🗺️Psychogeography and Art Unit 3 – Urban Exploration and Mapping

Key Concepts and Definitions

• Urban exploration involves the exploration of man-made structures, often abandoned or hidden, within the urban environment
• Psychogeography studies the effects of the geographical environment on the emotions and behaviors of individuals
  • Derives from the work of the Situationist International, a group of artists and intellectuals in the 1950s and 1960s
• Urban mapping creates visual representations of urban spaces, highlighting features, patterns, and experiences
• Place-hacking refers to the act of gaining access to restricted or off-limits urban spaces for exploration purposes
• Dérive is an unplanned journey through an urban landscape, allowing oneself to be drawn by the attractions and encounters of the terrain
• Détournement involves the rearrangement or hijacking of existing elements to create new meanings or messages
• Hauntology explores the presence of the past in the present, often focusing on the ghosts of abandoned or forgotten spaces

Historical Context of Urban Exploration

• Urban exploration has roots in the 19th-century Parisian concept of the flâneur, an idle wanderer who observes city life
• The Situationist International, formed in 1957, developed the concepts of psychogeography and the dérive
  • Guy Debord, a key figure in the Situationist International, wrote "The Society of the Spectacle" (1967), critiquing consumer culture and the commodification of everyday life
• Urban exploration gained popularity in the 1970s and 1980s, with the rise of industrial archaeology and the exploration of abandoned factories and infrastructure
• The 1990s saw the emergence of online communities and forums dedicated to urban exploration, facilitating the sharing of experiences and locations
• In the 21st century, urban exploration has become increasingly mainstream, with the proliferation of social media and the popularity of "ruin porn" photography
• Contemporary urban exploration often intersects with activism, urban planning, and artistic practices

Techniques and Tools for Urban Mapping

• Psychogeographic mapping combines subjective experiences with objective geographical data to create unconventional maps
• Cognitive mapping involves creating mental maps of urban spaces based on personal experiences and perceptions
• Dérive app is a digital tool that generates random walking routes to facilitate unplanned exploration
• GPS and GIS technologies enable the precise mapping and analysis of urban spaces
  • GPS (Global Positioning System) determines location and navigation information
  • GIS (Geographic Information System) captures, stores, and visualizes spatial data
• Photographic documentation is a key tool for capturing the visual elements of urban spaces
• Sketching and note-taking allow for the recording of subjective experiences and observations
• Collaborative mapping involves the collective creation of maps by multiple individuals, often using online platforms (OpenStreetMap)

Psychogeography in Practice

• Dérive involves drifting through urban spaces without a predetermined destination, allowing for serendipitous discoveries
• Détournement can be applied to urban spaces, subverting or repurposing existing elements for new meanings (guerrilla gardening, street art)
• Psychogeographic games and exercises encourage participants to engage with urban spaces in unconventional ways (treasure hunts, role-playing)
• Mapping emotions and sensations experienced in different urban environments can reveal patterns and insights
• Exploring liminal spaces, such as borders, thresholds, and transitional zones, can highlight the psychological effects of urban boundaries
• Investigating the layers of history and memory embedded in urban spaces can uncover hidden narratives and meanings
• Engaging with local communities and incorporating their experiences and knowledge can enrich psychogeographic practices

Artistic Approaches to Urban Space

• Situationist art practices, such as the creation of psychogeographic maps and the use of détournement, challenge conventional representations of urban space
• Street art and graffiti can be used to intervene in urban spaces, creating new meanings and provoking reactions
• Performance art in urban settings can highlight the relationship between bodies, movement, and the built environment
• Sound art and soundscape compositions can capture and manipulate the auditory dimensions of urban spaces
• Participatory art projects can engage the public in the exploration and transformation of urban environments
• Site-specific installations can respond to and reshape the physical and psychological qualities of urban spaces
• Photography and film can document and interpret the visual and experiential aspects of urban exploration

Ethical Considerations and Safety

• Respect for private property and the law is crucial when engaging in urban exploration
  • Trespassing and illegal entry can lead to legal consequences and jeopardize the reputation of the urban exploration community
• Personal safety should be a top priority, as abandoned structures may contain hazards (unstable floors, toxic substances, dangerous wildlife)
• Ethical considerations include the potential exploitation or aestheticization of poverty and decay in urban environments
• Protecting the anonymity and privacy of individuals encountered during urban exploration is important
• Leave No Trace principles should be followed, minimizing the impact on the environment and preserving the integrity of the spaces explored
• Sensitivity to the cultural and historical significance of sites is necessary, avoiding actions that may be disrespectful or offensive
• Collaboration with local communities and stakeholders can ensure that urban exploration is conducted in an ethical and responsible manner

Case Studies and Examples

• The Paris Psychogeographical Association, founded by Guy Debord and others, conducted dérives and created psychogeographic maps of Paris in the 1950s
• Stalker, an Italian collective, has been exploring the margins and forgotten spaces of Rome since the 1990s, creating participatory mapping projects
• The London Psychogeographical Association, founded by Fabian Tompsett, has been active since the 1990s, organizing walks and publishing the LPA Newsletter
• Urban explorers like Bradley Garrett and Steve Duncan have documented their explorations of underground tunnels, sewers, and abandoned buildings around the world
• Artists like Iain Sinclair and Will Self have used psychogeographic techniques in their writing, exploring the layers of history and memory in London's urban landscape
• The Conflux Festival, held annually in New York City from 2003 to 2009, brought together artists, writers, and activists to explore the urban environment through psychogeography and public art
• The Glowlab Psychogeography App, developed by Christina Ray, allows users to create and share their own psychogeographic maps and experiences

Reflection and Creative Projects

• Keeping a psychogeography journal to record observations, emotions, and insights during urban explorations
• Creating a series of détourned maps that subvert or reinterpret conventional representations of urban spaces
• Designing a site-specific installation that responds to the psychological and sensory qualities of a particular urban location
• Developing a participatory mapping project that engages local communities in the exploration and representation of their urban environment
• Producing a short film or photographic essay that documents a psychogeographic journey through an urban landscape
• Writing a reflective essay that analyzes the personal and societal implications of urban exploration and psychogeography
• Collaborating with other artists, researchers, or activists to create interdisciplinary projects that investigate the complexities of urban spaces