anachronistic space A Guidebook to Exploring A Nomadic Consciousness
By
Lukas Xavier Fetzko August 14, 2020
Thesis submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of the University at Buffalo, State University of New York in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
Master of Architecture
Department of Architecture
Copyright by Lukas Fetzko 2020 All Rights Reserved
ii
To the observant and aloof, who share more in common than we think.
iii
acknowledgements
So many people (and non-people) have played a huge
role in my development as a person and designer, and the following document is a direct result of these influences. That is not to sound hyperbolic or vain. I hope, if anything, this document can serve as a piece of support or encouragement for others who desire to engage the world with more sensitivity, serendipity, and playfulness. However, this document also explores ideas and interests which I am deeply and personally invested in, and have been building upon for several years (and the influences on which can be traced far back). I would be remiss not to include the following acknowledgements in this guidebook.
Thank you to my parents. My mother Margaret and
her husband Jeff, my father Vince, and my dear friend Renée. For always being supportive of my interests and goals. As well as helping me stay focused, diligent, and offering pragmatism when my neurosis and overthinking kicks in (which is often). In addition, thank you to my sister Maddy, and my extended family. Having a large, diverse, crazy, fun, and loud support group was indispensable during this process. Of course I can’t forget our yearly camping trips growing up; those times of collectivizing in nature were truly special.
I can also confirm that without my experiences in
scouting (for nearly a decade) this thesis and guidebook would not be in the state it is. As Lord Baden-Powell says, and the scout motto confirms, “be prepared.” I hope this document can help others be more prepared to confidently seek new ways of living, interacting, thinking, and problem solving.
The world of academia has been eye opening and a
crucial source of support and development for me. To my 3rd grade teacher Mrs. Fenton (you were still Ms. Maiurano when you taught me) thank you for all of the books you acquired for me. Reading the biographies of influential people has truly pushed me to make positive change in the world, in my own way. I also need to thank two of my highschool teachers; Mr. Buehner and Mr. Rodriguez. True renaissance iv
men who have imbued me with both a voracious curiosity in, and a deep sensitivity to, the world. This thesis and guidebook is a testament to your influences both in class, on the soccer field, and life in general.
Thank you to my freshman TA Charlie Schmidt. Who never
agreed to go to Olive Garden with the studio but opened my eyes to what the world of architecture and design has to offer outside of merely designing houses. Thank you to my semester at Arkitektskolen Aarhus, and the many friends I made there, you are truly special to me. My experiences there, in addition to my academic work, have led directly to the earliest formulations of what this thesis could be. Tusen takk! To my thesis chairs, Nicholas Bruscia and Christopher Romano, thank you for your intensity, honesty, and enthusiasm, even amidst the upheaval that is (was?) COVID-19. You have given me confidence in my future endeavors as a designer and that there is a place in the world for the observant, unorthodox, and sensitive.
Thank you to my roommates Craig and Mike, and fellow
grad students, for putting up with me and commiserating through the gauntlet of architecture graduate school. Many thanks to my weekly Dungeons & Dragons group for helping provide a break from the stressful and taxing world that is architecture, while still fostering a creative outlet. Finally, thank you to my friends, former professors and critics, my ‘88 Land Cruiser FJ Misty,
music I listen to,
books I’ve read, movies I’ve seen, trails I’ve walked, boots I’ve worn, growing up in the rolling hills and forests of Central New York, and all others who I have crossed paths with over the years. I am truly a part of all that I have experienced, and this thesis and guidebook is a testament to that. Thank you all deeply and eternally for these experiences, lessons, mistakes, jokes, opportunities, and stories.
- Lukas Xavier Fetzko, 2020 v
abstract
This guidebook presents futures, and reconsiders
the present, in the Great Lakes Region through exploring relationships
to
the
built
environment
of
sedentary
communities. Research into Nomadism uncovered that many nomadic
communities
have
long
been
cognizant
of
the
relationships between the human and non-human forces of the world.
As a counterpoint to modern sedentary living,
nomadic communities are seen here as a case study on resilience, adaptation, and sensitivity in the face of increasingly extreme climactic, political, economic, and social conditions.
Nomadism can be broadly defined as a “way of life of
peoples who do not live continually in the same place but move cyclically or periodically.�1 However, Nomadism has many definitions, many even conflicting or contradictory, yet all describe lifestyles which challenge sedentary paradigms that identity, agency, community, and culture are dependent on a sedentary definition of place, history, and ownership.2 In order to differentiate Nomadism from modern sedentary societies without accepting a limiting definition, Four
Forces 3 (Resources, Environment, Identity, Entities) were identified to assist in creating a new context for nomadic thinking which can be linked with sedentary mindsets. These forces are used as a basis for a proposal to explore what resiliency, adaptation, habitation, and relationship means in a contemporary context and to study first-hand how these forces interact and influence us {personally, locally, and globally} at a variety of scales. While a number of architects and designers have reexamined nomadic communities, challenged common dispositions towards place, or questioned sedentary frameworks regarding culture and architecture, they have focused more on the documentation of
these practices
and
situations,
stopping
short
of
exploring the larger implications of nomadic thinking for architecture, space-making, and community building.
This guidebook argues that nomadic populations are
not only more conscious of the Four Forces; their lifestyles actively engage with these forces where sedentary populations vi
ignore or try to prevent them (see section 1.1-1.2). This guidebook explores the opportunities of developing the mindset of a Nomadic Consciousness 4 through undertaking a series of Trajectories 5 intended to uncover relationships with the Four Forces in the context of the Great Lakes
Region.6 These Trajectories are used as a foundation for an Anachronicle7 which explores Nomadic Consciousness and the Four Forces through the imagining of outposts 8 that engage with Anachronistic Space. 9 This is accomplished through merging this data with mappings, chronicling, and proposed spatial anachronisms. This involves discovering, creating, and reconsidering relationships which subvert, co-opt, transgress, and recontextualize sedentary systems, infrastructure, and objects.
vii
table of contents iii iv vi viii x xiii xiv
Dedication Acknowledgements Abstract Table of Contents List of Figures Legend Preface
0.0 Introduction 001 004
0.1 Lost in the Forest 0.2 Complications + Potentials
of Nomadism + Sedentism
007
0.3 On Utilized Methodologies
0.2.1 The BAMFF 0.2.2 The Trajectories 0.2.3 The Anachronicle
012
0.4 The Goals of Anachronous Space
1.0 On Nomadism, Mappings, + Challenging Mainstream Contexts
014
1.1 Nomadism Overview
1.1.1 Table of Extant Nomadic Cultures
023 027
1.1.2 Nomadic Communities of Focus
1.2 Nomadism as a Counterpoint 1.3 On Maps + Mappings
2.0 Identifying + Utilizing the Four Forces + Nomadic Consciouness
034 038 viii
2.1 On the Four Forces 2.2 On Nomadic Consciousness
3.0 Exercises
043
3.1 Exercise 1 - The BAMFF
3.1.1 Unpacking the BAMFF
055
3.2 Exercise 2 - The Trajectories
3.2.1 Trajectory 01 3.2.2 Trajectory 02 3.2.3 Trajectory 03
065
3.3 Exercise 3 - The Anachronicle
3.3.1 Existing Content + Context
3.3.2 The Trajectories + Crossing Scales 3.3.3 Anachronicle Outposts + Artifacts
4.0 Conclusions {or Spatial Foraging}
116 119
4.1 Evaluating Relationships 4.2 On Spatial Foraging
+ Past the Guidebook
123
Notes Appendices
125 127 131 145
A: On Lexicon B: On Sources C: On Chronicles D: On The Four Forces
148
in the Great Lakes Region
E: On Drawings
The Anachronicle Appendix
152 F: On Etc. 153 Bibliography
ix
list of figures Preface
Page
001 Captain Nemo on top of the Nautilus xiv 002 Scrambling
xvi
003 Portrait of A Happy Nomad xvii
0.0 Introduction
1.2 Nomadism as a Counterpoint 016 Migratory Path
023
017 Nomadic Trajectory
023
018 Striated Space
024
019 Smooth Space
024
020 2D Trajectory
025
021 3D Camp 026
0.3 On Utilized Methodologies 004 Comforts of Home
1.3 On Maps + Mappings 005
005 The Environment Bubble 007 006 At the Foot of the Fountain 010 007 Inhabiting the Image
011
1.0 On Nomadism, Mappings, + Challenging Mainstream Contexts 008 Broken Border
013
1.1 Nomadism Overview 009 Table of Extant Nomadic Cultures 015
022 Clover Leaf Map
028
023 Dymaxion Globe <unfolded> 028 024 Geological Investigation of the Alluvial Valley of the Lower Mississippi River 029 025 Cahill-Keyes Projection
029
026 Nolli Map of Rome
030
027 Authagraph Projection
030
028 New Babylon
031
029 BAMFF Teaser
032
2.0 Identifying + Utilizing the Four Forces + Nomadic Conscience
010 Home In the Round
017
011 Black Tent
018
012 Inuits Village
019
2.1 On the Four Forces
013 Landscape
020
031 Hunt
036
014 Nenet Herd
021
032 Pipeline
036
015 Boat
022
033 Bedouin Family
037
034 Mountain Steppes
037
x
030 Property Of
033
2.2 On Nomadic
051 42°52’33.6”N 78°51’28.7”W 060
Conscience 035 A Dynamic System
040
052 42°53’21.6”N 78°49’46.9”W 060 053 Trajectory 2
054 42°56’44.6”N 78°49’35.3”W 062
3.0 Exercises 036 Anachronicle Teaser
042
BAMFF 045
038 Authagraph Projection (2) 049 039 The BAMFF: Global Forces 049 040 The BAMFF: Legends + Keys 051 041 The BAMFF: The Tuareg
055 42°56’24.9”N 78°49’37.8”W 062 056 42°56’24.0”N 78°49’38.1”W 062
3.1 Exercise 1 - The 037 The BAMFF
061
053
042 The BAMFF: Emerging Relationships 054
057 42°56’10.0”N 78°49’28.0”W 062 058 42°55’29.9”N 78°49’07.7”W 062 059 42°54’08.4”N 78°48’21.9”W 062 060 42°53’07.2”N 78°47’59.8”W 062 061 42°53’07.2”N 78°47’59.8”W (2) 062 062 Trajectory 3
3.2 Exercise 2 - The
063
063 42°56’51.4”N 78°49’25.7”W 064
Trajectories 043 Urban Frames
058
044 Trajectory 1
059
045 42°56’38.5”N 78°52’05.2”W 060 046 42°56’38.1”N 78°53’23.8”W 060 047 42°56’29.8”N 78°53’47.7”W 060 048 42°56’26.2”N 78°53’50.0”W 060 049 42°53’00.5”N 78°53’00.1”W 060 050 42°52’43.3”N 78°52’33.2”W 060
064 42°54’22.8”N 78°54’04.6”W 064 065 42°54’25.1”N 78°54’21.6”W 064 066 42°53’14.5”N 79°14’52.4”W 064 067 43°05’18.1”N 79°03’57.2”W 064 068 43°04’26.6”N 79°00’10.6”W 064 069 43°02’28.6”N 78°53’17.0”W 064 070 42°56’51.4”N 78°49’25.7”W 064
xi
list of figures (con’t.)
