Principia Discordia

Principia Discordia => Principia Discussion => Topic started by: Cramulus on September 01, 2010, 05:12:10 PM

Title: Discordian Derive
Post by: Cramulus on September 01, 2010, 05:12:10 PM
(http://www.gu-freizeit.de/bilder/wanderer-1.jpg)

Psychogeography (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychogeography) - the idea that you can influence the city's culture by playing with its geography. Project POSTERGASM is a part of this. I thought, let's take the stuff you expect to see and replace it with a joke you didn't expect to see. The people walking around in this area will be influenced by humor and fun, playfully inserted where you'd expect an ad or a missing cat poster.

Dérive (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%A9rive) - the Derive is the act of wandering around, drifting from place to place, getting into adventures. In order to do it, you can't be in the mindset of "I'm on an errand" or "I'm on my way to the local coffee shop to read for 30 minutes." If you embrace the unexpected, and are willing to take chances, you'll end up in some really cool situations.

There should be a word which links these two ideas and Discordianism.

ITT we discuss What is the Discordian derive? What kinds of things might you do on a Discordian Derive? What actions and attitudes will help you get into fun adventures? If you're new to a city, what can you do to get right into the heart of it? How can you really experience a city's various facets on a short budget?



We are coming up with a new take on this activity, it's okay to get weird with it.
Title: Re: Discordian Derive
Post by: Eater of Clowns on September 01, 2010, 07:14:45 PM
This was largely my tactic for touring San Francisco, I wandered where looked interesting with only vague ideas of what to do.  I think just even attempting to do this tends to skew people's perspective briefly, as they tend to notice others who aren't focused on being somewhere else.  If you find someone interested, they have a natural curiosity not much different from the one you're expressing.  Tell them what you're doing.  I've found they consider it as an option that's never occurred to them before.

What I'm reading here though is those two things don't necessarily work together.  If you've on a derive, you want to look open to new experiences, almost inviting them to happen.  If you're on a GASM, don't you want to avoid notice, meaning looking as busy or natural as possible?
Title: Re: Discordian Derive
Post by: Triple Zero on September 02, 2010, 10:47:24 AM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on September 01, 2010, 07:14:45 PM
What I'm reading here though is those two things don't necessarily work together.  If you've on a derive, you want to look open to new experiences, almost inviting them to happen.  If you're on a GASM, don't you want to avoid notice, meaning looking as busy or natural as possible?

That depends on how legal or accepted the thing is that you're doing.

All a GASM is, is a Discordian call for help with a Golden Apple Seed Mission. For example, if your GASM would (partly) be along the lines of something Safari-esque, it's natural enough to get your surroundings involved.

On the other hand, I dunno if it's still strictly a Derive, if you're on a Golden Apple Seed Mission, because the aimlessness is somewhat part of a Derive, isn't it?

Maybe not strictly, but in a practical sense, relating to the experience, I can't see much of a problem with putting up posters, stickering, handing out flyers, or even doing some kind of fun improv pranking going together with getting into unexpected adventures.
Title: Re: Discordian Derive
Post by: the last yatto on September 03, 2010, 05:16:47 AM
most cities don't have ordinates against postergasm only if you use paste. Avoid well traveled streets if your putting up memebombs I guess.

Going on a Safari and being a tourists are similar roles and camera wouldn't be too out of place with a Hawaiian shirt
Title: Re: Discordian Derive
Post by: the other anonymous on September 06, 2010, 06:24:39 PM
The derive always seemed like a bad idea to me.

Or maybe it's because I just watched Falling Down again and the scene where the two guys try to rob D-Fens is still fresh in my mind, trying to inspire i'm-not-a-rascist rascism (y'know, the kind based on fear instead of hate).

Either way, I'd like to see a Google Crime Map so I know where to "randomly" walk.

-toa,
has a love-hate relationship with his reclusive lifestyle
Title: Re: Discordian Derive
Post by: PopeTom on September 06, 2010, 10:40:59 PM
Quote from: the other anonymous on September 06, 2010, 06:24:39 PM

Either way, I'd like to see a Google Crime Map so I know where to "randomly" walk.

http://www.crimereports.com/

Now get the hell out of the house.
Title: Re: Discordian Derive
Post by: the other anonymous on September 06, 2010, 10:43:44 PM
Quote from: PopeTom on September 06, 2010, 10:40:59 PM
Quote from: the other anonymous on September 06, 2010, 06:24:39 PM

Either way, I'd like to see a Google Crime Map so I know where to "randomly" walk.

http://www.crimereports.com/

Now get the hell out of the house.

