Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Lunchtime Derive #2
On 19th January 2005 we undertook our second lunchtime derive, with 3 students from Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College. Mark, Daniel and Bex were all first year Arts and Media students.
We altered the algorithm slightly to: first right, second left, first left, repeat.
The derive lasted for over two-and-a-half hours with Mark, Daniel and Bex thoroughly surrendering themselves to the spirit of drift.
We followed a hidden footpath behind some derelict factories where some scenes from the new Willy Wonka film were shot (Johnny Depp popping into Sainsbury's for beer). Some steps hoisted us up to high ground with views of two valleys (the Hughenden and the Wye), Desborough Castle and the Golden Ball. The Pastures Service Road was a sublime example of the urban poetry of street names. A mobile library conned us into going inside but was filled with pot-boilers and videos(they've been de-commissioned and are up for grabs from the Council). We finished in Desborough high on the fumes from Stuart Linford's furniture workshops and the thrill of following the Wye stream into CCTV monitored space.
The derivers questioned notions of planned space, were prepared to trespass in the pursuit of the algorithm as bland suburban streets became part of an epic quest.
For more info on generative psychogeography visit the link below to Social Fiction
http://www.socialfiction.org/psychogeography/newbies.html