Psychogeography and You

The interview with Will Self “On ‘Psychogeography’ and the Places That Choose You” is about his experiences with exploring landscapes and interacting with them on a very personal level. I found this article interesting because it builds upon my previous reading response about the concept of the Derive. While this article is based upon the fundamentals of the Derive, It engages Will Self’s personal experiences with the practice. In doing this, the interview allows me to gain insight onto how another person came across the concept, how they practice it, and how it affects them. I can then compare and contrast my similar feelings and experiences.

The interview is based upon the acclaimed British novelist and journalist Will Self and his experiences with long distance walking and the practice of Psychogeography. The term Psychogeography, was coined by Guy Debord and people who practice it today “take the view that by walking you can decouple yourself from the human geography that so defines contemporary urbanity.” In this way many hope to gain a new appreciation for the places they inhabit and truly discover/rediscover their environment instead of being “thrust hither and thither by commercial imperatives—work, consume, die—and so unable to experience the reality of their environment.” Self first became interested in this practice when he realized that he had never seen the mouth of the Thames River that flows through London, even though he had been born in the city and lived there his whole life. He argues that “People don’t know where they are anymore” and until that day neither did he. He began walking as a way to fully understand and experience the world he lives in. Since then, he has explored countless other places and has had utterly bizarre, dislocatory and quite beautiful experiences from doing so.

As a media Artist I feel that in creating art it is my goal to uncover and capture new, strange, and beautiful sights in order to intrigue and enthrall viewers/listeners. I believe that the best way of doing so is to take full advantage of the practice of Psychogeography. Many people don’t know the true beauty of the places in which they live and by walking through and closely observing the places surrounding where I live (the forgotten, overlooked, ignored, or sometimes avoided places), I can capture those sights and sounds of forgotten intrigue.

Based upon the article "Will Self: On ‘Psychogeography’ and the Places That Choose You." on WorldHum.com