But I liked my excuses! :(
Title: Re: Discordian Derive
Post by: Brotep on September 07, 2010, 12:49:07 AM
Ideally there would be multiple groups out there, leaving breadcrumbs for each other.

Mind, this can happen on its own--which is the best way. Wandering around campus one night, a friend and I discovered somebody had placed a fishing pole in the hand of a well-known local statue seated on a bench, with an envelope and a card. We replaced it so others could find it, too.

Another time we drew a magic circle with divine and demonic names in one spot, chalk-traced the shadows of the bikes on the rack in another, and made lizards out of clay, which we put on and around a door handle.
Title: Re: Discordian Derive
Post by: dontblameyoko on September 07, 2010, 03:04:59 AM
what did the card say?
Title: Re: Discordian Derive
Post by: Brotep on September 07, 2010, 04:13:11 AM
something about how you should take this fishing pole and tacklebox and use them, because that's what life is all about

it was signed with a heart and the name of the man who the statue is of
Title: Re: Discordian Derive
Post by: ñͤͣ̄ͦ̌̑͗͊͛͂͗ ̸̨̨̣̺̼̣̜͙͈͕̮̊̈́̈͂͛̽͊ͭ̓͆ͅé ̰̓̓́ͯ́́͞ on September 07, 2010, 10:12:25 AM
Quote from: Aleister Growly on September 07, 2010, 12:49:07 AM
Another time we drew a magic circle with divine and demonic names in one spot, chalk-traced the shadows of the bikes on the rack in another, and made lizards out of clay, which we put on and around a door handle.

Good stuff.

Sculpture graffiti is an under-utilized form...
Title: Re: Discordian Derive
Post by: Brotep on September 07, 2010, 11:18:47 PM
Quote from: Ne+@uNGr0+ on September 07, 2010, 10:12:25 AM
Quote from: Aleister Growly on September 07, 2010, 12:49:07 AM
Another time we drew a magic circle with divine and demonic names in one spot, chalk-traced the shadows of the bikes on the rack in another, and made lizards out of clay, which we put on and around a door handle.

Good stuff.

Sculpture graffiti is an under-utilized form...

It's true. The lizards (my friends' idea) were clever. But I have to say that putting the fishing pole in the hand of the statue (other random people) was a brilliant if small and specific psychogeographic redefinition.

You don't need months of effort to do great things. Sometimes a well-placed fishing pole, bow tie, mustache, or chair is all you need.
Title: Re: Discordian Derive
Post by: The Great Pope of OUTSIDE on September 09, 2010, 08:03:52 PM
Psychogeography and derive are two different things, and I doubt you could come up with a word that would combine them BOTH to Discordianism.

However, in a very real way I think one will lead to the other and vice versa, and both are necessary for Discordianism.
Title: Re: Discordian Derive
Post by: Placid Dingo on September 13, 2010, 11:23:04 AM
Quote from: Aleister Growly on September 07, 2010, 11:18:47 PM
Quote from: Ne+@uNGr0+ on September 07, 2010, 10:12:25 AM
Quote from: Aleister Growly on September 07, 2010, 12:49:07 AM
Another time we drew a magic circle with divine and demonic names in one spot, chalk-traced the shadows of the bikes on the rack in another, and made lizards out of clay, which we put on and around a door handle.

Good stuff.

Sculpture graffiti is an under-utilized form...

It's true. The lizards (my friends' idea) were clever. But I have to say that putting the fishing pole in the hand of the statue (other random people) was a brilliant if small and specific psychogeographic redefinition.

You don't need months of effort to do great things. Sometimes a well-placed fishing pole, bow tie, mustache, or chair is all you need.

There's a Banksy quote along those lines; like you can spend thousands on a marble sculpure, put it in the centre of town and nobody sees it. Add a drunken idiot with a road cone to the equation however...
Title: Re: Discordian Derive
Post by: Cramulus on September 15, 2010, 03:19:45 PM
related: http://www.principiadiscordia.com/forum/index.php?topic=26507.msg930350#msg930350
Title: Re: Discordian Derive
Post by: hpwombat on October 12, 2010, 06:15:17 PM
Quote from: The Great Pope of OUTSIDE on September 09, 2010, 08:03:52 PM
Psychogeography and derive are two different things, and I doubt you could come up with a word that would combine them BOTH to Discordianism.

However, in a very real way I think one will lead to the other and vice versa, and both are necessary for Discordianism.

Unitary Urbanism is the name that combines them, from the Situationists which could be seen as pioneers of psychogeography and the derive.  Making up a new name might not be necessary, though I'd suggest something about urban exploration, interpretation and manipulation of the urban atmosphere (via meme bombs and/or other approach).