Article Response

The article I chose to respond to was Guy Debord’s “Theory of the Derive.” I chose to respond to this piece because of the way I believe it is tied to the fundamentals of Soundwalking and the experiments we perform in class. This article is a good foundation for anyone seeing to understand what I hope to accomplish in my Drifting and what I have already learned from that experience
The main focus of this essay is an answer to the question of what the Derive is, and more importantly what it isn’t. The first point Debord makes is to explain the concept of psychogeography. Psychogeography is the methodology used in civil engineering to subconsciously direct the attention and movement of people as a whole. This is most noticeable in the example of a supermarket, where the obvious flow human traffic weaves up and down aisles until it reaches the regimented exit. The second part of Debord’s essay clarifies what Derive is not; pulling the element of chance from the situation. He discusses how chance is subject to psychogeography and therefore a leisurely stroll accomplishes nothing in breaking down those civil walls. Also, with chance as a motive the spirit of Derive is easily lost. Of this, he cites the “famous aimless wandering” of 1923 in which 4 surrealists began wandering only to end in the countryside, with no novelty left to catch their eye.
The outline of Derive given by Debord is necessary in the development of the Soundwalk. It is only through understanding the fundamentals of psychogeography that we can hope to overcome them and find the truly unique soundscape that dwells in front of us. In this respect Debord is essential to progress a true Sound innovator in the ways I hope to achieve.