As I looked more and more into “The Practice of Everyday Life” by Michel De Certeau, I could see that all examples, and sometimes complicated explanations in just explaining everyday actions, fell ultimately onto the dynamics of the city space, place, and people in creating the meaning of the city.
It has been seen throughout that the important thing is that we ourselves are in the city to exchange influences. The places in the city becomes spaces, as the unpredictable dynamics are created with the existence of people in the place.
The dynamics in the city is not only affecting the spaces in the city. It also takes part in creation and destruction of the city parts. As much as our thoughts are affected by what is in the city, the city is influenced by the people’s perceptions. For this concept was very bold, I was able to process my thoughts and understandings that the upcoming future buildings are results of buildings that are influenced with the new perception on the city, which again gives a new perception to the viewer, and the cycle goes on. Thus it is a constant creation and destruction of the scene due to the dynamic interactions of influences that creates meanings both from withing the people’s minds and in the buildings of the city.
These thoughts and influences of people and the buildings are reflected in the needs and cultural values of the people in the city. The existence of human creations are due to human needs in a city or space. When one’s needs are fulfilled and influenced back to oneself, it becomes a reality, not just a dream. This reality now become the basis of another perception to be created atop the built structure. This is a constant cycle explained.
It is also quite interesting that Certeau drew parallel of concepts of the everyday pedestrian actions and linguistic concepts. Although it may be seen as an over-romanticized description of merely a pedestrian act, it is quite a creative way to express concepts. Additionally, considering the fact that the writing was published in 1986, it is understandable that the way of explanation is quite different from today’s standards.
Soo Joung Han
UID: 3035659812
A thoughtful summary and reflection of Certeau’s critical commentary, which also reveals your perceptiveness of the linguistic parallels used in his arguments. Good job