3.3 Exercise 3 - The
089 The Anachronicle: id.02 099
Anachronicle 071 The Anachronicle
067
072 The Anachronicle: Map Scale 070 073 The Anachronicle: Trajectory Scale 071 074 The Anachronicle: Personal Scale 074 075 The Anachronicle: Quadrant 1 075 076 The Anachronicle: rs.01 077 077 The Anachronicle: rs.02 079 078 Trajectory 2 Selfie 082 079 42°56’12.6”N 78°49’29.4”W 082 080 The Anachronicle: rs.03 083 081 The Anachronicle: Quadrant 2 085 082 The Anachronicle: ev.01 087 083 The Anachronicle: ev.02 089 084 Trajectory 2 Fire-Pit
091
085 42°55’46.5”N 78°49’14.9”W 091 086 The Anachronicle: ev.03 093 087 The Anachronicle: Quadrant 3 095 088 The Anachronicle: id.01 097
xii
090 Existing Viaduct
101
091 42°53’32.3”N 78°48’01.8”W 102 092 42°53’07.2”N 78°47’59.8”W 102 093 The Anachronicle: id.03 103 094 The Anachronicle: Quadrant 4 105 095 The Anachronicle: et.01 107 096 The Anachronicle: et.02 109 097 The Hydrant
111
098 42°56’01.7”N 78°49’24.3”W 112 099 42°55’48.0”N 78°49’16.7”W 112 100 The Anachronicle: et.03 113
4.0 Conclusions 101 Roadside Distraction
115
4.2 On Spatial Foraging 102 The Road Goes Ever On
116
legend
This page serves as a legend to aid in navigating
this document and the conventions used.
Page Layout + Content Organization
You may have noticed that this document has a unique
size (approximately 5.6” x 10” for each page). This was done to accommodate the drawings and other content created for this guidebook while minimizing unusable or wasted space from using a more traditional paper size. The result is (admittedly unexpectedly) a pamphlet or brochure-like page size which pairs well with the guidebook structure of this thesis. (to be carried in a bag, back pocket, etc.)
This guidebook constantly refers to both the appendices
located in the back of this guidebook and other sections of itself. This means that terms, images, concepts, etc. are presented in, at times, anachronistic organizations. This is intentional and serves to support the overarching goal of presenting the most relevant (or maybe even seemingly irrelevant) information when it is needed. This guidebook is presented in a specific organization to convey its contents as clearly as possible. However, it is a long, dense document and taking “breaks” outside of those presented is encouraged, especially if referring to the appendices.
Text Notes + Appendices
Throughout the document there will be notes which follow
specific words, phrases, concepts or titles. These notes direct the reader to various appendices. Most notably, Appendix A: On
Lexicon which collects all of the terms which were used or invented for this document, and their definitions, in the context of this guidebook. The reader is urged to consult the referenced appendix when it arises in the text, especially Appendix A. The reader is also encouraged to consult the appendices at will.
In-Text Asides ( ) - text in parentheses is an aside to the reader of the guidebook
{ } - text in brackets is the author addressing the reader xiii
preface “There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something. You certainly usually find something, if you look, but it is not always quite the something you were after.” - J.R.R. Tolkien
The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
Fig. 001 / Captain Nemo on
top of the Nautilus /cover image from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea / Alphonse Marie de Neuville
I am still surprised by how much I read when I
was in grade school. Specifically books by Jules Verne.10 These often large novels were thoroughly fascinating to me. Dense (often hundreds of pages) with small Garamond or
Times New Roman
font
packed
tightly
on
the
pages.
Scientific, with plethora latin classifications of flora and fauna and in depth descriptions of machinery and environments.
Finally,
above
all,
fantastic
imagined
worlds and situations; literally ahead of their times. From giant submarines (Fig.001), to worlds beneath the surface of the earth, to flying around the world in a balloon; Verne’s novels existed in an impossible world which was described so intricately, so passionately that the reader could certainly imagine its existence. The same goes for my other favorite authors; Tolkien, Le Guin, and xiv
recently Jeff Vandermeer, author of the Southern Reach
Trilogy.11 (The first book in the series, Annihilation, was recently adapted for the screen by Alex Garland, and may be more familiar) This series employs the world-building and attention to detail of Verne, Tolkien, and others, and alchemizes it with the strangeness of the “New Weird” and “Cosmic Horror” genres of which it is often ascribed. The result is
something truly otherworldly, even unsettling,
yet strangely familiar, organic, living. {It does not do this series justice to try and describe it, and I suggest you read it for yourself} These ideas of the strange and familiar, the natural and artificial are crucial to my development as a thinker; an inhabitant of the world(s).
{As you may have already noticed, the writing and
language of this guidebook is rather colloquial. This is intentional. While there is certainly formal a structure involved in the writing and language of this guidebook, I often work off of serendipitous and spontaneous thoughts as much as planned ones. I embrace this more chaotic, yet in my opinion, more rewarding process. I enjoy friendlier, conversational writings, and I feel this style is appropriate for the content of this guidebook which seeks to balance seriousness with humor, and criticism with optimism.}
These stories about journeys, quests, adventure,
discovery, and facing the unknown may seem disconnected to an architecture thesis {at least it appeared that way to myself early on}, yet are
an integral part of my
relationship with architecture and the natural and built environment(s). These interests do not exist purely in the mind either, they have been expressed out in the world: Scouting as a youth, yearly camping trips with the family, or the dichotomy of having a parent who lives in suburbia and another in the countryside. It all came to a head towards the end of my undergraduate architecture program. Once these interests became clear to me I became determined to keep them in mind. Once I decided to pursue a thesis in my master’s program, these Campbellian 12 concepts, and their distortions and detractors, became central. Another xv
Fig. 002 / Scrambling / In-situ documentation Trajectory 2 / 42°56’24.8”N 78°49’37.8”W
crucial aspect of my interests is doing; Informed both from the philosophical approach to my schooling, and my own personal dispositions. The manifestation of ideas into the world are as important as their complexity in one’s mind. The making, building, experiencing, recording, attempting, and failing are for me, fundamental aspects of being an architect (Fig.002). Finally, most recently, the concept of architect as anthropologist was introduced to me. The architect as a recorder of humanity, a reflection of humanity, and a facilitator of humanity. Essentially, the storyteller, the maker, and the mediator form the three aspects of my understanding of the architect and their role in society.
Anachronistic Space: A Guidebook to Exploring A
Nomadic Consciousness is a thesis and guidebook developed over an academic year {as well as the better part of 2 summers}. It has been constructed through a mixture of traditional academic research, experiential fieldwork, personal reflection, and speculative spatial narratives. These methods are presented through theory analysis and development, and personal and collective chronicling. As well as other tangents, deviations, and appendices meant to further enrich and clarify the ideas explored. These three presentation methods; theory, chronicling, and tangents; xvi
are presented at times singularly, in pairs, and sometimes all three at once. These isolations and overlaps form a geologic document; sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic organizations existing and influencing each other. My goal is to make this as clear to follow as possible and ask you to embrace the often intense, opulent, and mischievous personality which certainly will come through in this document. Whether one is engaging in architectural practice or
architectural
experience,
wandering
or
foraging,
isolating or collectivizing, I hope Anachronistic Space: A
Guidebook to Exploring A Nomadic Consciousness can serve as a tool and precedent for operating in the world with more sensitivity, serendipity, humor, and mischief!
Fig. 003 / Portrait of A Happy Nomad selfie / 42°53’23.4”N 78°49’45.8”W
xvii
0.0 introduction â&#x20AC;&#x153;Without change, something sleeps inside us, and seldom awakens. The sleeper must awaken.â&#x20AC;? - Frank Herbert
0.1 Lost in the Forest
This guidebook explores the potentials of a Nomadic
Consciousness in the context of the Great Lakes Region through speculative loci (considered here as outposts) engaged with Anachronistic Space.13 The opening quote by Frank Herbert (author of Dune) expresses the spirit of this guidebook and its goal; to highlight
change and
the forces which act on us as essential components of the worlds we engage with, and if one does not embrace change they are avoiding and stifling crucial aspects of their lives. This all sounds interesting, but admittedly rather abstract and esoteric. However, architecture and the built environment becomes the modus through which these broader concepts are explored, elucidated, and exemplified. This guidebook utilizes architecture, an inherently heterogeneous field, to bring these varied ideas
together
through
cross-disciplinary
methods
which allow other perspectives to enter the mix. This guidebook speaks to the practice of architecture as much as it does the experience of it. This guidebook regards the scale of a boot as much as it does the scale of a
subcutaneous aquifer.14 This guidebook seeks to develop a relationship with an individual architecture masters student as much as it seeks to develop a relationship with a diverse urban community. The ideas explored in this guidebook become more robust when considered in and across multiple perspectives. They benefit from 001
diversity and complexity; as it is these relationships which help build an environment that resists stagnation and imbalance.
This
means
architectural
challenging
practice,
recontextualizing
definitions
reconsidering
both
human
the
of
familiar,
and
non-human
relationships, and reframing individual and collective interactions. In her 2015 book The Mushroom at the End
of the World,15 anthropologist Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing regards the world of mushroom picking as one which teaches us to “look around rather than ahead.”16 {I feel that is a powerful concept and one retroactively discovered and incorporated into this guidebook. In fact, I will return to this idea from Dr. Tsing’s book and to the world of mushroom picking and foraging again; having finished reading Dr. Tsing’s book towards the end of the thesis process, I was amazed by how it related and clarified ideas I was considering} This guidebook argues that progress 17 does not need to be linear. Thinking laterally, looking back, and reforming existing relationships are methods of approaching the world
which
are
underdeveloped
and
underutilized,
especially in architectural practice.
