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Walking Inside Out: Contemporary British Psychogeography
This book brings together contemporary theorists and practitioners to critically explore the state of psychogeography today.
- GenresGeographyNonfiction
272 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2015
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73 people want to read
About the author
Tina Richardson
1 bookDr Tina Richardson is an academic, writer/editor and lecturer in psychogeography and urban aesthetics. Her background is in the field of Urban Cultural Studies. She has had a number of articles published, for example in ‘Spaces and Flows’ and ‘disClosure’. In 2013 she self-published her first book ‘Concrete, Crows and Calluses’ (Particulations Press) and in 2015 edited STEPZ: A Psychogeography and Urban Aesthetics Zine (Particulations/Urban Gerbil). Richardson is well-known in urban walking circles for developing her own psychogeographical method and practice called schizocartography.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 7, 2015
As a photographer whose experiences have drawn him to the study and practice of psychogeography, I looked forward to reading this book, in order to get a better understanding of how my contemporaries in the UK are practicing psychogeography. I got much more than I expected. This book, edited by independent scholar and guest lecturer, Tina Richardson, contains fourteen extremely diverse chapters that will appeal to anyone with an interest in urban (and, sometimes, not-so-urban) wandering, whether they identify as artists, activists, historians, explorers, or academics.
One of Richardson’s goals in assembling this book was to present the work of contemporary literary psychogeographers alongside those working in academia, in order to bridge the gap between the two. For those who fear that the book may dwell on “dry” language and topics found only in academic texts, there is no reason to worry – the chapters are both accessible and engaging, and they are penned by authors who come from a variety of interesting backgrounds.
In fact, diversity is one of this book’s greatest strengths. One would expect that a book about modern psychogeography would contain personal accounts of walkers critically interacting with the urban landscape. Yet, it has much more than that. There are chapters that meditate on the influence of memory and time, as well as those that examine notions of power, place, and the dominant narrative in the urban zones that we traverse. Three chapters are dedicated to specific psychogeographical practices and methodologies, including Richardson’s own, which she developed as a spatial tool, incorporating psychogeography alongside a poststructuralist analysis of space, that is able to stand up to academic rigor. There are also chapters from contributors who, though they are not typically affiliated with the practices of the arts-based humanities, use psychogeography within their own fields in creative ways. There is even a chapter on legal psychogeography, in which the intersection of policy and geography is examined! This book is full of unanticipated gems that really show the breadth of the contemporary perspectives that are contributing to this intriguing field.
And, though the collective talent in this book has submitted writing at a level that could be right at home in a literary journal or a wing of academia, the human element is preserved here. The authors continually relay their personal connection to the sense of awe and excitement that is inherently linked to this type of exploration. I was particularly affected by “Wooden Stones,” a contribution by Gareth E. Rees (also the author of the entertaining book, “Marshland”), in which he contemplates the phenomenon of memorial benches by cataloging their inscriptions and exploring the lives that may have preceded them, while sharing details of a personal loss.
It would take a great deal of research to assemble such an array of perspectives, and it is very fortunate for everyone interested in this field that Richardson has done so here. As she ties each portion of the book together, she places value on the multitude of ways in which psychogeography is practiced, and she never comes across as a protectionist or someone who sees psychogeography as an exclusive practice that is only open to a select few. This is very important, as new people continue to be exposed to the field, and it is important for books, such as this one, to be welcoming to those who are just starting to find out what psychogeography has to offer them. This is a must-read for anyone with an interest in urban wandering, regardless of background!
One of Richardson’s goals in assembling this book was to present the work of contemporary literary psychogeographers alongside those working in academia, in order to bridge the gap between the two. For those who fear that the book may dwell on “dry” language and topics found only in academic texts, there is no reason to worry – the chapters are both accessible and engaging, and they are penned by authors who come from a variety of interesting backgrounds.
In fact, diversity is one of this book’s greatest strengths. One would expect that a book about modern psychogeography would contain personal accounts of walkers critically interacting with the urban landscape. Yet, it has much more than that. There are chapters that meditate on the influence of memory and time, as well as those that examine notions of power, place, and the dominant narrative in the urban zones that we traverse. Three chapters are dedicated to specific psychogeographical practices and methodologies, including Richardson’s own, which she developed as a spatial tool, incorporating psychogeography alongside a poststructuralist analysis of space, that is able to stand up to academic rigor. There are also chapters from contributors who, though they are not typically affiliated with the practices of the arts-based humanities, use psychogeography within their own fields in creative ways. There is even a chapter on legal psychogeography, in which the intersection of policy and geography is examined! This book is full of unanticipated gems that really show the breadth of the contemporary perspectives that are contributing to this intriguing field.
And, though the collective talent in this book has submitted writing at a level that could be right at home in a literary journal or a wing of academia, the human element is preserved here. The authors continually relay their personal connection to the sense of awe and excitement that is inherently linked to this type of exploration. I was particularly affected by “Wooden Stones,” a contribution by Gareth E. Rees (also the author of the entertaining book, “Marshland”), in which he contemplates the phenomenon of memorial benches by cataloging their inscriptions and exploring the lives that may have preceded them, while sharing details of a personal loss.
It would take a great deal of research to assemble such an array of perspectives, and it is very fortunate for everyone interested in this field that Richardson has done so here. As she ties each portion of the book together, she places value on the multitude of ways in which psychogeography is practiced, and she never comes across as a protectionist or someone who sees psychogeography as an exclusive practice that is only open to a select few. This is very important, as new people continue to be exposed to the field, and it is important for books, such as this one, to be welcoming to those who are just starting to find out what psychogeography has to offer them. This is a must-read for anyone with an interest in urban wandering, regardless of background!
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January 17, 2025A wonderfully diverse collection; an absolute must read for any wannabe psychogeographer, and especially galvanizing for me, as I a) need to do some exercise, b) find myself stuck to well worn routes through my own city and c) have all these untapped pretensions. For anyone interested in the subject, the detailed bibliographies and references of some of the choicest articles are well worth the price of entry; not even considering the not inconsiderable number of excellent chapters. Highly recommend!
April 3, 2025
A collection of essays and academic articles detailing the then-contemporary (!) landscape of British psychogeography. Some essays were easier to understand than others but all were quite good. A stand out essay was Wooden Stones, meditating on memorial benches in an old haunt of the author as he remembers the death of a good friend in the same area. Highly recommend for anyone interested in psychogeography.
November 18, 2017
After reading this I can add psychogeographer to my resume. 👣🚶
September 9, 2019
A really superb collection, and proved vital for my thesis.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews