Teaching, learning, music, heritage, nature, theatre, stories, art, cats, community, diversity. Kent, U.K. Instagram: @ret_uk
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Latest Posts by ret-uk - Page 5
Reminiscence session as part of the overground festival... Heard some interesting snippets of stories related to the park that I would like to hear more of... Tried out a bit of recording with my friends daughter... Now at the spoken word event of the festival... It's all about crystal palace, the park and spoken word for me at the moment!
I regard the city as a semi-extinct form. London is basically a nineteenth century city. And the habits of mind appropriate to the nineteenth century, which survive into the novels set in the London of the twentieth century, aren't really appropriate to understanding what is really going on in life today. I think the suburbs are more interesting than people will let on. In the suburbs you find uncentred lives... So that people have more freedom to explore their own imaginations, their own obsessions.
JG Ballard, Concrete Island, Introduction (1994) in Merlin Coverley's 'Psychogeography'
Waiting for the bus to open its doors when the roads were shut off in Brixton the other night too...
Busy National Theatre the other night as viewed from the bus...
These works clearly demonstrate that it is the novelist rather than the theoretician who is best able to capture the relationship between the urban environment and human behaviour
Merlin Coverley in 'Psychogeography' when talking about JG Ballard, questioning some of the work of Debord and the Situationists...
anticipating the crystal palace overground festival...
Hello all who is following!
I am grateful for your following and reading!
Apologies for the lack of recent updates, but the reason is purely that I have been spending my time on other work and with more of the organising.
I made a few classmates speak and be recorded by the audio recorder, which went well I think and I now feel ready to go with the proper recording. Forms all done and little ad's to give to anyone I meet who might want to take part. There has been a bit more social media advertising as well - through some people kindly offering to post my ad further on other local forums. I've ordered a few more books to look into and done a bit of an essay plan - for when I read the books! I am also going to listen again and carry out more audio trails in the coming week or so!
This weekend is the Crystal Palace Overground Festival - which I am quite excited about! I shall be trying to catch as much of it as possible and also again will always be on the lookout for new recruits! I am attending a reminiscence session tomorrow - with an unknown amount of attendees, but will be interesting all the same, regardless of if I meet anyone who would like their story recorded! I just love hearing anything new about Crystal Palace history! (Well any history to be honest!) I'll also be possibly helping out the LAS Theatre people, who I've never met, but seem to be creating something really interesting at the festival... they are creating a cabinet of curiosities and have variety of performers of science and more!
I've also been as before been observing all I can about the world around me - especially when on London buses - much more interesting that other forms of London transport - even from the sense that you get much more of a sense of scale of all around you! I am the nosiest traveller as well - looking at all that is going on outside!
I might upload a couple of quotes and/or pics to add some more bright to the blog!
tascam tried out outside...
So yesterday I had the help of a friend to try out my new tascam audio recorder! Epping Forest - well a side road was the destination and all seemed to go ok! I just need to be brave and go out and practice myself now. We tried out my lovely rycote windjammer and tried out different recording levels and a couple of microphone positions. I'll maybe upload an excerpt at some point! If anyone wants to know any more technicalities then I can let them know.
I've also been thinking a bit more about interview questions for people contributing. I already have a list, but as I get nearer that point and talk with people, it becomes a bit clearer I think. In the past day or so I have decided that it would be a good idea to concentrate on a first few initial locations for the purpose of my course project. If there are more stories to be told, then I can continue with them in my own time. I feel like it takes the pressure off a bit to have a complete tour and it written about before the end of August! I shall see! I am thinking of concentrating on the top of the park, because the bottom already has the dinosaur audio tour. I'll keep you updated!
Psychogeography: The study of the specific effects of the geographical environment, consciously organised or not, on the emotions and behaviours of individuals.
From Internationale Situationniste #1, Knabb, pg 45 in 'Psychogeography' by Merlin Coverley, 2010
I don't think I showed this photo here yet. Oh oh though I know it is now going to show up on Facebook because of it all being connected and on Twitter - both places have seen this photo more than enough! I think I have nearly exhausted my advertising energies. They have so far just been over social media and word of mouth and not sure if to put any physical adverts up. I think it would be a good idea in the station cafe perhaps, but feel a bit exposed the more I put my name and contact details out there! Maybe a version with the facebook page on it? hmmmm
Me having decided that I need to get some practice myself at speaking and trying to express what I am experiencing!
Helped with a park survey today with the park community stakeholder group. Fascinating just how many dogs were in the park. Should have been counting dogs! Was also good to have conversations with people about my trail and think I have a couple of interested people... And I always gain good food for thought in any situation... I seem to let everything be an inspiration!!
Next stage in project: mini wind jammer has arrived! Next to test it out!!
A days work
So today I have mostly been spending the whole day writing emails to people about community trails they have made and also a call out for contributors to my audio trail!! All steps but also need to do some reading... :)
It's arrived! I really hope it works, that I can work it and that etc etc...
Victoria Park Memoryscape Trail
Victoria park - and the journey there…. some extracts of my thoughts….
I see an appropriately named pub, which lets me know I am at least in the right area…
I passed lots of green spaces on the way
An interesting looking church, of a style I don’t recall seeing before…
It’s muggy
It feels like another zone of London from where I live and I link it with Leytonstone, not too far away, where a friend lives, something about the open green spaces and the natural association I make.
A larger building - Victorian in style but higher than I am used to in Crystal Palace.
Wow Victoria (Park) has an impressive lead up - roundabout and impressive gates.
Trendy cake and coffee type cafe (which looks like it does proper food too) with a vibrant atmosphere - I enjoy a conversation I overhear by the people working there - it helps add to the happy atmosphere there! I also liked the fact a bottle of water cost £1 and not more as it often does in cafes!
The sun shines on the lake as if on time to see the sculptures and the pretty fountain in the lake looking splendid. It reminds me of what I think Crystal Palace Park (CPP)nneeds - a fountain as a reminder of Paxton and those he had installed in the park – I have not thought about before, which surprises me, but I hadn’t thought before that there are no fountains in CPP.
I see the long park roads – a cyclists paradise and my thought turns to Hyde park or even Prater in Vienna - which in the summer I quite often cycled through to work, as well as over the Danube – all in a half an hour cycle…
The audio trail is really enjoyable and I like the talk about the myths of the dogs and hearing the different opinions – leaving it open to interpretation with us.
The narrator is someone who has lived in the area of Victoria park for nine years I think it was – and this draws you in by knowing that the person clearly has a relationship with the park.
No one person speaking for a long time – it’s nicely broken up with different voices. It’s a good clear recording and the speaking is calm and nice to listen to.
It’s am amazingly surprising beautiful evening, having set out with it being much duller – it’s a beautiful route – and the canal an added bonus for me.
I felt a bit out of place to begin with - but now I feel at home as if I am walking near me in the evening - doesn’t feel like a Sunday evening in some ways to be so far away from home but it others it does with the calm atmosphere
I made some more sound recordings and have decided to do at least one on every project related trip out.
Background sounds create an atmosphere. It’s hard to differentiate some times between the sounds on the recording and the sounds in real life! I looked around when I heard the sound of the loud canal boat on the mp3 file while walking down the canal. I wondered if this kind of thing would annoy me, but I love the playfulness of this, I think it makes me more aware ….
I’m inspired to listen to some of my own favourite tracks in between listening to the trail mp3’s and this as well as making the sound recordings and listening to the trail really helps me listen to the sounds around me.
The trail map is easy to use and follow.
The trail encourages you to interact in the sense of inviting you go and get a drink and find somewhere to sit and listen to the trail.
Cafe owners talking on the trail too – it seems they are talking about what they wanted to achieve and also about the visitors they have.
I wonder what happens when trails get really out of date. They are still a memory of the point in time when they were made, but maybe something needs to change?
I did about half but not half of the distance. Will happily return to do the rest….
I like the feeling of travelling when navigating streets and journeys alone. There is some level of fear of being far from home, but also a feeling of freedom and anticipation. Sounds obvious I know, but true!
Soho Stories - and yes my next task to be more selective in photos!