“Where do we start?” Well, chronologically this
process began with research into Nomadism;18 specific communities
were
highlighted
which,
prior
to
in
depth research, engaged with the broad ideas of this guidebook. Mainly adaptation, resilience, and exisitng as a counterpoint to modern sedentary practices. This document asserts that the architect is more like an anthropologist academically
than
an
engineer.
anthropological
was
However, quickly
staying
recognized
as a limitation, as was the initial desire to design
things for nomads.19
Questioning
the
intent
of
this
guidebook inevitably links it to the authenticity of it’s content. Even with good intentions, coming from a position within a sedentary culture means committing to
a
traditionally
nomadic 20
perspective
is
nearly
impossible (especially considering the timeframe of the making of this document). Anything proposed to 002
these communities as “solutions” would be biased, even unintentionally, towards a sedentary perspective. In hindsight, this was a crucial shift from which this document only benefited. However, nomads and Nomadism were not entirely abandoned. Instead, Nomadism became a concept to deconstruct, reconsider, and redefine. It was still clear that traditional Nomadism had strong ties to this guidebook. Therefore the broad concept became an abstract understanding of Nomadism; somewhere between thinking nomadically and acting nomadically.
Nomadology: The War Machine by Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari became an introductory source to making this translation between the “physically” or “literally” nomadic (as in being a nomad in the anthropological sense), and the “spiritually” nomadic (as in thinking nomadically,
even
if
one
comes
from
a
sedentary
community).
21
Nomadic Consciousness became the conceptual basis
for these ideas. However, the concept of Nomadism is itself complex, abstract, even contradictory. Therefore, a new method of gathering information anthropologically, architecturally, and elsewhere was developed. The Four
Forces were defined to serve as a framework for exploring nomadism and Nomadic Consciousness which could transcend the limitations of the more traditional methods of research initially implemented. The Four Forces are always active upon communities and individuals, but are
often
not
communities
considered
especially
seek
or to
respected. minimize
Sedentary and
avoid
unstable or precarious situations. Research through the lens of the Four Forces was expressed through a BAMFF 22 (Big-Ass Map of the Four Forces); a large, multilayered mapping which
is
(map
vs
mapping
discussed
is
an
throughout
important this
dichotomy
document)
which
began to explore the world through new relationships, scales, contexts, and histories. As stated earlier, the dichotomous considerations of this guidebook are central and therefore a “world map” was a limiting process of exploration. 003
Exploring Nomadic Consciousness and Anachronistic
Space architecturally is achieved through a variety of methodologies; most notably by doing, recording, and proposing. Trajectories were undertaken to provide physical experiences, data, and documentation in the context of the Great Lakes Region, specifically Western New York and Ontario, Canada. While each was planned with specific focuses and movements, they still allowed (and
even
celebrated)
the
serendipitous
situations
which inevitably arose. These Trajectories were used as a proof-of-concept and a foundation for an Anachronicle which explores Nomadic Consciousness and the Four Forces through developing a relationship with Anachronistic Space expressed as a collection of outposts.23
What are implications of nomadic thinking for sedentary populations?
How can design both foster a Nomadic Consciousness and provide the tools/ space/infrastructure to act on that consciousness?
How do anachronisms24 play a role in the manifestations of a Nomadic Consciousness in the built environment?
0.2 Complications + Potentials of Nomadism + Sedentism Early research into Nomadism identified similarities between
extremely
diverse
global
nomadic
communities.
Namely, that many nomadic communities have long been aware of the Four Forces (even without the explicit definitions of this guidebook) and their interrelations.
Utilizing
research into global nomadic communities and their tangible and intangible goals, drivers, and relationships led to the reinforcement of the validity of the Four Forces and Nomadic Consciousness this guidebook is presenting. Nomadism can be seen as a counterpoint to modern sedentary living; nomadic communities are seen here as a case study on resilience and adaptation in the face of increasingly extreme climactic, political, economic, and social conditions (Fig.004). 004
Initially, a direct critique of modern sedentary living
was not intended. However, it became essential to address distinctions
between sedentary and nomadic practices and
ways of thinking which inevitably leads to criticisms of the former. The most obvious are wasteful and exploitative use of resources, reluctance to address environmental concerns, and a general inability or unwillingness to adapt to changing global conditions. In summation, there is generally a disconnect between sedentary practices and the large and small scale worlds they operate in. Other criticisms are more abstract and can be connected to the early guidebook research; specifically, through Deleuze + Guattariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Nomadology: The War Machine.25 In Nomadology they discuss the distinctions between the nomad 2 6 and the
state.27 These concepts have been expanded upon in the context of this guidebook.
Sedentary communities strive for the absolute.28
They
desire
predictability,
stability,
consistency.
Sedentary habitats and infrastructure rely on a level of
Shelf attached directly to ice wall
Skins/Furs Origin: Arctic Used for bedding/clothing
Propane/Kerosene Stove Origin: Outside Arctic
Fig. 004 / Comforts of Home / Inuit Igloo Interior / diagram highlighting the influence on sedentary economies on indigenious nomadic communitites
005
consistency which is difficult to maintain.29 Sedentary communities in addition, view movement as a consequential activity. An event which may be spontaneous or planned, but not ideal in either case. The ideal situation is staying in place (hence sedentary). Mainstream sedentary communities view movement and change as events which compromises culture {How many times have you moved or changed something in your life, and felt you had to give up a part of your previous identity?} This results in sedentary communities displaying an aversion to the
infinite.30 The unknown is frightening, it upends the “absolute” and threatens the stability of a sedentary existence. Finally, sedentary communities are often not conscious of (or sometimes even purposely ignore) the myriad forces (considered through the Four Forces) which act upon them. Given all of these critiques, this guidebook is not “giving up” on sedentary communities. One may be tempted to consider replacing the entire framework
of
sedentary
societies.
However,
this
is
both near impossible (barring some sort of Mad-Maxian cataclysm)
and
unnecessary.
Impossible
given
that
sedentary communities already struggle to cooperate on a local scale (how many times has your community wanted a pot hole filled, or a new park?), much less a global one. Unnecessary because there is an opportunity to explore where sedentary communities and frameworks are
alchemised
which
to
create
a
new
built
environment
exists between the purely sedentary and the
purely nomadic. That is the opportunity this guidebook explores.
0.3 On Utilized Methodologies of
The arguments this guidebook makes in support a
Nomadic
Consciousness
were
initially
entirely
theoretical and intangible in nature, as opposed to material or architectural. However, that is not to say
that
the
physical,
architectonic,
material,
or
haptic aspects of these ideas are insignificant. On 006
the
contrary,
these
considerations
were
crucial
to
how these arguments were clarified and made viable in juxtaposition with the sedentary “mainstream.”
Several sources were instrumental in constructing
a framework for presenting the ideas this guidebook is exploring. Nomadology: The War Machine uses concise language
and
clear
analogies
to
illustrate
its
definition of “smooth” and “nomadic” space in contrast to the “striated” and “absolute” space of the State. While the language is clear and evocative, in the context of a guidebook, this must be taken further (presenting
the
arguments
Nomadology
is
making
in
a visual format is crucial). A Home is Not a House 31 and
the
corresponding
graphics
created
by
Francois
Dallegret (Fig.005), represent a successful exercise in both argumentative language and then translation into an argumentative graphic, and serves as a useful precedent. Sheppard & White’s (of Toronto firm Lateral Office) Many Norths 32 is another important source for not
only
written
argumentation
(in
their
case
the
recognition and education of the Canadian North as a
Fig. 005 / The Environment Bubble / Francois Dallegret / A Home is Not a House / Banham / 1965 / Socks Studio
007
rich and unique contextual environment) but also for its graphical prowess. Through the book there are maps, mappings, timelines, and other graphics which present gathered data on the conditions of life in the Canadian North, but also support their conceptual arguments. This book has been a fundamental source of inspiration for Anachronistic Space.
0.2.1 The BAMFF (Big-Ass Map of the Four Forces)
Other methods which have been utilized are exercises
which examine the world through the Four Forces, Nomadic Consciousness, and Anachronistic Space. The first of which is a mapping (the BAMFF) which uncovers nomadic, mobile, climatic, and global phenomena. The BAMFF is a visual application of the research into global Nomadism and the Four Forces. The overlaid information allows multiple readings and foci; the hierarchy is blurred. The goal of the BAMFF is to uncover activities and processes which may appear unconnected, isolated, or insignificant when viewed individually. However, when viewed collectively the BAMFF becomes a tool to aid in recognizing the connections between these phenomena. This document highlights both the interconnectedness of the world, and more importantly its chaotic, unstable, and fluxive nature. All of which are fundamentally at odds with a purely sedentary mindset. In creating this document the driven
difficulty was how to represent data
anthropological
research
graphically
synthesizing existing references and
through
utilizing learned
methods and conventions; creating a new type of map in the process.
0.2.2 The Trajectories
During the process of making this guidebook it was
understood that physical interactions with the world were necessary to explore Nomadic Consciousness and the Four Forces. The Great Lakes Region, specifically 008
Buffalo/Niagara/Ontario became a realistic and personal scale through which to explore these ideas. Trajectories became the second exercise and explores the Great Lakes Region through the Four Forces. Documentation of these Trajectories created the context, spatial experiences, and data which served as a catalyst for the Anachronicle. The Trajectories were a combination of spontaneity, planning, and serendipity. Each trajectory sought to explore a Nomadic Consciousness while also changing various parameters (such as scale, method of movement, documentation, or relationship to the Four Forces) in order to develop a holistic understanding of the Four Forces and Nomadic Consciousness {within myself}. These Trajectories are:
01 Here and There Along the Beltline: Connecting Entities, Resources, and Environments Along Forgotten Infrastructure - A Trajectory Sketch
02 There and Back Again: Intersecting Entities and Environments in the Search for Identity - Reacting to Serendipity
03 A Shortcut to Pants: Exploring International Entities, Environments, Resources, and Identities - New Scales and Locomotion
Excursions in the Great Lakes Region employed
exercises based on Nomadic Consciousness and localized the phenomena explored in the BAMFF. These involved fieldwork and experimenting on how these Trajectories are documented (Fig.006). Afterwards, reflections on these excursions resulted in mapping exercises and the visualization of their current relationships to Nomadic Consciousness (this is discussed later in section 3.2). From these excursions spatial drawings were produced which satirize, dramatize, and imagine the existing conditions documented and speculations on futures for 009
Fig. 006 / At the Foot of the Fountain Trajectory 2 / wireless tower located near UB South Campus
/
42°56’45.3”N 78°49’35.1”W
Fetzko / 2020
these locales.
0.2.3 The Anachronicle the
This leads into the opus primum 33 of this guidebook, Anachronicle.
Drawing
inspiration
from
fables,
chronicles, and palimpsests the Anachronicle has been developed as a method for exploring Nomadic Consciousness and the Four Forces in the context of the Great Lakes Region aided by a focus on Anachronistic Space.34 Anachronisms are objects, people, and situations which exist outside of traditional chronology. The Anachronicle takes this idea and spatializes it, thus Anachronistic Space. This guidebook presents Anachronistic Space through a series of outposts. These are not necessarily outposts in that they are remote or even “small” (spatially) but more so that they lie on the fringes of traditional sedentary space or exist in stark contrast to them. These outposts may be ridiculous or plausible, extreme or necessary, subtle or overt, temporary or permanent. Just as one changes the environment by simply walking through it, 010
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
02
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
Inhabiting the Image / Anachronicle / manipulating and splitting images to create a 3-dimenstional interstitial space within it Fig.
