ev e l o f aw ar enes s , s i nc e c r o s s - c hec k i ng

t hes e d i f f e r en t g r o up s i m p r es s i o ns m ak es i t p o s s i b l e

t o a r r i v e a t m o r e o b j ec t i v e c o nc l us i o ns .



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53GUY DEBORD - THEORY OF TH E DRIVE


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I t i s p r e f e r ab l e f o r t he c o m p o s i t i o n o f t hes e g r o up s

t o c hang e f r o m o ne d r i v e t o ano t he r . W i t h m o re

t han f o u r o r f i v e p a r t i c i p an t s , t he s p ec i f i c a l l y d r i v e

c har ac t e r r ap i d l y d i m i n i s hes , an d i n any c as e i t i s

i m p o s s i b l e f o r t he r e t o b e m o r e t han t en o r t w e l v e

p eo p l e w i t ho ut t he d r i v e f r ag m ent i n g i n t o s ev e r a l

s i m u l t aneo us d r i v es .

T he p r ac t i c e o f s uc h s ub d i v i s i o n i s i n f ac t o f g r ea t

i n t e r es t , b u t t he d i f f i c u l t i e s i t en t a i l s hav e s o f a r

p r ev ent ed i t f r o m b e i ng o r g an i z ed o n a s u f f i c i en t

s c a l e .

T he av e r ag e d u r a t i o n o f a d r i v e i s o ne d ay,

c o ns i d e r ed as t he t i m e b e t w een t w o p er i o d s o f s l eep .

T he s t a r t i ng and end i ng t i m e s hav e no nec es s a r y

r e l a t i o n t o t he s o l a r d ay , b u t i t s ho u l d b e no t ed t ha t

t he l a s t ho ur s o f t he n i g h t a r e g ener a l l y uns u i t ab l e f o r

d r i v es .



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B ut t h i s d u r a t i o n i s m er e l y a s t a t i s t i c a l av e r ag e . F o r

o ne t h i ng , a d r i v e r a r e l y o c c ur s i n i t s p u r e f o r m : i t

i s d i f f i c u l t f o r t he p a r t i c i p an t s t o av o i d s e t t i ng as i d e

an ho ur o r t w o a t t he b eg i nn i ng o r end o f t he d ay f o r

t ak i ng c a r e o f b ana l t a s k s ; an d t o w ar d t he end o f t he

d ay f a t i g ue t end s t o enc o ur ag e s uc h an ab and o nm ent .

B u t m o r e i m p o r t an t l y , a d r i v e o f t en t ak es p l ac e

w i t h i n a d e l i b e r a t e l y l i m i t ed p e r i o d o f a f ew ho ur s ,

o r ev en f o r t u i t o us l y d u r i ng f a i r l y b r i e f m o m ent s ; o r

i t m ay l a s t f o r s ev e r a l d ays w i t ho ut i n t e r r up t i o n . I n

s p i t e o f t he c es s a t i o ns i m p o s ed b y t he need f o r s l ee p ,

c e r t a i n d r i v es o f a s u f f i c i en t i n t ens i t y hav e b een

s us t a i ned f o r t h r ee o r f o u r d ays , o r ev en l o ng er . I t

i s t r ue t ha t i n t he c as e o f a s e r i e s o f d r i v es o ve r a

r a t he r l o ng 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 s s i b l e t o

d et e r m i ne p r ec i s e l y w he n t he s t a t e o f m i nd p ec u l i a r t oo ne d r i v e g i v es w ay t o t ha t o f ano t he r. O ne s eq u enc e

o f d r i v es w as p u r s ued w i t ho ut no t ab l e i n t e r r up t i o n

f o r a r o und t w o m o nt hs .



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57

S uc h an ex p er i enc e g i v es r i s e

t o new o b j ec t i v e c o nd i t i o ns o f

b ehav i o r t ha t b r i ng ab o ut t he

d i s ap p ear anc e o f a g o o d num b er

o f t he o l d o nes . T he i n f l uenc e o f

w eat he r o n d r i v es , a l t ho ug h r ea l ,

i s a s i g n i f i c an t f ac t o r o n l y i n t he

c as e o f p r o l o ng ed r a i ns , w h i c h

m ak e t hem v i r t ua l l y i m p o s s i b l e .

