Regular Routes: Deep Mapping a Performative Counterpractice for the Daily Commute 1

Humanities

Laura Bissell²  David Overend¹ 

[1] School of Media, Culture and Society, University of the West of Scotland, Ayr Campus, University Avenue, Ayr KA8 0SX, UK; E-Mail:;Contemporary Performance Practice, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, 100 Renfrew St., Glasgow G2 3DB, UK

关键词: commuting;    cycling;    mobility;    Nomadism;    performance;    swimming;    walking;   

DOI  :  10.3390/h4030476

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

This article offers a textual “deep map” of a series of experimental commutes undertaken in the west of Scotland in 2014. Recent developments in the field of transport studies have reconceived travel time as a far richer cultural experience than in previously utilitarian and economic approaches to the “problem” of commuting. Understanding their own commutes in these terms—as spaces of creativity, productivity and transformation—the authors trace the development of a performative “counterpractice” for their daily journeys between home and work. Deep mapping—as a form of “theory-informed story-telling”—is employed as a productive strategy to document this reimagination of ostensibly quotidian and functional travel. Importantly, this particular stage of the project is not presented as an end-point. Striving to develop an ongoing creative engagement with landscape, the authors continue this exploratory mobile research by connecting to other commuters’ journeys, and proposing a series of “strategies” for reimagining the daily commute; a list of prompts for future action within the routines and spaces of commuting. A range of alternative approaches to commuting are offered here to anyone who regularly travels to and from work to employ or develop as they wish, extending the mapping process to other routes and contexts.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.