007
/
Anachronicle Key
the Anachronicle accepts that the imagined loci are dynamic, and explores opportunities to interact with these changing spaces. Like a fable their reality may be exaggerated, like a chronicle the details may shift, or like a palimpsest they may be erased and rewritten. The manifestation of these concepts is a combination of large scale, data driven, mappings (such as GIS) and smaller scale anachronisms which seek to uncover relationships driven by the intersection of the Four Forces and a Nomadic Consciousness. The Anachronicle acts as a sort of augmented reality (Fig.007). the
These methodologies, when used in tandem, explore interconnectedness
of
people,
situations,
and
phenomena. As well as the inherent instability of local and global conditions, systems, and processes. This uncovered complexity, connectedness, and instability is further examined through the exercises (the BAMFF, the Trajectories, and the Anachronicle). The results of these exercises is to present both a tested process and a series of tools which can aid in understanding and exploring a Nomadic Consciousness, and prepare oneself 011
for acting on this newly developed sensitivity through the built environment.
0.4 The Goals of Anachronistic Space
Architectural theory is still permeated with the
Vitruvian
ideals
of
â&#x20AC;&#x153;stability,
functionality,
and
beauty.â&#x20AC;? While not exclusive to place based and sedentary cultures, these mainstream dispositions suggest that architects
are
constantly
fighting
with
nature
and
time to prevent the adulteration of the architectural object.35 A Nomadic Consciousness directly challenges these ideals in favor of a more adaptable method of thinking, living and, eventually, space making. Not necessarily through mobile architecture (the designs of mid-century super groups like Archigram have already been critiqued) but through the methods and exercises which this guidebook is presenting. Expanding on the research and ideas from architects and philosophers (please refer to Appendix B: On Sources for a more detailed discussion of these sources) is just as important as recognizing and giving credit to communities which currently, and historically, have an awareness and sensitivity to the world this guidebook is advocating for. Namely, nomadic communities. Communities that face many of the same problems as sedentary ones. This includes lack of agency in politics (especially with land and property rights), unequitable
access
to
increasingly
globalized
(yet
increasingly fragmenting) economies, technologies, and relationships, as well as stigma around and obstinacy towards indigenous and alternative methods of problemsolving.36 In addition the threats of climate change cannot be ignored; which will disproportionately affect fragile and tenuous communities and demographics (such as nomadic ones) even if they may be more prepared to adapt to these changes.37 This guidebook uses the concept of Anachronistic Space as a means to operate between the sedentary and nomadic, the personal and collective, and the obedient and mischievous.
012
013
Fig. 008 / Broken Border / Trajectory 2 /
an
unstable
border
+
barrier
between
derelict public and derelict private space / 42°56’23.0”N 78°49’34.7”W / Fetzko / 2020
1.0 on nomadism, mappings, & challenging mainstream contexts “Precarity is the condition of our time.”
- Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing
The Mushroom at the End of the World
1.1 Nomadism Overview
Researching Nomadism is the starting point for this
guidebook. This is due to the alternate approaches to resource extraction and use, interaction with external systems, creation
of
environment
which
many
nomadic
nomadism
must
be
However,
identity,
and
relation
communities
understood
in
a
with
the
undertake. multitude
of contexts to fully explore its relation to Nomadic Consciousness and Anachronistic Space. Namely, how and where nomadism is expressed globally, what differentiates nomadic communities from sedentary communities, and how nomadism is understood and defined through the mainstream anthropological lens.
The table on the following spread is a collection of
existing human cultures as defined by the Human Relations Area Files established by Yale University. In addition, hunter-gather, nomadic pastoralist, and peripatetic nomadic cultures have been highlighted to establish the global, if minority, existence of nomadic and indigenious cultures. Further highlighted are five communities and cultures which were further explored, diagrammed, and analyzed 014
1.1.1 Table of Extant Nomadic Cultures
SHERPA
IFUGAO
TAJIKS
JAVANESE
TIBETANS
SAMA-BAJAU
*according to Human Relations Area Files <eHRAF>
TURKMENS
NP
MALAYS
Fig. 009
EAST
MENTAWAIANS
UZBEKS
ORANG LUAT KACHIN
MUSLIM UYGHUR
AINU
NP
HG
KAREN
RMEET
KOREA
RUNGUS DUSUN
MANCHU
SEMAI
MIAO
MOKEN
AFRICA
ILA
MONGUOR
SEMANG
CENTRAL
KHOI
OKAYAMA
SOUTHERN TORAJA
AZANDE
LAKESHORE TONGA
OKINAWANS
VIETNAMESE
BARUNDI
LOZI
TAIWAN HOKIEN
MBUTI
HG
OVIMBUNDU
MONGO SAN RWANDANS SUKU TEDA <TOUBOU>
NP
EASTERN AMHARA BAGISU
HG/NP
BENA CHAGGA GANDA GIKUYU GUSII HADZA
HG
KAFFA KONSO LUO MAASAI
NP
MAO NUBA NUER
NP
NYAKYUSA + NGONDE OKIEK SHILLUK SOMALI TURKANA
NP
NORTH
TANALA
CHUKCHi
TONGA
KORYAKS
NP
TSONGA
NENETS
NP
ZULU
NIVKH
EVENK
NP
WESTERN
YAKUT
NP
SOUTH
DOGON
ANDAMANS
FON
BADAGA
HAUSA
BALUCHI
IGBO
BENGALI
ANURI
BHIL
KATAB
BURUSHO
KPELLE
GARO
MENDE
GOND
MOSSI
KASHMIRI
NUPE
KERALA
SONGHAI
KHASI
TALLENSI
KOL
TIV
NICOBARESE
WOLOF
SANTAL
YORUBA
SINHALESE
TAMIL
ASIA
TELUGU
FELLAHIN
INNER MONGOLIA
BEDOUIN <LIBYA>
KARAKALPAK
SHLUH TUAREG
NP
HG ~NP HG
KAZAKH
NP
KYRGYZ
NP
LEPCHA
SOUTHERN
MONGOLIA
PAMIR PEOPLE PASHTUN
NP
BALINESE BURMANS
EARLY ICELANDERS ICELANDERS NP
SOUTHEASTERN ALBANIANS BASNIAN MUSLIMS CROATS GREEKS
SLOVENES
SOUTHERN BASQUES IMPERIAL ROMANS HG
ALORESE
SCANDINAVIA
SERBS
VEDDA
SOUTHEAST
RURAL IRISH
MONTENEGRINS
UTTAR PREDESH
NP
HIGHLAND SCOTS
SAAMI
TODA CAUCASUS
HAZARA
BRITISH
NP
BAMBARA
GHORBAT <GYPSIES>PP
BERBERS <MOROCCO>
015
BRITISH ISLES
SHONA
ABKHAZIANS NORTHERN
BETSILEO
EUROPE
AKAN
BANYORO
BEMBA
YI
HG
MIDDLE AMERICA + CARIBBEAN CARIBBEAN CUBANS DOMINICANS HAITIANS ISLAND CARIB JAMAICANS PUERTO RICANS
CENTRAL AMERICA
CAMBODIANS
GARIFUNA
CENTRAL THAI
KUNA
EASTERN TORAJA
MISKITO
FLORES
TALAMANCANS
IBAN
CENTRAL MEXICO
AXTECS
QUINAULT
THG
AUSTRALIA
NAHUA
TLINGIT
THG
ARANDA
THG
ZAPOTEC
TUBATULABAL
THG
TIWI
THG
YOKUTS
THG
MAYA AREA
YUKI
THG
MAM MAYA
YUROK
PLAINS + PLATEAU
KWOMA
ASSININOINE
THG
LESU
BLACKFOOT
THG
HUICHOL
COMANCHE
THG
TARAHUMARA
CROW
THG
GROS VENTRE
THG
KLAMATH
THG
KUTENAI
THG
NORTHERN MEXICO
MIDDLE EAST BABYLONIANS BASSERI
NP
BEDOUIN
NP
IRAN
OMAHA
THG
MALEKULA
QUITO QUICHUA
MANUS
SARAGURO QUICHUA
NE MASSIM
URU-CHIPAYA
OROKAIVA SA SANTA CRUZ ISLANDERS SIWAI
PALESTINIANS
EASTERN APACHE
RWALA BEDOUIN
NP
THG
HAVASUPAI
TURKS
HOPI
YEMENIS
MARICOPA
NORTH AMERICA ARTIC + SUBARCTIC
ALUET
THG
ALUTIIQ
THG
CHIPEWYANS
THG
COPPER INUIT
THG
INGALIK
THG
INUIT
THG
KASKA
THG
OJIBWA
THG
W WOODS CREE
HG
EASTERN
MORMONS NAVAJO
THG
NOTHERN PAIUTE
THG
O’ODHAM TEWA PUEBLOS UTE WESTERN APACHE ZIA PUEBLO ZUNI
REGIONAL + ETHNIC
WOGEO
KARAJA
THG
FOX THG
SEMINOLE WINNEBAGO/HO-CHUNK
NW COAST + CALIF CHINOOKANS
THG
HAIDA
THG
NUU-CHAH-NULTH
THG
NUXALK
THG
POMO
THG
XOKLENG
CHICANOS CHINESE AM. CUBAN AM. HAITIAN AM. ITALIAN AM. KOREAN AM. NA ARMENIANS NA HASIDIC JEWS NA HMONG PUERTO RICANS SEA ISLANDERS SERBIAN AM.
OCEANIA
HG
NW SOUTH AMERICA
ULITHI WOLEAI REGION
CHACHI
YAPESE
GOAJIRO KOGI
NP
POLYNESIA HAWAIIANS
S SOUTH AMERICA
LAU FIJIANS
ABIPON
MAORI
CHOROTE
MARUESAS
HG THG
MATACO
RAPA NUI
ONA
SAMOANS
TEHUELCHE
TIKOPIA
HG THG
TERENA
TONGANS
YAHGAN
SOUTH AMERICA
CHINESE CA.
IROQUOIS
TUPINAMBA
CHUUK
AMISH
CAJUNS
CREEK
TAPIRAPE
BELAU
BASQUE AM.
CHEROKEE
HG
GUARANI
AFRICAN AM. ARAB AM.
