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The essay defines the concept of psychogeography then explores how people have historically engaged with that concept. As a small example of what this essay is
by akprasad 3y ago
The essay defines the concept of psychogeography then explores how people have historically engaged with that concept.
As a small example of what this essay is pointing to: suppose your neighborhood could be 100% walkable and that you could easily walk to work, the doctor, your friends' houses, etc. What is desirable about that kind of environment? What would it take to make it possible? What kinds of systemic forces counteract it?
> Many of the issues we face [...] are deeply connected to the physical world and our interactions with our immediate surroundings. [...] As we emerge into post-pandemic public spheres, we have the opportunity to imagine new versions of the public sphere[.]
> Guy Debord, a founding member of both bodies, defined psychogeography as an environment’s impact, whether mindful or not, on an individual’s behaviors or emotions.
> These sorts of actions, even on the smallest scale, carry significant meaning when practitioners assert how they wish to inhabit a space, and when they are able to convince others to likewise undertake this reflective process of questioning the status quo.
- nemo44x 3y agoWho on earth thinks there’s any probability to the place you want to work, the friends you want to talk to, and the doctor you trust being within walking distance to your home, among all the other things? It sounds like an unbelievably narcissistic or naive idea - that all the things you need wound somehow be just a few steps away because you’re that important. I mean, this is like a very childish thought. What counteracts it? Reality.
- _hzw 3y agoI live in a small college town in Germany. My workplace is a 15- to 20-minute uphill walk away, my family doctor is in the building next to where I live, and all my friends are within a 40-minute walking distance. The situation was almost the same when I lived in China, in a smaller town two hours' drive from Guangzhou. I've walked my whole life and don't even know how to drive. I've almost taken for granted that one should be able to walk to any place that is important to them; perhaps it's not that universal elsewhere?
- mjmsmith 3y agoYou seem strangely angry about a pleasant idea.
- dopidopHN 3y agoGood city planning is a thing.
- tmnvix 3y agoNot my reality. I've lived in four different cities as an adult over almost three decades (not Europe - Australasia). This has always been the case for me. Though of course I also have friends and family that are more far-flung, and I see relatively less of them. If you don't design your life around a car to begin with it really isn't hard (in many places). On the other hand, if you assume you'll be reliant on a car and then choose to live in an outer suburb you have no chance.
- secretsatan 3y agoUhmmm, don’t know what to say to that, that’s the reality for me and many others. Not a few steps away, and maybe 15 mins is a bit optimistic for everything, but i have all that in max 30 mins walk
- ben-schaaf 3y agoCurious how you think people existed before cars & bikes were invented? Horses were expensive and few had one.