First impressions

First impressions

Right now we're exploring concepts of place and location, considering where you've come from and where you've arrived and what happens when the two collide. Most of you set foot in London just a few days before the class and I can't stress how exciting it was to hear your first impressions of London. Of course, it will be interesting when we really start investigating (especially in terms of location and media) the tensions that are simmering below the surface: on the one hand there is the obligation, need to be loyal to home; on the other the desire to succumb to temptations offered by a very compelling London. We covered an impressive array of themes in our first class, ranging from strolling to surveillance... An initial hour long city exploration exercise revealed keen observation skills (somebody please post that pic of the knife return box!) and insightful commentary. Don't forget to go pick up 84 Charing Cross Road and a copy of the Mini London A to Z at Waterstones on Oxford Street (19-23 Oxford Street) AND BRING YOUR WHITE SHIRT TO CLASS ON WEDNESDAY!


Key topics
I just want to remind you of a few key concepts we covered (remember the ppt?):
What is locative media and the idea of needing to develop locative literacy: See "Preface" to Mapping Hacks
Importance of documentation for learning, self-reflection and sharing what you are doing; Also Rinaldi's take on Listening: See"On Documentation and Assessment"
The ethics of documentation: thinking about the ethics of giving someone else a "voice" (newspaper article about Steve Irwin, irwin jpeg)

Readings we'll discuss next week:

How to do things with pictures, William J. Mitchell
84, Charing Cross Road, Helene Hanff
Theory of the Dérive, Guy Debord: http://library.nothingness.org/articles/SI/en/display/314

Week 1 Exercises

Tonight: Initial Explorations
Spend 45 minutes wandering the area around FIE (see A to Z map). As you explore the neighbourhood mark down/list anything you note that is interesting (remember you are noting location too), you might want to photograph or collect interesting objects. It doesn’t have to be visual either, remember smell, sound, etc.


During the week
1) Go to this Waterstones: Waterstone's Oxford Street
19-23 Oxford Street
GB - London W1D 2DL
Tel: 020 7434 9759
Opening times:
Sun 12-6 Mon 9-9 Tue 9-9 Wed 9-9 Thu 9-9 Fri 9-9 Sat 9-9

2) Purchase two books:
• Charing Cross Road
• Mini London A to Z Streeet Atlas and index (pocket size) (about £4)

3) When you have done so text/ mms to let me know you’ve got it (get my mobile numbe off the syllabus).

4) Read 84, Charing Cross Road and keep track of your thoughts on points Hanff is making and the locations she mentions. If possible, visit the locations and make a note of your experiences there. We will discuss next week and aim to map these as a group.

For next week
Please bring a plain white t-shirt that you are comfortable destroying.