Art of Walking Course Outline - Cornerhouse
Art of Walking Course Outline - Cornerhouse
Art of Walking Course Outline - Cornerhouse
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The <strong>Art</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Walking</strong> – <strong>Course</strong> <strong>Outline</strong><br />
A mundane trip to the shops or an encounter with the sublime where every step creates an<br />
imaginary universe <strong>Walking</strong> is an everyday activity with extraordinary resonances; it has<br />
inspired a rich tradition <strong>of</strong> writers, artists, performers and activists.<br />
This course will explore walking as a creative practise and will take us on a journey from<br />
Blake and Wordsworth to Richard Long and Marina Abromovitch. We will unravel the<br />
tangled routes <strong>of</strong> Situationists, Surrealists, psychographers, mythogeographers, deep<br />
topographers and more. Along the way we will encounter flaneurs, fakers, poets, prophets,<br />
ramblers and revolutionaries and share inspiring techniques for DIY derives that bring the<br />
theory into multi-sensory reality. We will mostly be focusing on European practice although<br />
a diverse range <strong>of</strong> artists wil be covered. The schedule is roughly chronological but expect<br />
many deviations from the path.<br />
Pease note this course takes place in the cosy surrounds <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Cornerhouse</strong>, with an<br />
optional walking expedition in the final week. Each seminar will use a variety <strong>of</strong> teaching<br />
methods, including presentations, film clips and guest speakers. We aim to create a<br />
partipatory and informal atmosphere, folk are encouraged to ask questions and share their<br />
knowledge and experiences. No prior knowledge is required, each week there will be<br />
suggestions for further reading/ watching, ideas for practical exploration and alternative<br />
walking exercises.<br />
1 The Romantic History <strong>of</strong> <strong>Walking</strong><br />
This week will introduce the themes and why walking has inspired so many artists and<br />
poets. We will explore the emergence <strong>of</strong> walking as a leisure activity and the work <strong>of</strong><br />
writers such as the Wordsworths, Blake, Benjamin, Baudelaire, Wolff and DeQuincy.<br />
We will explore the character and meaning <strong>of</strong> The Flanuer, his relationship to<br />
modernity and discuss the (im)possibilities <strong>of</strong> the flaneusse.<br />
2 <strong>Walking</strong> as a Revolutionary Act<br />
This week we will discuss walking with the Surrealists, Lettrists and – especially – The<br />
Situationists. We will explore the spectacular city and psychography; how the derive<br />
was designed as a tool for revolution. Can this still be relevant today We will also<br />
discuss the history <strong>of</strong> protest walks, including the Jarrow marchers, the Kinder<br />
trespass, Peace Pilgrim and more.<br />
3 The Modern <strong>Art</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Walking</strong><br />
This week will focus on modern, avant-garde and Land art. This will include work by<br />
Tony Smith Richard Long, Hamish Fulton, Marina Abramovic, Fluxus, Stalker and<br />
others. There will also be digressions to discuss the impact <strong>of</strong> architecture and urban<br />
planning on walking, including the idealism <strong>of</strong> Constants New Babylon. We'll also think<br />
about the challenges walking artists face trying to represent their multi-sensory<br />
experience.<br />
4 Secret <strong>Walking</strong>: The Esoteric Turn
This week we will be examining the expanded tradition <strong>of</strong> psychogeography and how<br />
walking can be used to uncover occult meanings. We will discuss writers such as Iain<br />
Sinclair and Peter Ackroyd and groups such as Manchester Area Psychgeographic.<br />
There will be tales <strong>of</strong> levitating the corn exchange and dissolving the Beetham Tower.<br />
We will also explore the deep topography <strong>of</strong> Nick Papadimitriou, the mapping <strong>of</strong> ley<br />
lines and the connection between place, memory and identity.<br />
5 Robinson in Ruins<br />
We will discuss the films <strong>of</strong> Patrick Keiller before a screening <strong>of</strong> Robinson in Ruins<br />
6 Contemporary Derives<br />
We will be looking at a range <strong>of</strong> contemporary artists to see how the derive has<br />
evolved. We'll explore mythogeography and counter tourism, Lottie Child's Street<br />
Training, Writes and Sites Mis-Guides and many more. We will discuss the current<br />
flourishing <strong>of</strong> diverse walking art practices and how the form may evolve with the<br />
continued development <strong>of</strong> digital technologies, GIS and virtual imaginaries. We will<br />
also step into the art <strong>of</strong> urban exploration.<br />
7 Sunday 3 rd March - An expedition<br />
We will be going for a walk together to put some <strong>of</strong> the theories discussed during the<br />
course into practice; the exact details will be revealed nearer the time as they will be<br />
shaped by participants on the course.<br />
Suggested Reading:<br />
Solnitt, R Wanderlust: A Short History <strong>of</strong> <strong>Walking</strong> (2001)<br />
Careri, F Walkscapes: <strong>Walking</strong> as an Aesthetic Practice (2009)<br />
Mock, R (ed) <strong>Walking</strong>, Writing and Performance (2009)<br />
The <strong>Walking</strong> <strong>Art</strong>ists Network http://walkingartistsnetwork.org/<br />
Mythogeography http://www.mythogeography.com/<br />
The London Perambulator http://londonperambulator.wordpress.com/