Walking as an Art

Wanderlust

A book that I need to read over again is Wanderlust by Rebecca Solnit. In my final year of University I took an art class about walking. You may be thinking what is the connection? How do those even relate? Well, they do. One particular form I studied was Parkour. I read this book along side and drew upon some connections.

In chapter 11 of Wanderlust: A History of Walking, Rebecca Solnit discusses how pedestrians use the city. This ranges from prostitution to leisurely strolls. When reading this chapter I was drawing relations to the practice of Parkour. A city always contains more than any inhabitant can know and a great city always makes the unknown and the possible spurs to the imagination. People who practice parkour may already know the cityscape really well or may have never seen the area before once they begin using the city. Their focus is "How can I use this space to move around?" The urbanite is on the lookout for particulars, for opportunities, individuals, and supplies. Guard rails turn into tight-ropes, walls are climbed, ally-ways are a place to jump from wall-to-wall. The city is transformed into a playground. Solnit discusses the problem of American cities becoming more and more like enlarged suburbs, controlled and segregated designed for no interaction. Parkour challenges this by providing a new function for urban planning. Its opportunity to go against the system of control. Solnit goes on to say that Urban walking has always been a shady business, easily turning into soliciting, rioting, protesting, loitering etc... and parkour certainly is seen by many as shady business.  This leaves me with the question why people are against parkour or see it as a problem. Is it disruptive to the city? somehow interfering? My only concern with the sport is safety. Have you seen what those people can do!?!

The movie My Playground offers a good insight into the art of parkour and urban landscape.

My Playground Youtube Preview