WOODLANDS
THG
CANELA
MARSHALLESE
SORT OF
BAHIA BRAZILIANS BOTOCUDO
KRIBATI
MESCALERO APACHE THG
E SOUTH AMERICA BORORO
SW + BASIN MICRONESIA
LUR
HG
OTAVALO QUICHUA
KURDS
MI’KMAQ
MAPUCHE
TROBRIANDS
PAWNEE STONEY
ISRAELIS
INKA
TINPUTZ
OSAGE
CENTRAL
ANDES
KIMAM
TZELTAL
HG
AYMARA
MELANESIA KANAK
MAYA (YUCATAN)
DELAWARE
YANOAMA
THG
AMAZON + ORINOCO HG
BAKAIRI
= NOMADIC HUNTER +
BARAMA RIVER CARIB CANELOS QUICHUA JIVARO MUNDURUCU NAMBICUARA HG NDYUKA
GATHERER
PUME
THG = TRADITIONALLY
SARAMAKA
NOMADIC HG BUT
SHIPIBO
HAVE SEDENTARIZED
SIRIONO
HG
TICUNA
HG
COMPLETELY NP
= NOMADIC
PP
= PERIPATETIC NOMAD
TRUMAI TUKANO WARAO
PASTORALIST
016
The
previous table shows that even though nomadic
populations comprise a minority of global cultures (not even taking into account nomadic populations which have completely settled), these cultures exist on every continent. Nomadism is a global phenomenon. It has evolved to exist within the specific contexts of each culture which utilizes it. The fact that Nomadism exisits globally, and even dinstinctly within geographic regions, will be important when discussing issues surrounding defining Nomadism.
1.1.2 Nomadic Communities of Focus
Five nomadic cultures were chosen as case studies.
These communities were chosen for several reasons. First, the chosen communities retain many active families, clans, tribes, or sub groups which means there are many contemporary sources of information on them. These communities are also located across the world and in distinct and varied biomes and ecosystems. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, all of these communities have clearly displayed interactions with sedentary communities (Fig.010), a history of nomadic or semi-nomadic movement (although some are completely settled), and have utilized adaptation and resilience in response to various forces and pressures. They are being called the Desert Traders, Arctic Hunters, Steppe Nomads, Siberian Herders, and the Sea Nomads.
Ger Oculus Origin: Mongolia Wood Only part of structure (besides door) that is not collapsable Smoke/exhaust through oculus
Possesions kept to perimeter
TV Origin: China Requires electricity
Objects hung on Ger structure
Plastic barrel Origin: China
Mini-fridge Origin: China Requires electricity
Modern milk can Steel Origin: China
Stove Orign: Mongolia Requires wood/dung
Fig. 010 / Home In the Round / Mongolian Ger Interior / diagram / a typical nomadic Mongolian Ger with both
017
traditionally nomadic and modern sedentary items
DESERT TRADERS
desert traders
The Desert Traders consists of cultural groups such as the Bedouin, Berbers, Taureg, and Rwala Bedouin, among others, and inhabit territories from Western North Africa to the Middle East. Predominant cultural practices include crossing deserts with herds of livestock, weaving the goat hair â&#x20AC;&#x153;Black Tentâ&#x20AC;?, and trading regularly with settled communities.
Cultural Population Bedouin ~4,000,000 / Taureg 3,000,000 / Toubou 2,250,000
Nomadic Population Bedouin unknown / Taureg 2,000 <Tunisia> / Toubou unknown
Forces of Sedentarization Climate Change (desertification), Industrialization, government pressure
Fig. 011 / Black Tent / 2017 / IoNA Bedouin Black Tent / woven tents are used almost universally by the Desert Trader / notice the formal similarities to the landscape
018
ARTIC arctic hunters HUNTERS
The Arctic Hunters consist mostly of the cultural groups Inuit and Innu, however the Alutiiq and Ingalik share many similarities. They inhabit arctic and sub-arctic North America from Alaska to Greenland. Predominant cultural practices include hunting arctic land and sea mammals, gathering if the ecosystem allows, following caribou herds, and distinct seasonal dwellings such as the ice-hut, Igloo (winter), and the seal-skin tent, Tupiq (summer).
Cultural Population Inuit 148,863 / Alutiiq 34,000
Nomadic Population - None Forces of Sedentarization Political Forces <colonization, loss of culture>, Climate Change, Loss of Resources <whales, seals>, Land Exploitation <oil drilling>
Fig. 012 / Inuits Village / 1903 / Douglas Moodie / The Guardian Inuit Igloo / dwelling is literally made from the environment / materiality
019
allows unique solutions to storageing and presenting property
STEPPE NOMADS
steppe nomads
The Steppe Nomads consist mainly of the Mongol, Kyrgyz, and Kazakh cultural groups, and inhabit the steppes of central Asia from Kazakhstan to Northern China. Predominant cultural practices include the herding of livestock, pervasive equestrian customs, and the lightweight hut, the Yurt/Ger
Cultural Population
Mongolia 3,200,000 / Kyrgyz 4,500,000 / Kazakh 12,200,000 / Inner Mongolia 6,100,000 Nomadic Population Mongolia - ~1,000,000 / Others - unknown
Forces of Sedentarization Political Forces,Urban Migration, Climate Change
Fig. 013 / Landscape / 2017 / Kevin Kelly / Wired Steppes / the treeless steppes of central Asia are the perfect environment for the equestrian based culture of the Steppe Nomads
020
SIBERIAN siberian herders HERDERS
The Siberian Herders consists of cultural groups such as Nenets, Yakuts, Chukchi, Koryats, and Evenks, among others, and inhabit Northern Asia including Siberia, Mongolia and China. Predominant cultural practices include reindeer herding, the Tipi-like Choom/Chum, hunting and foraging, and yearly movement of up to 1000km.
Cultural Population Chukchi/Koryat 23,900 / Evenk 69,800 / Nenets 44,600 /
Yakut 478,000
Nomadic Population Nenets 6,000 / Others unknown
Forces of Sedentarization Climate Change, Land Exploitation <oil drilling>, Development
Fig. 014 / Nenet Herd / 2015 / Independent Nenet Herd / Nenets of SIberia have an intimate
021
relationship with their
reindeer herds
SEA GYPSIES
sea nomads
The Sea Nomads consist mainly of the cultural groups SamaBajau, Orang-Laut, Moken, and Semai, and inhabit the coastal waters and shallow seas of Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, and the Philippines. While historically and ethnically related to land dwelling people of the same islands, the Sea Nomads have adopted practices such as living on boats (Lepas), subsistence (but unsustainable) fishing, and trading with land dwelling patrons.
Cultural Population
1,100,000 Nomadic Population - Unknown, but very few Forces of Sedentarization Political Forces , Climate Change, Unsustainable and Destructive Fishing Practices
Fig. 015 / Boat / 2019 / James Morgan Lepas / many sea nomads have a sedentary house (on stilts) and a mobile house (boat)
022
1.2 Nomadism as a Counterpoint
Defining Nomadism is challenging, even problematic.38
According to anthropologist Philip Carl Salzman, Nomadism is the “movement of the residential community in the course of the yearly round of extractive activities.”39 For writer and journalist Nick McDonell it is “the practice of perpetual mobility as political expression essential to cultural identity.”40 The French philosophers Gilles Deleuze & Félix Guattari define Nomadism less in terms of movement and more as “an infinite succession of local operations.”41 Anthropologist Talal Asad removes mobility entirely, instead arguing that in Nomadism “production is for the consumption by the group itself...for subsistence,” and that “there is an absence of the accumulation of surplus value.”42 Each of these writers are contemporaries or near-contemporaries, yet each has a unique definition of Nomadism. Salzman places importance on economy and cyclical mobility; McDonell focuses on mobility and social organization; Deleuze & Guattari consider subversion of the state and distribution; and finally Asad emphasizes self-sufficiency, considering mobility as non-essential. These
varying
definitions
and
considerations
prevent
consistent recognition and understanding of Nomadism and what differentiates it from Sedentism as a way of life. However, individual nomadic cultures are incredibly diverse and unique, and a single definition can do just as much harm as none at all.
What can be made more clear is the distinction between
Nomadism and other forms of human movement, specifically migration, where the nomad of Nomadism becomes the migrant. While nomads and migrants may share similarities within specific contexts; these are more incidental than essential.
Fig. 016 / Migratory Path
Fig. 017 / Nomadic Trajectory
023
Fig. 018 / Striated Space / Sedentary space is striated
Fig. 019 / Smooth Space / Nomadic space is smooth
024
This
includes
stigmatization
a
general
by
stable
association sedentary
with
movement,
populations,
and
proximity of territory to unstable and tenuous environments, politics, and economies. However, the interchanging of these titles to describe members of either group is problematic.43 Deleuze & Guattari are quite clear that “the nomad is not at all the same as the migrant” and go on to specify that while migrants travel from location to location without necessarily
a
planned
destination
(Fig.016,018),
the
movement of nomads are based on a trajectory of points to move between and on a system of distribution across an environment as opposed to a specific path (Fig.017,019).44 This subtle distinction between the intent of mobility is crucial, one which is supported by McDonell and Salzman who also stress the link between movement, cultural practices, and identity. of
Another condition of Nomadism is a perceived lack history
through
which
societal
sophistication
and
cultural significance are often measured. Traditionally, much of a culture’s history is recorded through writings, artifacts, and other materials which can exist long after they are initially created. Proof of history becomes clearly manifested through Architecture, which often has a defined location, property, owner, and function that can be recorded and understood by others. In contrast, nomads, according to Deleuze & Guattari, “have no history; they only have a geography.”45 The mobile tendencies of nomads are such that creating objects and spaces cannot have the
Fig. 020 / 2D Trajectory / Nomadic space is 1 or 2 dimensional
025
when occupying the infinite (nomadic trajectory)
same relationships with time and place as the objects and spaces of sedentary people do. These relationships change depending on the specific nomadic culture such as a “leave no trace” mentality, a process of rotating through a series of predetermined locations, or long periods of settlement with clearly defined moments of mobility. Regardless of the specific relationship between history and Nomadism, this perceived lack of history by sedentary cultures has led to assumptions that nomads are unsophisticated, lack innovation, and cannot be considered modern.46
The third, and most challenging condition, this
guidebook
asserts,
is
that
the
practices
of
nomadic
cultures are fundamentally at odds with the practices of sedentary cultures. This is evident in several ways. Through property, which for sedentary cultures, is a fundamental concept. Through the “evasive” nature of nomadic movement. As well as through the relationship between Nomadism and the infinite in contrast to the sedentary desire for the absolute. Both McDonell and Deleuze & Guattari discuss this concept. For McDonell the writings of western enlightenment philosophers like John Locke and principles like terra
nullius 47 have created a view that property is necessary for political and legal legitimacy.48
Deleuze & Guattari
write that the “state” seeks to territorialize the world and strives for the absolute (Fig.018), and the ability of nomadic cultures to accept and operate within the infinite (Fig.019) creates a relationship where the state is constantly seeking to control and limit Nomadism.49 This
Fig. 021 / 3D Camp / Nomadic space is 3-dimensional when occupying the absolute (temporary settlement, camp, etc)
026
lack of control which sedentary cultures historically have over nomadic cultures, coupled with the practices of resource extraction and “productive land” has exacerbated the efforts by governments and organizations to settle nomadic people.