T he s p a t i a l f i e l d o f a d r i v e m ay

b e p r ec i s e l y d e l i m i t ed o r v ag ue ,

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

t o s t ud y a t e r r a i n o r t o em o t i o na l l y

d i s o r i en t o nes e l f . I t s ho u l d no t b e

f o r g o t t en t ha t t hes e t w o as p ec t s

o f d r i v es o v e r l ap i n s o m any w ays

t ha t i t i s i m p o s s i b l e t o i s o l a t e o ne

o f t hem i n a p u r e s t a t e .



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B ut t he us e o f t ax i s , f o r ex am p l e , c an p r o v i d e a c l ea r

eno ug h d i v i d i n g l i ne : I f i n t he c o ur s e o f a d r i v e o ne

t ak es a t ax i , e i t he r t o g e t t o a s p ec i f i c d es t i na t i o n o r

s i m p l y t o m o v e , s ay , t w ent y m i nu t es t o t he w es t , o n e i s

c o nc er ned p r i m ar i l y w i t h a p e r s o na l t r i p o u t s i d e o ne s

us ua l s u r r o und i ng s . I f , o n t he o t he r hand , o ne s t i c k s t o

t he d i r ec t ex p l o r a t i o n o f a p a r t i c u l a r t e r r a i n , o ne i s c o n-

c ent r a t i ng p r i m ar i l y o n r es ea r c h f o r a p s yc ho g eo g r ap h i c a l

u r b a n i s m .



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I n ev e r y c as e t he s p a t i a l f i e l d d ep en d s f i r s t o f a l l o n

t he p o i n t o f d ep ar t u r e t he r es i d enc e o f t he s o l o

d r i v e r o r t he m eet i ng p l ac e s e l ec t ed b y a g r o up . T he

m ax i m um a r ea o f t h i s s p a t i a l f i e l d d o es n o t ex t end

b eyo nd t he en t i r e t y o f a l a r g e c i t y and i t s s ub ur b s . A t

i t s m i n i m um i t c an b e l i m i t ed t o a s m a l l s e l f - c o nt a i ned

am b i anc e : a s i ng l e ne i g hb o r ho o d o r ev en a s i ng l e

b l o c k o f ho us es i f i t s i n t e r es t i ng eno ug h ( t h e ex t r em e

c as e b e i ng a s t a t i c - d r i v e o f an en t i r e d ay w i t h i n t he

S a i n t - L az a r e t r a i n s t a t i o n) .



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61

T he ex p l o r a t i o n o f a f i x ed s p a t i a l f i e l d en t a i l s e s t ab l i s h i n g

b as es and c a l c u l a t i ng d i r ec t i o ns o f p enet r a t i o n . I t i s he r e

t ha t t he s t ud y o f m ap s c o m es i n o r d i na r y o nes as w e l l a s

ec o l o g i c a l and p s yc ho g eo g r ap h i c a l o nes a l o ng w i t h t he i r

c o r r ec t i o n and i m p r o v em ent . I t s ho u l d g o w i t ho ut s ay i ng t ha t

w e a r e no t a t a l l i n t e r es t ed i n any m e r e ex o t i c i s m t ha t m ay

ar i s e f r o m t he f ac t t ha t o ne i s ex p l o r i ng a ne i g hb o r h o o d f o r

t he f i r s t t i m e . B es i d es i t s un i m p o r t anc e , t h i s a s p ec t o f t he

p r o b l em i s c o m p l e t e l y s ub j e c t i v e and s o o n f ad es aw ay .



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62

I n t he p o s s i b l e r end ez v o us , o n t he o t he r hand , t h e

e l em ent o f ex p l o r a t i o n i s m i n i m a l i n c o m p ar i s o n w i t h

t ha t o f b ehav i o r a l d i s o r i en t a t i o n . T he s ub j ec t i s i nv i t ed

t o c o m e a l o ne t o a c e r t a i n p l ac e a t a s p ec i f i ed t i m e . H e

i s f r eed f r o m t he b o t he r s o m e o b l i g a t i o ns o f t he o r d i na r y

r end ez v o us s i nc e t he r e i s no o ne t o w a i t f o r. B u t s i nc e

t h i s p o s s i b l e r end ez v o us has b r o ug ht h i m w i t ho ut

w ar n i ng t o a p l ac e he m ay o r m ay no t k no w, he o b s e r v es

t he s u r r o und i ng s . I t m ay b e t ha t t he s am e s p o t has b een

s p ec i f i ed f o r a p o s s i b l e r end ez v o us f o r s o m eo ne e l s e

w ho s e i d en t i t y he h as no w ay o f k no w i ng .

