Theory of Derive

Theory of the Derive was my chosen reading. Since this is going to be my first Drift walk, this article was appealing to me. I find it interesting that there is a theory to drifting. I have always thought of a drift as being a stroll, or a journey, with no calculated direction. This text suggests something different, that there is a technique to it.
Derive, the article explains, is a "playful-constructive behavior and awareness of psychogeographical effects", making it different from a journey or a stroll. It is letting go of your standard routine movements, but with certain calculation and awareness of direction, while exploring a different landscape. Debord describes the limitations of chance, that to strictly wander in an open country is remaining ignorant to the possibilities that can be found in exploring the "transformations", and liveliness of an urban surrounding. The whole idea is to create new conditions. He also writes of spatial field. To explore a particular terrain is easier than to interrupt your exploration and travel to a different area ex. the example of taking a taxi. That the drifter becomes more concerned with disorientation. Dubord also writes of the advantage weather can have for derives.
This article put to rest a lot of concerns I had about my first drift walk. It is a test for me, because my mind tends to naturally wander in whatever I am doing. Quite honestly, I have relied more on chance as a way of discovery. These excercises will be a great eye opener for me, now that I have an idea as to what drifting truly means. To be a true artist is to explore the unfamiliar and retain the knowledge of change that happens in everyday life.

Scott MacDonald response

I chose Scott MacDonald’s An Introduction to Avant-Garde Film as one of my reading choices. He is a familiar name to me, through Film 202, and his interviews with film makers whose films we have viewed in class. I was interested in knowing why his article was chosen as an option for reading, and to learn more about experimental films and the artists behind them. I have not exposed myself enough to Avant- Garde film. Scott MacDonald opened my mind to the number of different films and film makers.

He begins his article by expressing the reasons most movie goers have a difficult time understanding the avant-garde in film. That the dominating, conventional Hollywood has embedded in us (since childhood) , the sense of what a movie is. He goes on describing the origins of avant garde cinema, starting mainly in France and Germany, and the different groups of film makers that he considers to be the pioneers in this type of cinema. These film makers challenged the “rational” and “understandable” elements in common film. Avant Garde cinema (or alternative cinema), presents to movie goers the opportunity to think outside of the common cinema box. The text contains examples of films that have defied the “commercial movie going experience.” He ends by saying critical film is the most underappreciated achievements in film history.

Avant Garde cinema is a great example of artists challenging their viewers to think and look beyond what mainstream society presents to us. As an artist, my goal is to find and present something that is not seen or heard every day; to inspire a new thought and perspective.

List of Sounds

• paper rustling from our notebooks
• footsteps on pavement- crunching and dragging leaves
• Two older ladies conversing behind me as they walk along
• Harley engine roaring in distance
• airplane flying low
• soccer ball thumping on grass, and off the foreheads of two boys
• Their laughter in between
• semi carrying items that were clanking together
• birds chirping-very sharp, not faint
• constant sound of rubber from car tires hiiting grooves in the road
• breeze pushing leaves leavesalong pavement behind me, following me
• Dog chain rattling
• Old, rusted truck spewing along- turned right in front of me
• constant sound of the material from the straps of my back pack rubbing against the cloth of my shirt and my hair
• squeeky chain and tires of an old bicycle riding by
• window being pushed open from inside a house- creeking noise
• faint sound of car door slamming from distance behind me
• sound of my rubber soles dragging leaves on pavement
• Faint bird chirping in distance
• beeping of electronic car door opener in a driveway ahead of me
• chimes singing in distance from a soft breeze
• clicking of pens from students ahead of me
• breeze causing something to swing back and forth making a squeeking noise
• music coming from an outside radio
• chattering of workers on top of roof
• annoying dog bark- very high pitched
• several faint sounds of slamming car doors
• woman shuts her car door to the left of me across the street
• swishing noise of plastic bag she was carrying
• faint voices of people greeting each other- as if they just arrived home from work
• faint sound of childrens laughter
• car tire skidding of a curb across the street
• keys jingling
• children screaming in distance
• parents greeting children on a playground
• little boy speaking in a very "bossy" tone to another boy on the playground
• metal screeching- maybe coming from the saw of a roofer
• sounds of hammering- slight echoe in distance
• soft humming of a vans engine, and its tires rolling slowly by along pavement
• garbage can lid opening and closing
• jeans rubbing together from students in front of me
• water from sprinkler raining down on grass and pavement
• crickets chirping loudly to right of me from someones lawn
• brakes from school bus screeching to a hault- sound of door opening to let kids on and off
• Flags flowing above me and clinging of metal wires to metal pole
• faint church bells
• loud car horn
• womens heels clicking on pavement

Soundwalk Response

The soundwalk excercise was a great experience. I am used to walking with a pair of headphones, music blairing into my ears, trying to escape the city noise. It was a great test for me, to see how well and how far I could allow my sense of hearing to stretch. We began the excercise with our hands over our ears, which muffled every noise around us. It gave even the most annoying sounds, like the constant moan of traffic, a very pleasing touch. I was able to pick up on more subtle noises, like the pounding of a joggers shoes on the pavement and the light breeze moving through the leaves. As we began to walk and log each noise heard, I was able to eventually focus on the less obvious noises over the constant droan of the traffic and tire squeeling. Then we began to move down the side streets, so the usual city noises were muffled and seemed more distant. Now the noises heard were not so much mechanical, but more the source of humans and nature. I had a few moments of confusion, as to where a sound was coming from and what exactly it was, but for the most part each noise was recognizable. There were great moments of complete silence, except for a light breeze that rustled the trees and chimes. As we arrived back at school, I seemed more accepting of the city noises that once annoyed me; and I am a better listener!