Reading Response #1

I selected Joseph Hart’s article “A New Way of Walking.” The article drew me in as a reader because it was not only interesting, but engaging as well. It seemed to speak to its audience rather than at them, proving that Hart is passionate about psychogeography. I like that he uses specific examples from his experiences exploring the secrets of certain cities. I also liked that one of the cities he wrote about was near the Twin Cities in Minnesota, because I live there! It made me think about the fact that I could find so many awesome sights and sounds in my own hometown- I don’t have to go far! Hart’s article made me think and got me excited about exploring wherever I am.

The subject of Hart’s article, psychogeography, is a term which describes various ways one can explore and come to a new awareness about a city, and he zeroes in on algorithmic walks and the secrets they can reveal. On his walk in Albert Lea, Minnesota, he used an algorithmic strategy (first left, second right, repeat), which forced him to explore areas he normally would not go, and therefore discover “secrets” of the town. Hart writes positively about the algorithmic strategy, stating that it is “neither goal-oriented nor random” and that it is “structured but always surprising” (1). Hart’s main point in “A New Way of Walking” is that wherever you are, if you walk with purpose but without a destination in mind, your “consciousness of what was important and unimportant, beautiful and dull […will be] completely altered” (Hart 2).

The topics in Hart’s article are relevant to my own practice as a media artist because as an artist, I should be aware of all types of sensual stimulation, whether it is sights, sounds, smells, or visually interesting artifacts and locations. Hart’s article encouraged me to be aware of my surroundings wherever I am, and to even go searching for interesting and unknown places. Being aware of techniques such as the algorithmic walk and a having a sense of openness to sights and sounds will further my success as a media artist.