1.3 On Maps + Mappings “The map had been the first form of misdirection, for what is a map but a way of emphasizing some things and making other things invisible”
- The Biologist, Annihilation Jeff Vandermeer
Space
Understanding Nomadic Consciousness and Anachronistic also
requires
challenging
accepted
forms
of
representation, namely, maps. Especially in the context of this guidebook, and supported by major and minor sources, maps appear as a logical method through which to explore Nomadic Consciousness and Anachronistic Space. However, as the above quote highlights, maps are inherently biased, myopic, and exclusionary. This is further corroborated by the previous discussion on nomadism, whose perspectives are either ignored by map-makers or considered “unmappable” (through established conventions). These limitations of maps as a medium of conveying information are by no means a denigration of the value of maps within their designed intents. The Mercator projection, originally designed by Gerardus Mercator in 1569, was intended for navigation and treats latitude and longitude as straight lines. This projection maintains shape and the locational relationships between objects on the map, but at the cost of the accurate size of objects which becomes more distorted the further they are from the equator. This became problematic when it was increasingly utilized for commercial and educational purposes (many criticisms point to the distortions supporting western imperialist ideologies). Even more abstract maps are successful within their designed contexts, but useless, or even misleading, once taken outside of that context. More examples are highlighted in the following pages. 027
Fig. 022 / Clover Leaf Map / Heinrich Bunting / 1581 Essentially a map of the world through connection to Christianity, notice Jerusalem located at the center.
Fig 023 / Dymaxion Globe <unfolded> / R. Buckminster Fuller / 1943 Fuller maps the globe onto an icosahedron <20-sided regular polyhedron>. The resulting projection greatly reduces distortion and shows the world as a chain of landmasses, in support of Fuller’s “spaceshipearth”, but with the sacrifice of orientation and regularity.
028
Fig. 024 / Geological Investigation of the Alluvial Valley of the
Lower Mississippi River / Harold Fisk / 1944 A series of maps documenting both the current path of the Mississippi River and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s course at different periods throughout geologic history.
Fig. 025 / Cahill-Keyes Projection / Gene Keyes / 1975 Proclaimed to be more accurate than the Dymaxion while still mappable to a globe. Keyes <an amateur cartographer> used the Cahill butterfly projection as a basis.
029
Fig. 026 / Nolli Map of Rome / Giambattista Nolli / 1551 Using figure ground to illustrate interior + exterior public space <white>, and private space <black>.
Fig. 027 / Authagraph Projection / Hajime Narukawa / 1999 Narukawa uses the Dymaxion projection as a base but distorts the map to create a rectangular border while still minimizing distortion.
030
Fig. 028 / New Babylon / Constant Nieuwenhuys / 1959-74 Imaginings of Constant’s utopian dream of a city literally on top of the old where all humanity needs to worry about is leisure.
This guidebook utilizes a hybridized method which focuses as much on mapping, that is, the process through which a “map” is made, as much as it does the map, the document as a tool. Mainstream conventions focus on showing information for an often singular purpose or from a singular perspective. This could be accurate landmasses, locations of wildfires, sites of social upheaval; the list goes on. These documents are certainly useful, but for this guidebook they are limiting when used by themselves. This guidebook has created a document which combines these focuses and conventions and introduces non-map graphics and content
(Fig.029). The result is both a record of data, information, and relationships, as well as the process through which the information was gathered and how the document was actually made. These mappings are most effective within the context of this guidebook and can be seen as an example for others (ie you, the reader) to utilize new combinations of documentation and representation methods. These documents and exercises may use multiple scales, mediums, texts, etc. in order to highlight the complex relations which exist between individuals and communities and how one navigates through this network by utilizing Anachronistic Space. Fig. 029 / BAMFF Teaser / Eastern
031
North America /
Qamutik
H
BAMFF Key
032
033
2.0 identifying & utilizing the four forces & nomadic conscience
Fig. 030 / Property Of / Trajectory 2 / Norfolk Southern cooler found on CSX property / railroad turf wars?
an
impromptu
gathering?
/ 42°54’03.4”N 78°48’46.5”W
/
“explore indeterminacy and the conditions of precarity, that is, life without the promise of stability.”
- Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing
The Mushroom at the End of the World
Fetzko / 2020
2.1 On the Four Forces
The
initial
research
undertaken
to
more
deeply
understand Nomadism has led to the realization of the limitations of mainstream perspectives on it, and definitions of it, as a method of living. This has necessitated the creation of new metrics and perspectives through which to examine Nomadism. However, these perspectives discussed earlier (such as the varying definitions of nomadism and how nomadic practices are considered within a sedentary mindset) still play a role in the development of this new system. This is because the mainstream perspectives all tiptoe around (or even dip their toes in) the system this guidebook has developed. This is most clear in the multiple definitions of Nomadism presented earlier. Each one seeks to define Nomadism {I realize that is the point, but it is also the problem}. Like the discussion on the importance of context to the efficacy of maps, these definitions of Nomadism only work as such within specific expressions of Nomadism as a lifestyle. These mainstream perspectives became even more clearly ineffective when positioned next to the five communities which were focused on further. One could not simply discuss all of them with any singular definition of Nomadism. They all move, but how, where, when, and why they move is bespoke to the conditions of 034
each. They each have relationships to other communities (such as companies or governments) but the agency within and drivers of those relationships are unique. Essentially, while it may seem counter-intuitive, it is ineffective to try to compare, contrast, and understand these communities (and the phenomenon of Nomadism as a whole) through the fractured definitions of Nomadism. Its subjectivity as a concept, like the lifestyle itself, resists a singular perspective.
What
this
guidebook
has
utilized
as
a
more
effective strategy is understanding Nomadism and nomadic communities through criteria that are not specifically
nomadic. In fact, are specifically non-specific until they are contextualized within each case or focus. This guidebook defines these criteria as the Four Forces. These are not exclusive to Nomadic populations, however these forces are what every individual and community needs to contend with on a daily basis. Where the differences lie however, is how an individual or community interacts with these forces. Sedentary communities are often working against these forces, which are volatile, unstable, and unpredictable. In contrast, nomadic communities work with and within these forces in a balanced relationship.50 The
Four Forces (Fig. 031-034) are: Forces of Resources, Forces
of
Entities,
Forces
of
Identity,
Forces
of
Environment. Forces of Resources is how an individual or community acquires food, water, clothing, gasoline, etc. Salzman identifies resources as a crucial aspect of nomadic society through
his definitions of Nomadism. Forces of
Entities are the regulatory structures and “others” which communities interact with; whether it is a municipality, a company, or a herd of animals. Nick McDonell draws specific attention to entities, especially sedentary politics and governments, in his writings.51 Forces of Identity are the objects, practices, traditions, and spaces which define an individual’s or community’s identity or culture in relation to others. Finally, the Forces of Environment comprises the landscapes, weather patterns, climates, and geography an individual or community lives in or travels through. As well as the changing of these environmental forces over short and long periods of time.52 035
Resources: What we consume, make, trade, and how we get it.
Fig. 031 / Hunt / 2019 / Smithsonian
/ Inuit
Hunter / The acquisition of resources often requires the use of others / This hunter uses a bespoke rifle and sledge to aid in the hunting of seals, used for meat, hide, and income
Entities: Others we must interact with whether we want to or not.
Entities Fig. 032 / Pipeline / 2017 / Evgenia Arbugaeva / NatGeo / Nenet Herder / Entities can help and/or hinder / These Russian oil pipelines are built high enough to allow reindeer herds to safely pass through
036
Identity: What we consider essential culture, practices, objects, etc and define us.
Fig. 033 / Bedouin Family / 2019 / This Darling World / Bedouin Family / Identity is shaped through other forces / the division of space in a Black Tent is crucial to Bedouin identity, how does modern technology affect that?
Environment: The â&#x20AC;&#x153;worldâ&#x20AC;? we inhabit/traverse and our impact on it.
Fig. 034 / Mountain Steppes / Kyrgyzstan / The mountainous steppes of Kyrgystan influence the livetock best suited to be raised there / The snow and glaciers evidence the yearly weather cucyles
037
Once these four categories were identified they
were employed as a means of examining the research into Nomadism, and afterwards became a core tenant of this guidebook’s further explorations. However, it is important to note that even these categories can be subjective and contextual. Practices which shape identity may play a role in one’s relationship with the environment. An entity one interacts with may affect how one accesses a resource. These categories are intertwined. They are more of a gradient than a table, and the specifics of each of the forces will change based on the context they are placed in. This means the Four Forces are, like the mapping, the process through which to arrive at specific relationships. This process allows these unique contexts to be juxtaposed in a way that allows similarities and differences to be more clearly identified than through mainstream perspectives.
2.2 On Nomadic Conscience
The specific relationship with the Four Forces that
communities develop becomes the mindset through which these communities operate in the world. The mindset this guidebook is advocating for, and whose foundations lie in the research on Nomadism through the Four Forces, is being defined as a
Nomadic Consciousness; an awareness of the trajectory one is situated in, the objects one is and is not using, and the forces acting on oneself at any given time. This awareness is
most
clearly
displayed
among
nomadic
populations,
such as the Yamal Nenets who have “stood out as being resilient in the face of extreme shocks and pressures over the past 20-30 years.”53 An example of this resilience is through their exposure to diverse environments and resource allocation linked to their expansive migratory patterns. They travel between forests and tundra and make use of the reindeer products of their herds. As well as foraging and sophisticated (and sustainable) lake fishing techniques.54 A nomadic lifestyle requires awareness of and sensitivity to all four forces. Where and how resources are procured is just as important as which external governments, companies, and communities must be engaged with and when. How identity 038
is created and/or maintained amidst internal and external paradigms may aid or conflict with how to traverse and live in a changing environment which can be just as predictable as not. A Nomadic Consciousness does not require movement (refer to section 1.2). It requires the willingness to live with, and accept, oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s place within the network of active forces and have the perspective to adapt whether physically, mentally, or socially (Fig.035).
Many nomadic
communities donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just have an awareness of the forces acting on them, they also have practices which compliment this balanced relationship. For example, many Tuareg in North Africa have multiple passports and IDs which allow them to subvert sedentary borders and politics to engage in their nomadic way of life.55 In the sedentary context, many are far removed from this awareness, and therefore, struggle to take appropriate and conscious action. From not knowing or caring about where garbage goes, to the wanton consumption of materials, this lifestyle becomes an oxymoronic mix of overwhelming, stagnant, and unsustainable.
Fig.
