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The Theory of the Derive

My studies of esoteric traditions and counter cultures has led me recently to the writings of the

SITUATIONIST INTERNATIONAL

good name, eh?

Anyway, I found in the Situationists a shared appreciation for the formation of a particular relationship with the city one lives in. That formation occurs through the undertaking of a "derive," or drifting. You should read the Theory to get a better sense of the concept, but for the most part one wanders without personal motive, allowing the city to lead you, while you listen to what the city and her denizens have to tell you about themselves. I don't follow the standard operation procedure Debord lays out. I like to take my derives on the weekends between 11pm and 3am. It actually drives The Kenj nuts. I'll walk all over the damn town for about four hours. She worries, the dear. It's part of how I have a good mental map of Boston, how I know where everything is and who goes where. I'm making a mental map, not of the physical territory, but of the mental territory of the other people who live in the city with me. It's easy to be walking and just start following college kids to a party of a club, or dog walkers down the boulevard, or Sox fans to the T.

Anyway I want to invite the Fu Crew and sundry to start making derives with me this summer. They're awesome. It just starting to Spring and I can already feel the wanderlust come over me. That sounds disgusting.

Here're the refs,

The Theory of the Derive explained by a founder of the Situationist International, Guy Debord.

I'm currently reading the Society of the Spectacle by Guy Debord. Here's a not so great translation, that's at least free. If you want, you can borrow my copy.

You can find an introduction and definition of Dada, Lettrism and Situationism here.

Here's a compendium of english translations of Situationist work.

Here's an article from the Economist, trying to explain the heyday of the Situationist to current day capitalists.