Brixton to Hoxton to Bunhill Fields to Soho Stories
So at the risk of falling into the English cliché of talking about the weather, I really have found the weather interesting recently. I felt relieved when the weather suddenly turned for the sunnier recently – knowing that I would be inspired and keen to wander the streets of London, with my psychogeography book and phone at the ready. However, this is how today’s journal began…in the tube… ….‘It’s cold and wet and I’ve pulled myself away from my friends and their kids to make my way to Brixton Underground on my journey to Hoxton for the Geffrye and possibly Bunhill Fields if I can get a look in – will possibly look out for some of the cafes I’ve heard mentioned in a pscyhogeography context (courtesy of a website link from a friend:
http://www.classiccafes.co.uk/Psy.html
This will be an experience of a sat afternoon away from my familiar ground – which I am always happy to do – but interesting that these pyschogeography pastures seem to be in East London – an area that has never been my home or work ground – so I at least get to experience some of the wandering experience by following these trails… So, navigating my way around to find the entrance of the Geffrye was my first task and the entrance to the garden itself was even more of a task for me! I did question my navigation skills. I found it though and was able to listen to the entire trail, which involved phoning a number and dialing a hash tag for each listening place. Very easy to follow – the audio trail was to the left og the gardens and the children’s trail to the right.
It gave me some good inspiration for questions to ask when analysing other trials as well as things to ask myself about my own – when I get there. I realized that I will need to listen again because I was too busy writing down thoughts that came to mind and taking photos as well. Which was at least possible with the nature of it being over the phone, because I could also type and photograph at the same time as listening to the loud speaker. Some of the questions inspired or hi-lighted from visiting are:
How interactive is the trail?
What kind of things does it ask you to do/think about?
Are there options for feedback, ways to be involved, a way to continue finding out more and follow on from the experience?
How many different voices are heard? Do we know who the people are?
What point of view is it giving across?
How long is each stop? How long is the trail if you do it all?
Is it sequenced?
Voices talking in everyday speech or some drama included?
Do they invite you to/or suitable to have a communal or individual experience?
Do I take away anything from the trail? An opinion or something I’ve learned?
I managed to do the Geffrye without too much rain, but as I left it started tipping it down! I had planned to walk to Bunhill fields and peer into any cafes along the way. However, I grabbed my phone and ran for the nearest bus! I was not the only person standing in doorways and consulting my phone. I found Bunhill Fields and literally grabbed a few photos as I walked through and then to Moorgate.
I recorded some sound excerpts – of the rain and of me speaking in the rain. I am not so sure that I will publish me speaking on the phone just yet, however, it was today that I realised that recording sound excerpts and even practising speaking myself for audio will be an invaluable experience. If I expect people to sound interesting on my trail, then I need to be able to do it myself. I was wondering if Bunhill fields in torrential rain is what I was destined to see - as I had just spoken to a friend on the phone who I was due to meet up with after and she said that it was pouring with rain when she went there with her book club and so she didn't go in.
I realised a little while back that I am very much restricted in my movements and audio trail listening by the amount of battery life I have. Also how much of my internet allowance I can afford to use! I also contemplated GPS and how in a way it lets you be freer sometimes in your wandering, as you know you can find yourself when you want to be found. I am though nervous of the 1984 feeling that everything and everyone will truly be tracked and monitored very soon (well we are already sort of).
I’m nearly running out of steam here and to be honest I am not even sure if anyone will be with me by this stage. This blog is surely a very personal process type thing…. Hmmm….
So my day ended with a little respite from the rain and a test of a the Soho stories app with a friend. I have to say that this was a positive experience. Very ambient and interesting characters speaking. I only listened to three stories, but have the feeling it will be easy to return and listen to more.
Okay, I had better leave it here for now. Pictures to upload and even more entries that I have not written yet…
I’ve also been working on my blurb to attract people to speak about the park!
Bye for now!!!
Oral History Consent Forms, recording equipment etc
I meant to add this a few days ago. I thought it might be helpful for people to know where I found some resources for making consent forms and making sure I was not infringing on copyright etc, as well as some info about choosing recording equipment:
Advice on recording equipment from GEM:
http://www.gem.org.uk/soyh/toolkit/mini/mini-toolkit-4.php
Advice on recording equipment from East Midlands Oral History Archive:
http://www.le.ac.uk/emoha/training/no3.pdf
Info about copyright from East Midlands Oral History Archive::
http://www.le.ac.uk/emoha/training/no4.pdf
Oral history interview guidelines and techniques from GEM:
http://www.gem.org.uk/res/howto/ball/res_inter.php
Oral History Ethics from the Oral History Society:
http://www.oralhistory.org.uk/ethics.php
Oral History practical advice for getting started from the Oral History Society:
http://www.oralhistory.org.uk/practical-advice.php
This has a great guide to all things digital, including equipment by JISC:
http://www.jiscdigitalmedia.ac.uk/
And this great link from a friend which compares main digital recording equipment:
http://transom.org/?page_id=7514
and finally, this was the video from the same friend -that helped me choose which audio equipment to get:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmwuS9QOlvs
Fingers crossed it was right :)
As I have said before I was very grateful for the advice I received from the GEM (Group for Education in Museums) discussion mailing list as well as he MCG (Museums Computer Group) mailing list for a lot of this advice. Good luck if you are embarking on the same process....