035
This
/
A Dynamic System /
diagram
illustrates
the
interconnections between the Four Forces
/
A
single
trajectory
being pushed and pulled by this collection of influences.
039
The Four Forces as a Dynamic System
040
{Translating the usage of the Four
Forces into a visual medium revealed that a focus on a traditionally nomadic project was not the desired manifestation of this thesis.
It
became
obvious
that
someone
born and raised in a sedentary society cannot fully commit to a nomadic lifestyle, at least not within the amount of time allotted to complete the initial phases of PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
this research. Instead the focus shifts to understanding a Nomadic Consciousness. This means
understanding
that
a
relationship
with the Four Forces is essential to living in the world. That forces are always active upon communities and individuals, and that a sensitive relationship with these forces allows conscious action in the world on behalf of oneself and community. Thinking and acting nomadically became a way to understand and build a relationship with the Four Forces in a sedentary context. This is achieved in this guidebook by enacting proof-of-concept
trajectories
throughout
Western New York to gain sensitivity to the Four Forces by lived experiences.} Fig. 036 / Anachronicle Teaser / BPD Police Cameras
/
Distribution
of
Buffalo
Police
Department surveilence cameras, overlayed with roads, utilities, and personal trajectories
041
3.0 exercises (Exploring the Four Forces, Nomadic Consciouness, + Anachronisitc Space)
X
X
ev.01
rs.01
et.01
Anachronicle Key
042
3.1 exercise 1
the bam 043
BAMFF
n.- Big-Ass Map of the Four Forces Documentation forces
tied
movement,
of
global
to
Nomadism,
and
systems
through the Four Forces. It is a tool and a record
ff (a macroscale exploration of forces)
044
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
T
T
T
T T
DT
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
KM
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
045
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
SH
SE
SN
Fig. 037 / The BAMFF / Lukas Fetzko / 2019 / continues on pages 47-48)
046
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
AH
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PF
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
047
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
â&#x20AC;¦
048
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRO
3.1.1 Unpacking the BAMFF The BAMFF (Big-Ass Map of the Four Forces) (Fig.037) is an exercise in identifying local and global relationships, processes, and phenomena through the Four Forces and the nomadic
communities
of
focus
(the
selection
of
these
communities is discussed in section 1.1.2). The BAMFF utilizes methods of mapmaking and the map as an informative object to create a document which connects data at varying scales, styles, and focuses as well as provide an exercise in representing information in this way.
The base projection is the Authagraph (initially
developed in the late 1990s by Japanese designer Hajime Narukawa) (Fig.038). It is loosely derived from R Buckminster
Fig. 038 / Authagraph Projection (2) / Hajime Narukawa / 1999
S 049
Fullerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dymaxion Globe, but distorts the projection just enough so that it fits into a rectangular frame. While it distorts all aspects of a map as opposed to just one or two (such as shape, size, and location), these are the most minimally distorted of any rectangular map projection. Additionally, because of its origin from the Dymaxion Globe, all of the continents appear connected, further supporting the BAMFFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s position on the interrelations of people, communities, forces, processes, etc.
On top of the projection is global and regional
data. Different gradients represent conditions such as annual rainfall, temperature stability, contested borders and territories, nomadic territories, and land claims over the past ~1500 years (Fig.039). Icons represent global distributions of resources and Human Resource Area
SN
BAMFF Key
Fig. 039 / The BAMFF: Global Forces / Zoom-in on Southeast Asia highlights rainfall, temperature variation, and distirbution of resources
050
Fig. 040 / The BAMFF: Legends
+ Keys / Two keys provide contextual
information
/
The Legend identifies icons, linetypes,
and
hacthes
which are used throughout the BAMFF / The Global Data +
Considerations
provides
additional global data such as populations and land use which
pertain
communities.
BAMFF Key
051
to
nomadic
052
Files defined cultures, both sedentary and nomadic. The hybridized conventions come through the highlighting of nomadic cultures and events, from the yearly migration routes of Siberian Nenets to the duodecennial Kumbh Mela pilgrimages throughout India. These focuses are supported by mapping the various movement methods of these nomadic communities of focus and in BAMFF callouts which explain the research, references, and relations this document utilizes
(Fig.040-041). It is as much an educational document on PRODUCED AUTODESK STUDENT the connectedness of global forces, and theBY AN network theyVERSION
form with nomadic and sedentary territories, as it is an example of the potentials of mapping as an exploration of alternative perspectives which challenge traditional (ie sedentary) hegemony in spatial representation (Fig.042).
The BAMFF is a chronicle, a reference, a tool. It is
also a conceptual and graphical proof-of-concept for the Four Forces. Since the BAMFF is focusing on large, regional,
T
T
T
T T Fig. 041 / The BAMFF: The Tuareg / North Africa, Sahara / Tuareg trajectory routes intersect exisitng political borders. Many Tuareg therefore have multiple passports and IDs in order to maintain unhindered movement.
053
BAMFF Key
DT
and global
forces and situations, it will most likely be
the easiest entry point into thinking about the Four Forces and their relation to Nomadic Consciousness. However, the conventions, graphics, and concepts of the BAMFF become more complex, robust, personal, and architectural when combined with first person explorations of the Four Forces PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
and Nomadic Consciousness utilized in Exercise 2.
SH
SE
Fig. 042 / The BAMFF: Emerging Relationships / Eastern Central Asia / When the BAMFF is observed at larger scales
SN
local and global data and relationships emerge. From shared methods of movement, to historical claimed land and modern territories. The BAMFF overlays data with the relationships pulled from it to create both a map and a mapping.
BAMFF Key
054
3.2 exercise 2
the traj tori
055
Trajectory
n - â&#x20AC;&#x153;the path followed by an object moving under the action of given forcesâ&#x20AC;?
A
first-hand
exploration
of the Four Forces aimed at
developing
Consciousness
a in
Nomadic those
undertaking it
eces
(developing a personal relationship with Nomadic Consciousness) 056
3.2 Exercise 2 - Trajectories
Fig. 043 / Urban Frames /
(developing a personal
entities
relationship with
/ Fetzko / 2020
Trajectory 2 / Looking through and infrastructure
/ 42°52’39.2”N 78°52’12.3”W
Nomadic Consciousness)
Exercise 2 is a series of Trajectories in the Great Lakes
Region (specifically Western New York and Eastern Ontario Canada) undertaken to develop a personal awareness of the Four Forces and a relationship with Nomadic Consciousness. One definition of trajectory is “the path followed by an object moving under the action of given forces’’ (Oxford Languages). This definition serves as a great introduction to Trajectory as an exercise in this guidebook. The term trajectory
is
co-opted
because
essentially,
the
one
undertaking the trajectory is the object (person) under the action of given forces (the Four Forces). As discussed earlier, the Four Forces are always active on individuals and communities, but most people are not aware of, or choose to ignore, these forces. These Trajectories are an
exploratory
and
first
person
proof-of-concept
for
developing a Nomadic Consciousness. They can be undertaken in different areas, at different scales, with more people, and for different periods of time {and I urge readers of this guidebook to develop their own Trajectories}. However, it is crucial to keep in mind that Trajectories must be undertaken with discipline. Acting completely spontaneously may not yield coherent content. Regardless of the variables and specifics which can be changed, what remains constant is that there is an intent to
uncover one’s relationship
with the Four Forces. This results in experiences which are certainly planned. However, the concept of a Trajectory also concedes that there will be obstacles, shortcuts, or deviations which arise serendipitously {such as crossing a private rail yard, a camera breaking, or pants ripping}. This means one should have the flexibility to adjust and adapt to these developments. In addition to the undertaking of Trajectories, the documentation of them (including reflections), much like the mapping process of the BAMFF, are just as important to the exercise as a whole as the physical fieldwork-style doing of the Trajectory. The following section discusses the three Trajectories this guidebook uses to describe how a relationship with the Four Forces and a Nomadic Consciousness was developed. 057
058
3.2.1 Trajectory 01: Here and There Along the Beltline Connecting Entities, Resources, and Environments Along Forgotten Infrastructure - A Trajectory Sketch
Trajectory 01 was undertaken in early February 2020.
Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s procession followed the Beltline. A rail line which encircles the city of Buffalo, NY. It passes through every major neighborhood within the city and historically served as a public transportation route. Today the whole line is seldom used aside from the section linked to more active lines. Trajectory 01 was undertaken on foot and while the weather was quite agreeable, the ground conditions, specifically the snow and rail ties, proved the most challenging. Trajectory 01 was over 18 miles long and took close to 10 hours. Trajectory 01 is treated more as a sketch of a trajectory as it was undertaken with the least planning and preparation (although there was still quite a bit). This was the first attempt to develop a personal Nomadic Consciousness through first-hand experience. (refer to Appendix C: On Chronicles for reflections)
059
Fig. 044 / Trajectory 1
Fig. 045
42°56’38.5”N 78°52’05.2”W Fetzko / 2020
Fig. 046
Fig. 047
Fig. 048
42°56’29.8”N 78°53’47.7”W Fetzko / 2020
42°56’26.2”N 78°53’50.0”W Fetzko / 2020
Fig. 049
Fig. 050
42°53’00.5”N 78°53’00.1”W Fetzko / 2020
42°52’43.3”N 78°52’33.2”W Fetzko / 2020
Fig. 051
Fig. 052
42°52’33.6”N 78°51’28.7”W Fetzko / 2020
42°53’21.6”N 78°49’46.9”W Fetzko / 2020
42°56’38.1”N 78°53’23.8”W Fetzko / 2020
060
aps
3.2.2 Trajectory 02: There and Back Again Intersecting Entities and Environments in the Search for Identity - Reacting to Serendipity
Trajectory 02 was undertaken two weeks after Trajectory
01 {after my feet and blisters had some time to recover}. It was a shorter path but did not follow a singularly defined
pathway.
Trajectory
02
crossed
neighborhoods
both inside and on the edges of Buffalo, NY and crossed several substantial environments and entities, namely, a large CSX rail yard. In Trajectory 02 efforts were made to plan a desired pathway and document in-situ moments and spaces which provided opportunities to interact with Nomadic Consciousness and Anachronistic Space. A tripod was also brought to document these spaces with a figure in them. Unfortunately, ~Âź of the way through the planned trajectory, the tripod mounted camera was blown over by wind and was decommissioned for the remainder of Trajectory 02. This was unexpected and frustrating, but provided a reactive and adaptive opportunity. In addition, deviations
from the planned trajectory were taken both on the outbound https://www.google.com/maps/search/google+map and return trips based on in-the-moment information and observations. (refer to Appendix C: On Chronicles for reflections)
Fig. 053 / Trajectory 2
061
Fig. 054
Fig. 055
42°56’44.6”N 78°49’35.3”W Fetzko / 2020
42°56’24.9”N 78°49’37.8”W Fetzko / 2020
Fig. 056
Fig. 057
42°56’24.0”N 78°49’38.1”W Fetzko / 2020
42°56’10.0”N 78°49’28.0”W Fetzko / 2020
Fig. 058
Fig. 059
42°55’29.9”N 78°49’07.7”W Fetzko / 2020
42°54’08.4”N 78°48’21.9”W Fetzko / 2020
Fig. 060
Fig. 061
42°53’07.2”N 78°47’59.8”W Fetzko / 2020
42°53’07.2”N 78°47’59.8”W Fetzko / 2020
062
3.2.3 Trajectory 03: A Shortcut to Pants Exploring International Entities, Environments, Resources, and Identities - New Scales and Locomotion
Trajectory 03 was taken two weeks after Trajectory 02.
