In Michael de Certeau’s “The Practice of Everyday Life”, we are introduced with an interesting yet familiar and personal concept of walking and how it represents the city. This piece of writing bases much of its thought on the historical context of 1967. The 1967 French revolution was resistance to consumerism, capitalism, and the grand American imperialism. Certeau is concerned about consumption overtaking the individual value and experiences. He links this to the city by breaking down what a real city consists of and how it functions. He stresses the value of walking that happens “down below, below the thresholds at which visibility begins”. He explains the value of individual paths that are unconsciously repeated, which turn out to be the collective reflection of the society and hence the city. Through this, he depicts walking as a creative resistance against the consumerism and capitalism that the city also faces.
Hae Gi Choi 3035451193
A well-written and thoughtful reflection on Certeau’s reading, in particular, your chosen emphasis to focus on the notion of movement through space and place.