This document discusses the Situationist International, a radical anti-authoritarian Marxist group active in Europe from 1957 to 1972 that was opposed to the commodification of culture and focused on psychogeography, which involved deriving or drifting through urban environments using random chance to experience them in unexpected ways. It references key figures like Guy Debord and publications like The Society of the Spectacle and Internationale Situationniste and discusses how the Situationists' ideas relate to experimental approaches to travel and their critique of dehumanizing urban change.
The Situationists strong believers in creating random events and experiences
Would create patterns that would lead them through their “walks”
The Derive was driven by chance, not preconceived expectation
Group of “artists” & political practitioners. Theoretical Influences included Marxism, Letterists, surrealists, de-humanizing urban change, life a spectacle Often referred to as SI
Focused on theory & practice of constructing Situations, A moment of life concretely & deliberately constructed by collective organizationUsed methods that forced one or more individuals to critically analyze their lives
Debord defined the group but always told people that“definition was meaningless & clearly devised by Anti-Situationist”
In 1957 Debord wrote the Situationist manifesto which started the group.
The group’s theories were a driving force behind the 1968 Paris uprising.
Ended in 1972 because Debord had expelled or kicked out all members.
Guy DebordFounding member, theoristsLived from 1931-1994Filmmaker, Marxist theoristPart of the Letterists, (dada surrealists)
AsgerJornDanish artist Kicked out of SI & founded Scandinavian Institute of Comparative Vandalism.
Ralph RumneyWas also Quickly kicked out of the groupSole member of the London Psychogeographical Association
Debord & the SI prided themselves on their social abrasiveness
One of Debord’s projects was to cover library books with sandpaperThis way they caused damage to the surrounding books.
For some reason, Debord liked photos of himself smoking.
Situationist International was heavily influenced by surrealist movement Another group of artists from the early 20th century
Surrealist emphasized elements of Surprise, Unexpected juxtaposition Non-sequiturs
Challenged reality and perceptions of reality through movement Created new map forms that expressed these elements Represented explorations in new ways
The SI challenged shallow representations of life & reality
SI believed that real life had been replaced by images that represent real life
Believed that modern life was a Degradation of human experience
Derive translates into “Drift”
Unorganized, aimless yet significant explorations of places These explorations also required new ways of recording experience
Rapid passage through varied ambiences and emotions of place
Designed by Bernard TschumiInfluenced by SI urban principles of emotion and experience
Park is in the 16th Adornment of Paris On site of former slaughter house district
Today is the site ofFrench museum of Science, various public art / spaces, parks
Started by Debord in 1950’s
Created the journal to document groups works, derieves & theories
Did not have a long publication life
Great contemporary guide continuing SI ideas Read any example from book Ideas ultimately lead to Experimental travel & Psychogeography
Key source for this presentation Read Second example from book
Read Third Example
SI was organized to fight against modern shifts in urban life They believed that post-war Paris was un-personal
Wanted to create new highly personalized urban experiences
Concentrated on the role of emotions and feelings in the city
