Situationist Drift

Situationist Drift

Situationist Drift is a participatory activity inspired by the Situationist movement of the 1950s and 1960s, which promotes free and spontaneous exploration of urban environments. It is based on breaking away from habitual routines to observe, experience, and reflect on spaces from an emotional and subjective perspective. Participants wander through an area without a defined purpose, allowing sensations, surroundings, and chance encounters to guide their experience.

This activity fosters creativity, critical perception of space, and the discovery of new connections with the environment.

Preparation

1. Define the purpose:
   • Explore how participants relate to urban spaces.
   • Encourage creativity, reflection, and disconnection from routines.
   • Create an immersive experience that provides new perspectives on the environment.
2. Select the area:
   • Choose an interesting urban location with diverse elements such as streets, plazas, parks, historical buildings, or markets.
   • No specific routes are needed; exploration will be spontaneous.
3. Prepare materials:
   • Notebooks or journals to record observations, emotions, or reflections.
   • Cameras or mobile devices to document meaningful moments.
   • Optional maps that participants can creatively modify.
4. Historical context (optional):
   • Briefly explain the origins of Situationist Drift as an artistic and philosophical method that challenges traditional ways of experiencing the city.

Step-by-step instructions

1. Introduction to the purpose
   • Explain that the activity consists of wandering through the urban space, allowing the environment to guide their movements, without a predetermined destination or route.
   • Encourage participants to observe their emotions, interactions, and perceptions throughout the activity.
2. Key guidelines for the drift
   • Ask participants to:
     • Avoid following their usual or familiar routes.
     • Let themselves be drawn to elements of the environment that catch their attention (colors, sounds, textures, people).
     • Document their sensations, ideas, or discoveries through notes, drawings, or photographs.
3. Starting the exploration
   • Let participants disperse through the selected area.
   • The activity can be done individually or in small groups to encourage diverse perspectives.
4. Recording and reflecting during the drift
   • Encourage participants to:
     • Take notes on how they feel in different spaces.
     • Reflect on which elements of the environment caught their attention.
     • Interact with the space if they wish (e.g., sitting on a bench, observing a storefront, talking to a local).
5. Group gathering at the end of the drift
   • Bring participants together at an agreed meeting point to share their experiences.
   • Facilitate a discussion about:
     • What surprised them during the exploration?
     • What emotions or reflections emerged?
     • What did they learn about the space and themselves?
6. Creating a collective piece (optional)
   • Work with the group to create an emotional map or a visual collage with their observations and records from the activity.
7. Closing
   • Reflect on the importance of stepping out of routines and exploring the environment from new perspectives.
   • Thank participants for their openness and creativity.