S i nc e he m ay nev er ev en have s een t he o t he r p e r s o n

b e f o r e , he w i l l b e enc o ur ag ed t o s t a r t up c o nv er s a t i o ns

w i t h v a r i o us p as s e r s b y. H e m ay m eet no o n e , o r he m ay

ev en b y c hanc et m eet t he p e r s o n w ho has a r r ang ed t h e

p o s s i b l e r end ez v o us . I n any c as e , p a r t i c u l a r l y i f t he t i m e

and p l ac e hav e b een w e l l c ho s en , h i s u s e o f t i m e w i l l t ak e

an unex p ec t ed t u r n . H e m ay ev en t e l ep ho ne s o m eo ne e l s e

w ho d o es n t k no w w her e t he f i r s t p o s s i b l e r end ez v o us

has t ak en h i m , i n o r d er t o as k f o r ano t he r o ne t o b e

s p ec i f i ed . O ne c an s ee t he v i r t ua l l y un l i m i t ed r es o ur c es o f

t h i s p as t i m e .



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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 rs 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 .



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64

O ur l o o s e l i f e s t y l e and ev en c e r t a i n am us em ent s

c o ns i d e r ed d ub i o us t ha t hav e a l w ays b een en j o yed

am o ng o ur en t o ur ag e s l i p p i ng b y n i g h t i n t o ho us es

und er g o i ng d em o l i t i o n , h i t c hh i k i ng no ns t o p and w i t ho ut

d es t i na t i o n t h r o ug h Pa r i s d u r i n g a t r ans p o r t a t i o n s t r i k e

i n t he nam e o f ad d i ng t o t he c o n f us i o n , w and er i ng i n

s ub t e r r anean c a t ac o m b s f o r b i d d en t o t he p ub l i c , e t c .

ar e ex p r es s i o ns o f a m o r e g ener a l s ens i b i l i t y w h i c h i s n o

d i f f e r en t f r o m t ha t o f t he d r i v e . W r i t t en d es c r i p t i o nsc an b e no m o r e t han p as s w o r d s t o t h i s g r ea t g am e .



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65

T he l e s s o ns d r aw n f r o m d r i v es enab l e us t o d r aw

up t he f i r s t s u r v eys o f t he p s yc ho g eo g r ap h i c a l

a r t i c u l a t i o ns o f a m o d er n c i t y . B eyo nd t he d i s c o v er y

o f un i t i e s o f am b i anc e , o f t he i r m a i n c o m p o nent s

and t he i r s p a t i a l l o c a l i z a t i o n , o ne c o m es t o p e r c e i v e

t he i r p r i nc i p a l ax es o f p as s ag e , t he i r ex i t s and t he i r

d e f ens es . O ne a r r i v es a t t he c en t r a l hyp o t hes i s o f

t he ex i s t enc e o f p s yc ho g eo g r ap h i c a l p i v o t a l p o i n t s .

O ne m eas u r es t he d i s t anc es t ha t ac t ua l l y s ep ar a t e

t w o r eg i o ns o f a c i t y , d i s t anc es t ha t m ay hav e l i t t l e

r e l a t i o n w i t h t he p hys i c a l d i s t anc e b e t w een t hem .

W i t h t he a i d o f o l d m ap s , ae r i a l p ho t o g r ap hs an d

ex p er i m ent a l d r i v es , o ne c a n d r aw up h i t he r t o

l ac k i ng m ap s o f i n f l uenc es , m ap s w ho s e i nev i t ab l e

i m p r ec i s i o n a t t h i s ea r l y s t ag e i s no w o r s e t han t ha t

o f t he f i r s t nav i g a t i o na l c ha r t s . T he o n l y d i f f e r enc e i s

t ha t i t i s no l o ng er a m at t e r o f p r ec i s e l y d e l i nea t i ng

s t ab l e c o nt i nen t s , b u t o f c hang i ng a r c h i t ec t u r e and

u r b a n i s m .

