This discussion relates to two new readings for ENG 1101, and starts us on our new Project, which will involve research and an exploration of our surroundings. More on that as we develop a sense of our shared and divergent interests.
In our first new reading, “What If You Could Choose Between the Fastest Route and the Most Beautiful?” Lex Berko reports on technologies that would help you alter your route by taking short detours to maximize your walking experience. She identifies a few different kinds of goals for the detour, such as having a more beautiful walk. What kind of environment or experience would motivate you to take a short detour from the most direct path from your location to your destination? What environments or experiences do you seek out when you’re walking, and what do you avoid? What if instead of thinking about this from your ordinary walking point of view, you think about it as though you are what Chuck Wolfe says in our second new reading, the interview by Patrick Sisson, “How better photos can help you document, and shape, your neighborhood,”–that is, an urban diarist. What does he mean by the term, and what would you look for on your detoured walk? Respond to one or two classmates in the discussion.
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An experience or environment that would motivate me to take a short detour from my destination is something pretty, creative, nature like, colorful, and something that I can take a picture of. Something fun but not too time-consuming like a spray-painted wall, view of the water, or even just a block filled with beautiful trees. Something I would avoid Is something, ugly, boring, and dark. Something like an ally way or just an empty street. Thinking about it from chuck wolfe point of view I would want detour for something that tells a story, something that’s evolving in some way where you can see the progress and potential in it. And something culturally diverse. By urban diary, he refers to a book that helps you find your desires and wants when creating their project using the “the LENS method: look, explore, narrate, and summarize.”. I don’t know what I would look for in a detoured walk specifically.
An experience or environment that would motivate me to take a short detour from my destination is something eye catching and something that pops and stands out. Something that makes me stare at and take a picture of or something that is meaningful towards me. One thing I would definitely avoid is something that blends in or something that is dull and pointless. From Chuck Wolfe’s point of view, I would want to detour for something that has a much deeper meaning to me rather than everyone else, or something that gets better everyday and evolves as time goes on. An Urban Diary relates to his book he has been writing for years that explain LENS method which stand for Look, Explore, Narrate and Summarize. As stated before, on a detoured walk, I would look for things that pop and stand out or something that has value and a meaning to me
An experience or environment that would motivate me to take a short detour from my destination would be something like quiet and chill. This type of environment makes me go along to my destination without any distractions. Something that I would avoid are loud, noisy areas or where they’re are crowds of people. Looking at it from Chuck Wolfe’s point of view, I would want to detour for something that has a purpose, going somewhere with no person is basically saying you’re wandering around. His definition on the term an urban diary is to help find purpose or a desire, as explained with the LENS method ( Look, Explore, Narrate and Summarize). As stated before, I would try to look for a quiet and easiest path to my destination
The type of environment or experience that would motivate me to take a short detour from the most direct path from my location to my destination would probably be an area of construction. I always like to pass by where there is construction since I like seeing a glimpse of the process of the building. Its really cool to me to pass by and see the changes that are occurring from start to finish. I also rather walk through an environment where there is a lot of of people, (pre-covid), since it feels more alive and not boring. Reading the interview, what I believe he means by this term is that when you take pictures of an area, you can use those photos to create what he says, “constructive dialogue and engagement”, meaning discussion of how things can be changed and engaging in action to create the change you want to see. Similar to what I wrote, in Chucks perspective, he would walk around in areas where there is change occurring, where there is old structures and new structures together. I feel as if Chuck would also like to walk through construction sites and take photographs to document the change going on.
I’m glad that each of you who has answered so far is engaging with the ideas that Wolfe shared, either his LENS method, or the “constructive dialogue and engagement” that Kevin refers to. It’s also interesting that most of you want to walk where there’s more activity or interest, except Andre, who highlights the value of quiet. Each of these different choices could be part of good LENS urban diaries. Figuring out what’s interesting in something that doesn’t catch everyone’s eye is an important part of being an urban diarist. Seeing those overlaps or juxtapositions is essential, even if they’re on a micro scale. It’s about seeing something or things and understanding the story. Sometimes that story is where the construction is, sometimes it’s on the quiet tree-lined street, or someplace altogether different. We’ll continue to explore this question–I’m looking forward to additional replies.
An experience or environment that would motivate me to take a short detour from my destination is something that’s creative and dramatic in a sense. This type of environment will make me wonder and make a detour just so I can get a glimpse of the setting. Something that I would consider avoiding is somewhere very quiet, boring or dull in a way because to me I feel very suspicious if something is too quiet for my comfort. Similar to what Chuck Wolfe said, I like to look at areas where the environment and buildings are changing over time. By an urban diary, he refers to a book that helps to find and understand ways of creating their project using “ The LENS method, explore, narrate, and summarize.” I would look for places that look and sound dramatic and have creative and beautiful scenery.
An experience or environment that would motivate me to take a short detour from my destination is something that’s creative and fun in a sense. That type to f environment would make the detour not boring and exciting with laughs. What I would avoid is somewhere boring with a dark setting, so that the sun would shine and bring a more happier vibe. Just like chuck said “I like to look at areas where the environment and building are changing over time.”
The environment that would motivate me to take short detour from my path is Nature. When I was a child I used to live in Georgia (country). During school I lived in the city and during summer and winter I used to go in “Manglisi”(it is place where people visit during holidays, village). It was a beautiful place and it was surrounded with forest and nature. I loved that place specially and I have many wonderful memories from there. This is why I would rather chose nature than loud and fun place. In Brooklyn there are very few places with GOOD and CLEAN nature, or maybe there is not. So, sometimes I just visit parks and quiet places, where I can relax, get some fresh air and clear my mind.
An environment that would motivate me to take a short detour from the most direct path is anything that has color, and something you don’t see everything. Something that is very unique, and eye grabbing like writing , paintings, and even talent or music. When I’m walking I seek out safe and relaxing environments where it isn’t too crowded , and neither too deserted. One thing I avoid, is a dark and lonely place, especially when it is night time. I never like to be the only one walking on the block or area. From Chuck Wolfe’s point of view, I would want to detour for something that is worth it. Something that holds a purpose, and a hidden meaning behind it that is useful. By the term Urban Diary, it is intended to discover purposes, that explains the LENS method which stands for Look, Explore, Narrate and Summarize.
Personally, I like going to areas that are quiet because it feels as if I’m allowing myself to take a break from my daily life or I’m letting myself detach from problems and stress. Whenever I decide to take a detour, I usually prefer my detours to be in a quiet environment. When I’m in a quiet environment, it allows me to really take in my surroundings. I believe that by being in a quiet environment, a person can find a more enjoyable route that they wouldn’t find in a busy, always in motion type of environment. When I’m walking, I enjoy going to a small park that doesn’t have too many visitors. I also enjoy finding areas that have a lake or a pond and has a good amount of sunlight. I try to avoid many crowded areas but every once in a while, I walk through areas that are busy because I like to see what I can find in those areas as well.
An experience and area that I would take a short detour would be an area that is esthetically pleasing to me such as trees or nice features in the area for me to view as I go on the path. pieces of art and a wonderful connection between the area with nature and modern structure. These areas would let me reflect on the area and on myself. When I was still in High school when I would come home I would change my root to look at the trees around the middle school nearby that were beautiful and huge and as the trees lessen I would look up as I got into my block I would see the big blue sky with its magnificent clouds and the shapes it would create.