Approaches to Research
So, I have finally been dipping into the book entitled 'Doing Your Research Project'. The one that is hailed as the 'traditional' approach. We have talked about some different approaches to research in our classes, but still I feel a bit stuck between styles. I like the ideas of 'Action Research', yet I am not really trying to challenge anything or change anything about the job I am doing, because it is not my job, it is an independent project. Yet, I think I have been calling what I am doing action research just for the fact that I am aiming to make a 'product' (in other-words a trail) myself as part of my learning about what makes an effective community trail.
I am also quite intrigued by the 'narrative inquiry' approach. I like the ideas of it, but my question is whether I can be a good storyteller or not! I am looking for stories for my project - stories about the park - and looking into other people's trails that they have created, which are stories - and psychogeography itself seems to have its roots in stories - which I must check out - and I am indeed blogging the process so there is some hope that the narrative approach could be incorporated in my study and writing.
Apologies for the very obvious nature of this entry. I am probably not sounding like an MA student!!
In other news, as they say, I've started listening to the radio for the duration of this assignment (ok, as of yesterday) in order to concentrate on the medium of the spoken word - to consider its potential and gain inspiration.
Questions I have been thinking all along, but came to me quite strongly on the underground yesterday are - and these are exactly how I typed them and so don't always make perfect sense, but it is a snippet of my thoughts in action - mostly on te theme of what questions I might ask makers of trails: 'Good practice and effective community trail? Effective for who? The listener or the maker and the community? Or all? What benefits have ppl found? I am looking into alternatives too because can gain inspiration from them... What types are there?! Was there a reason for making a community trail as opposed to another form of interpretation/ engagement? For you what are the positives of making a community trail?'
My next task is to send out the questionnaires and also the text I have been working on to try and recruit participants. I've ordered my digital recorder at last! The Tascam dr-40! Fingers crossed it arrives ok, it works and that I can work out how to use it properly as well as of course get the good stories to record!
Okay, for now it is onwards with reading some articles we were given in class a couple of weeks back about research styles and then for some more reading of my intro to psychogeography book and hopefully a listen of some of the audio trails that people sent me and that I won't be able to go and try them out on the spot as such. I am still hoping for an improvement in weather again to go and try out the trails in location!!!
Bus travel observations and thoughts ... This time I contemplated the landscape of the transmitter in cp being the familiar feature of the return to cp from town... It's a geographical landmark now. I am also reminded of the posters advertising the fresh air of cp at it's similarly geographical landmark heights! (I wonder if the humps were there in the Victorian times...)
Post- lecture thoughts
So a few thoughts that I had during my course session today: Should I in theory involve participants in my trail, in the trying out other audio trails? I don't think that it is feasible with my time scale, but a good thought in terms of creating a community project. Involve the community with decisions about how they want to create theirs. I feel mine is going to be driven by me in the main.
Something that was said today by our visiting lecturer kind of linked with my thoughts. She said that in terms of her education setting that it is about connecting the past to the present and it is not jut about knowledge transfer. I like that thought.
I was also wondering about referencing the visitor research that Kew Gardens did for their app - that was published in their paper entitled 'Delightfully Lost' - there may be some elements that are relevant to creating my trail - when thinking about what people like to do in an outdoor natural space - and the thought of wanting to be delightfully lost seems to fit with some of my reading on psychogeography.... still only in the initial stages and my introduction to it book!
reading and the lack of it
Worried about my lack of reading, I think i shall take the train a bit earlier to my course - in the aid of getting me reading.... too much time sending emails and organising and not enough getting down to it! I think I may need to take many a train journey in the next few months - not only to research psychgeography - but also to have a good place to read!
a few words symbolise my evening
ethics, consent and project information forms....