To d ay t he d i f f e r en t un i t i e s o f a t m o s p her e an d o f

d w e l l i ng s a r e no t p r ec i s e l y m ar k ed o f f , b u t a r e

s u r r o und ed b y m o r e o r l e s s ex t end ed and i nd i s t i nc t

b o r d er i ng r eg i o ns . T he m o s t g ener a l c hang e t ha t

d r i v e ex p er i enc e l ead s t o p r o p o s i ng i s t he c o ns t an t

d i m i nu t i o n o f t hes e b o r d er r eg i o ns , up t o t he p o i n t o f

t he i r c o m p l e t e s up p r es s i o n .



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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 NF 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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T h i s Ps yc ho g eo g r ap h i c Des t i na t i o n K i t i s o f f e r ed b y

t he B ur eau o f U nk no w n Des t i na t i o ns as a p r o v o c at i o n

t o p o t en t i a l v o yag er s , an i nv i t a t i o n t o t ak e a d ay , g e t

o n a t r a i n , and g o s o m ep l ac e yo u k no w no t h i ng ab o ut .

T he B ur eau has g i v en aw ay o v er a hund r ed r a i l t r i p s t o

t he ad v ent u r o us , and no w ho p es t o ex p and o p er a t i o ns

b y g i v i ng t r av e l e r s t he m eans t o unk no w t he i r o w n

d es t i na t i o ns .

T h i s k i t o f f e r s a v a r i e t y o f m et ho d s o f unk no w i ng , s o m e

t ho ug ht s ab o ut w hy unk n o w, and a hand y f o l d ab l e

m i n i - no t eb o o k t o us e i n r ec o r d i ng yo ur ex p er i e nc e . F o r

t ho s e d ep a r t i ng f r o m t he B ur eau s b as e i n N ew Yo r k ,

t he r e s a p r e - p r i n t ed s e t o f d es t i na t i o n

c a r d s t o p l ay w i t h . F o r o t he r s , a b l ank s e t t o f i l l i n and

w o r k f r o m .



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T he m et ho 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 ne us i ng t h i s k i t i s i nv i t ed t o c o p y,

s ha r e , and ad a p t i t f r ee l y , and t o s end

w hat yo u f i nd b ac k t o t he B ur ea u t o c o n-

t r i b u t e t o t he o ng o i ng d o c um ent a t i o n o f

t he p r o j ec t .



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H o w t o U n k n o w

I t s i d ea l t o s t a r t f r o m a c en t r a l s t a t i o n

o r o ne t ha t has as m any l i nes as p o s s i b l e .

Yo ur g o a l i s t o as s i g n yo ur s e l f a d es t i na -

t i o n i n a w ay t ha t k eep s i t a s u r p r i s e . H e r e

a r e a f ew w ays yo u m i g ht g o ab o ut d o i ng

t ha t . ad j us t , r em i x , & i nv ent as yo u d es i r e .

A l l o f t hes e t ec hn i q ues w o r k b es t w hen

yo u t ak e t he res u l t s s e r i o us l y. W hat i f

yo ur d es t i na t i o n i s a p l ac e yo u v e b een

b e f o r e? S o m et i m es t he f am i l i a r i s t he m o s t

unk no w n . W hat i f yo u r e a f r a i d i t w i l l b e a

b o r i ng p l ac e? U nb o r e i t . L e t i t unb o r e yo u .

W hat i f yo u d r a t he r g o t o t he nex t s t o p

o n t he l i ne , o r t he l a s t , o r s o m ep l ac e yo u

hav e a yen f o r ? Yo u c an g o o n an o r d i na r y

ex c ur s i o n any t i m e t h i s i s yo ur c han c e t o

unknow.



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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 p

I f yo u r s t a t i o n o f f e r s f r ee p r i n t ed t i m e-

t ab l es ( as t ho s e i n new yo r k d o ) , g a t he r

t hem a l l up , s hu f f l e , an d p i c k o ne r an -

d o m l y . Dec i d e i n ad v anc e ho w t o c ho o s e

am o ng t he d es t i na t i o ns o n t he t i m et ab l e

( g o a l l t he w ay t o t he end o f t h e l i ne , o r

ha l f w ay t he r e , o r r o l l a d i e f o r t he num b er

o f s t o p s yo u l l g o ) . W i t h s o m e ex t r a p r ep a-

r a t i o n t i m e , yo u c an g a t he r t he nam es o f

a l l t he d es t i na t i o ns t h a t t ak e o ne t o t h r ee

ho ur s o f t r av e l t i m e and w r i t e t hem o n t o

i nd ex c a r d s ( o r t he b l ank c a r d s i n t h i s k i t ) .

