Walking in the City, Michel de Certeau, Patterns

‘The spectator can read in it a universe that is constantly exploding’ as the spectator is on the 110th floor of the building looking down on the world as a God like figure. Imagination and technical semiotics are presented to the spectator when they view the patterns of everyday life within a ‘larger power-structure’. Therefore the spectator who is above those below could be seen to have more power and dominance over the people who are not on the 110th floor.

As my groups’ performance is partially based around the theme of light, the ‘Walking in the City’ text relates to our performance as light can be seen to be a powerful aspect in the world. Light is essential to humans and animals in the world to live their life, as it is used in order for people to see. When light hits and then reflects of an object, for instance a mirror, the light rays travel in a linear line into our eyes in order for us to see the object. Therefore, light can be seen to be on the ‘110th floor’ just like the spectator, as light is above us all and surrounding us proving its power.

Some may say that Scientists view situations in the world completely different to how others view the world, and in this case they would have the power. This may be because they have been educated with the ideal perspective of the world in which others have not, and knowledge therefore gives them the power. We as a group are the scientists in this case as we have power over the audience. We have learnt the facts about light and sound (we have the knowledge), and then will hopefully present what we know to the audience and then they will hopefully learn something new.

People walking past each other in the city is like a piece of ‘text’ in which we can ‘read’ their movements. As they walk around the city it is as if they are weaving places/buildings together with their footsteps, and therefore creating a unique pattern of their own. This relates to my groups original idea of the chain reaction line in which we were weaving in and out of the space we were in, fast paced and slow paced to signify light rays, in order to create a pattern. This pattern was created with our footsteps and our physical movement with the body. We also had created a musical pattern with wooden spoons in order to listen to the sound of the beat being performed and for the audience to eventually see a pattern forming.

 

 

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