Yo u and yo ur f r i end s c an us e t he s e c a r d s

f o r v i r t ua l l y end l es s ad v ent u r es .



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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 ve 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 . A v 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 .



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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 ( V a 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 .



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77

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

I f t r a i n t r av e l i s b eyo nd yo ur m eans a t t he

m o m ent , o r d i na r y b us and s ub w ay t r i p s

o f f e r p l en t y o f unk no w n . A d d f e r r i e s i n t o

t he m i x i f yo u hav e t hem . S i m p l y p i c k t he

d es t i na t i o n yo u k no w l eas t ab o ut o r ad ap t

o ne o f t he o t he r m et ho d s ab o v e . O r s e t o u t

o n f o o t us i ng p s yc ho g eo g r ap h i c a l s ys t em s :

nav i g a t e o ne c i t y us i ng a m ap f r o m ano t he r,

d r aw a d i ag r am o r p i c t u r e o n a m ap an d t r y

t o w a l k i t , f o l l o w a p a r t i c u l a r c o l o r , g o i ng

f r o m r ed t o r ed t o r ed a l l a f t e r no o n



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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 t o t he s t a t i o n w i t h o ne o r m o r e f r i end s ,

ag r ee i ng t o t r av e l t o s ep ar a t e d es t i na -

t i o ns . H av e eac h p e r s o n c ho o s e a d es t i na -

t i o n t hey k no w no t h i ng ab o ut , t hen t r ad e

d es t i na t i o ns w i t h eac h o t he r , c r ea t i ng a

d o ub l e l aye r o f t he unk no w n . O r m ak e a

c ha i n w i t h yo ur f r i end s , p ay i ng f o r w ar d :

b uy a t i c k e t f o r o ne f r i end w ho w i l l t hen

b uy a t i c k e t f o r ano t he r, and s o o n .



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7 ) D e s t i n a t i o n P a r t y

G at her a l i s t o f a l l t he d es t i na t i o n s t he

r i g h t d i s t anc e aw ay. G a t he r t i m et ab l es f o r

a l l t ho s e d es t i na t i o ns ( as m any c o p i es o f

t he t i m et ab l es as yo u hav e d es t i na t i o ns ) .

G a t he r b l ank no t eb o o k s , o r m at e r i a l s t o

m ak e t hem f r o m r ec yc l ed p ap er . G a t he r

c a r d s f o r t he nam es o f d es t i na t i o ns . G a t h -

e r b i g env e l o p es . G et t o g et he r w i t h f r i end s

o v er p i z z a o r m ex i c an f o o d and f i l l an e n -

v e l o p e f o r eac h d es t i na t i o n . I nc l ud e a c a r d

w i t h t he d es t i na t i o n , a t i m et ab l e , a no t e -

b o o k . S ea l t he env e l o p es and d i s t r i b u t e

ho w ever yo u l i k e . F ee l f r ee t o ad ap t t h i s

ac c o r d i ng t o yo ur o w n i d eas and d es i r es .



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W h y U n k n o w ?



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A l l a r o und us i s a m ys t e r i o us l and s c ap e w h i c h O C C U PI E S

t he s am e s p a t i a l d i m e ns i o ns as t he o ne w e a r e i n t i m at e -

l y fam i l i a r w i t h . T he unk no w n i s ev e r yw her e i n t e r t w i ned

w i t h t he k no w n ; t o s ee i t , w e o n l y need b r eak o u r o w n

hab i t s . T ake a w r o ng t u r n i ng o ne d ay.

N av i g a t e b y m i s m at c hed m ap s . G et o n a t r a i n w i t ho ut

k no w i ng w her e yo u l l end up . Ps yc ho g eo g r ap hy i s t he a r t

o f m o v i ng t h r o ug h s p ac e ac c o r d i ng t o f ee l i ng s and e f f ec t s

r a t he r t han o r d i na r y p u r p o s es . L i k e a l l t he ex p er i m ent a l

a r t s , i t s eek s t o b r eak r o u t i ne w ays o f b e i ng , ho p i ng f o r

t he f r es hnes s o f new ex p er i enc e . Ps yc ho g eo g r ap hy has a

h i s t o r y t ha t b eg i ns i n Pa r i s w i t h t he p o e t B aud e l a i r e s f a -

v o r i t e f i g u r e , t he f l aneur o r d r i f t e r o ne w ho s p end s t he

d ay w a l k i ng t h r o ug h t he c i t y w i t h no o t he r p u r p o s e t h an

t o ex p er i enc e i t s am b i anc es .



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82 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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L at e r, G uy Deb o r d and h i s c o m p an i o ns i n

t he L e t t r i s t and S i t ua t i o n i s t m o v em ent s

b r i e f l y he l d t he d r eam t ha t t he new t yp 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 ns . O n l y an a r t o f c r ea t i ng s i t ua t i o ns ,

t hey t ho ug ht , had t he p o t en t i a l t o c hang e

ho w p eo p l e l i v ed and f e l t . T he s i t ua t i o ns

t hey

l o v ed i nv o l ved c i t i e s , g o i n g f r o m o ne p l ac e

t o ano t he r , c hanc e enc o unt e r s .

H er e s Deb o r d :

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 th

o r w i th o u t i n te r es t , th e g r o p i n g q u es t fo r

a n ew wa y o f l i f e i s th e o n l y th i n g th a t r e -

m a i n s r ea l l y exc i t i n g . Aes th et i c a n d o th er

d i sc i p l i n es h a v e p r o v ed g l a r i n g l y i n a d e-

q u a te i n th i s r eg a r d a n d m er i t th e g r ea tes t

i n d i f fe r en ce . W e sh o u l d th e r e fo r e d e l i n -ea te so m e p r o v i s i o n a l te r r a i n s o f o b ser v a -

t i o n , i n c l u d i n g th e o b ser v a t i o n o f ce r ta i n

p ro cess es o f c ha nce a nd p r ed i c t a b i l i t y i n

th e s t r ee t s . . . .



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P s y c h o g e o g ra 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 .



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Dr aw i ng f r o m a v a r i e t y o f a r t i s t i c s o u r c es

b eyo nd t he S i t ua t i o n i s t s ( s u r r ea l i s t g am es ,

c o nc ep t ua l and l and a r t , J o hn C ag e s l o v e

o f c hanc e , A l an Kap r o w s hap p en i ng s ,

F l ux us , r ec en t d ev e l o p m ent s i n unc r ea t i v e

w r i t i ng ) as w e l l a s a l o ng i n t e r es t i n t r av e l

as a p s yc h i c f o r m ( A us t r a l i an s o ng l i nes ,

p i l g r i m ag es , a r c t i c ex p l o r a t i o ns , t a l e s

o f w a l k i ng t he H i nd u Kus h and r i d i ng

t he T rans - S i b e r i a n ex p r es s ) , T he B ur eau

o f U nk no w n Des t i na t i o ns has s e t o u t t o

d ev e l o p a p r ac t i c e o f unk no w i ng .

T i c k e t s w er e g i v en aw ay b ec aus e

unex p ec t ed g i f t s p r o m p t ac t i o n . T ra i ns

w er e c ho s en b ec aus e o f t he i r p ec u l i a r l y

c o nt em p l a t i v e a t m o s p her e , a t o nc e

m e l anc ho l y and ho p e f u l . b y p r o m p t i ng

t r a i n j o u r neys t o unk no w n d es t i na t i o ns ,

T H E B U R E A U H O PE S T O p hys i c a l i z e t he

s i t ua t i o no f b e i ng c a r r i ed a l o ng t o w ar d s

dest iny .



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T he G O A L i s t o i n t e r r up t o r d i na r y i n s t r u -

m ent a l i t i e s , t o i n t e r v ene i n t he d r i v e t o

g et s o m ew her e an d g e t o n w i t h i t . To s t ep

as i d e , ev en , f r o m o ur o w n p r e f e r enc es .

Jo hn C ag e w as a m as t e 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 ay

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 .

T he B ur eau o f U nk no w n Des t i na t i o ns

f av o r s i n t e r r up t i o n , d i s r up t i o n and d e t o ur .

I t f av o r s ab s t a i n i ng f r o m p ur p o s e f o r a

t i m e . I t f av o r s s i m p l y em b ar k i ng .



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a beginner's guide to psychogeography

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