The most notable change from previous trajectories was the change in locomotion; from foot to bicycle. This provided the opportunity for another major change. Trajectory 03 followed a planned route from Buffalo, NY to the Welland Canal in Ontario, Canada, up to Niagara Falls and across the border again, then back to Buffalo. The roundtrip distance was around 70 miles. This change of locomotion and scales still involved the Four Forces and Nomadic Consciousness but allowed new forces to reveal themselves. Especially, between different countries, environments, and cultures. In addition, documentation changed. Since speed was increased, stopping became more of a hindrance so the stops were planned ahead of time, however some were changed or added based on serendipity. Adaptation and deviation was also required. ~1/2 through the trajectory my pants ripped almost completely. It wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t until the 3/4 mark that a new pair of pants (the buying of which was never intended) was acquired in Canada and taken back to the USA. Moving on a bike required more defined roads and infrastructure as opposed to moving solely on foot. (refer to Appendix C: On Chronicles for reflections)
063
Fig. 062 / Trajectory 3
Fig. 063
Fig. 064
42°56’51.4”N 78°49’25.7”W Fetzko / 2020
42°54’22.8”N 78°54’04.6”W Fetzko / 2020
Fig. 065
Fig. 066
42°54’25.1”N 78°54’21.6”W Fetzko / 2020
42°53’14.5”N 79°14’52.4”W Fetzko / 2020
Fig. 067
Fig. 068
43°05’18.1”N 79°03’57.2”W Fetzko / 2020
43°04’26.6”N 79°00’10.6”W Fetzko / 2020
Fig. 069
Fig. 070
43°02’28.6”N 78°53’17.0”W Fetzko / 2020
42°56’51.4”N 78°49’25.7”W Fetzko / 2020
064
3.3 exercise 3
the ana ron 065
Anachronicle
n - Anachronous Chronicle A
record
of
events
not
beholden to the order in which they occurred, factuality, or a singular perspective; but
absolutely
detailed
chicle (introducing Anachronistic Space)
066
a X
b
c
d
X
ev.02
ev.03
e
appe
01
Calibri
02
X
ev.01
environment
“
”
03
04
X
et.03
05
entities ev.03
X
X rs.03
old enflish text mc
06 X et.03
X
X
et.02
et.01
07
08
appe Fig. 071 / The Anachronicle / Fetzko / 2020 / Refer to Appendix E
067
for descriptions of linework, hatches, and icons
f
ndix
g
h
i
X
X
rs.01
rs.02
resources
X
rs.03
X
id.03
identity
X
id.01
ï&#x20AC;
rs.02
BENNETT
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS
X
X
X
ev.01
HIGHLAND PARK
X X
KENSINGTON HEIGHTS
ev.02
GRIDER
et.02
DELEVAN-BAILEY
rs.01
GENESEE-BAILEY
SCHILLER PARK
EMERSON LOVEJOY
et.01
X X X
X
id.02
id.01
X
id.03
id.02
ndix
068
Fig. 072 / The Anachronicle: Map Scale / Trajectory 2 / The underlying layers of the Anachronicle
are built from regional scale data such
as neighborhoods, infrastructure, and geology / Refer to Appendix E for descriptions of linework, hatches, and icons
3.3 Exercise 3 - the Anachronicle (introducing Anachronistic Space)
The third exercise is the Anachronicle (Fig.071).
A portmanteau of anachronous and chronicle it can be summarized as a graphical record of events not beholden to the order in which they occurred, factuality, or a singular perspective; but absolutely detailed. Documents such as fables, chronicles, and palimpsests serve as conceptual references to the Anachronicle, but this guidebook uses graphic methods to create a bespoke tool. This document is an evolution of the BAMFF as a dynamic graphical tool of exploring relationships, combined with the personal scale of a Nomadic Consciousness developed through the Trajectories. Like both previous exercises it places importance both on the map (the finished product as a tool) and the mapping (the process undertaken to create the finished product). It features references, inspirations, documentation, dates, reflections, and perhaps most importantly, outposts which explore Anachronistic Space. This is where the Anachronicle can become an exercise which goes further than the BAMFF and Trajectories. Anachronistic Space becomes the manifestation of a Nomadic Consciousness as a way to operate within the world which lies between the sedentary and nomadic. However, as seen on the previous spread, the Anachronicle is a dense tool, both graphically and conceptually. Therefore, this document needs to be dissected in order to serve as an effective precedent and example for future anachronicles (hopefully created by you, the reader).
3.3.1 Existing Content + Context
Similar to the BAMFF, the Anachronicle utilizes more
traditional map and mapping conventions as the foundation of the document. This is represented through the large scale map of the Western New York area of the Great Lakes Region. 069
rs.02
BENNETT
GRIDER
DELEVAN-BAILEY
SCHILLER PARK
GENESEE-BAILEY
EMERSON
LOVEJOY
id.01
070
X
Anachronicle Key
KENSINGTON HEIGHTS
X X
id.02
X
ev.02 HIGHLAND PARK
et.02
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS
X
BENNETT
KENSINGTON HEIGHTS
071
GRIDER
Anachronicle Key
X X
HIGHLAND PARK
et.02
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS
X
On top of this map is, similar to the BAMFF, overlays of large scale forces highlighting the relationships which exist within, and even extend outside of, the Great Lakes Region. This can be rail lines, aquifers, or cell services; to name a few (Fig.072). Much of this data is gathered through programs like QGIS and would have been difficult, or even impossible, to gather through the Trajectories alone. This underlying information creates both a contextual foundation and a graphical background field. This field acts as a contextual reference for the other explorations in the Anachronicle and a graphic lens to show the relationships and connections, both tangible and intangible, between these other explorations. For example, multiple outposts or events may be situated on a shared utility line; or multiple Trajectories may pass near each other physically, but experience completely unique forces and situations.
3.3.2 The Trajectories + Crossing Scales
On top of the large scale, contextual, layers are the
Trajectories. These exist at the scales of the underlays and the outposts, and at times between these scales, blurring the hierarchy of the drawing. The Trajectories connect the macro and micro, the personal and collective,and the local and regional (Fig.073). These connections are graphic and conceptual. Graphically lines, icons, images, and text may overlap, intersect, or cross reference. While conceptually the Trajectories consider the Four Forces and Nomadic Consciousness at large (such as regional) scales and small (such as personal) scales through the chronicling of, reflection on, and translation of them into the Anachronicle (Fig.074). This results in reflective texts existing besides in-situ photographs (Fig.089), or proposed architectural outposts intersected by graphic representations of the unequal distribution of resources
(Fig.087).
Grids
also
connect
these
different
scales
and contexts together and provide a framework for the organization of the document. These relationships, while represented graphically, can have tangible repercussions. Fig. 073 / The Anachronicle: Trajectory Scale / Trajectory 2 / The various scales utilized in the Anachronicle become linked through text, icons, labelling, and linework / Conventions become mediators
072
Such as how the Beltline crosses the major neighborhoods of Buffalo, which was certainly planned (Fig.044). However, the Beltline also crosses several sources of water, has access to border crossings, and has spaces which have been occupied to express identity through graffitti (Fig.088). These relationships situate the Beltline as a sophisticated existing infrastructure through which to rediscover the city. In addition, since the Trajectories were undertaken physically, one now has a first-hand frame of reference through which these relationships can begin to manifest. In this guidebook these relationships are expressed as the outposts; explorations of Anachronistic Space.
3.3.3 Anachronicle Outposts: Analyzing + Utilizing Anachronistic Space
The
third
element
of
the
Anachronicle
are
the
outposts. These outposts are explorations of Anachronistic Space which employ Nomadic Consciousness. These represent potential
spatial
and
architectural
manifestations
of
the ideas this guidebook is presenting. Outposts may be serious, satirical, mischievous, or (currently) impossible. The importance of these outposts is that they suggest physical possibilities of interacting with the world in the mindset of a Nomadic Consciousness. A mindset which embraces a complex relationship with the Four Forces, and the result is Anachronistic Space. A space which operates between, adjacent to, and in spite of the mainstream built environment (a built environment which has been discussed as having an unhealthy relationship to the Four Forces). These outposts are specific expressions of Anachronistic Space in the context of this Anachronicle, just as the exercises are specific explorations of the Four Forces and Nomadic Consciousness within their own contexts. Despite these differences, the outposts are linked through their shared awareness of the Four Forces and Nomadic Consciousness. These outposts are explored in more detail in the following section.(Please Refer to Appendix E for an appendix, key, and legend of the Anachronicle) Fig. 074 / The Anachronicle: Personal Scale / Trajectory 2 / Zooming in further reveals trajectory scale information inculding reflections and annecdotes / First-hand experiences
073
and forces become represented at scale
X BENNETT Anachronicle Key
HIGHLAN
074
f
dix
g
X
rs.01
resources id.03
075
h
i
X
rs.02
X
rs.03
Fig. 075 / The Anachronicle: Quadrant 1 / Resources / 2 outposts / 1 artifact
Anachronicle Key
076 X
x
X
rs.01
Anachronicle Key
077 AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
Fig.
076
/
The
Anachronicle:
rs.01
/
Quadrant 1 / outpost / energy stations /
X
rs.01 is an exisitng outpost located on the
West Side of the Buffalo Beltline / Access to itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s energy supply requires infiltrating the private, but disused space with the assistance of tools and savvy
078 PRODUCED BY A
X
rs.02
077 / The Anachronicle: rs.02 / Quadrant 1 / outpost / cell-catcher / rs.02 co-opts innocuous space (a dumpster) to create a sporadically, as-needed, resource center / situated next to a cell tower, and armed with the correct tech, one can untether themselves from permanent data infracstructure Fig.
Anachronicle Key
079 SK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTOD
080
rs.02
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
cell-cathcer PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
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081
1030 - Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something I know is always there but seldom notice . . . Several layers of fence prevent direct interaction
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
Fig. 078 / Trajectory 2 Selfie
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
42°56’45.1”N 78°49’35.1”W / Fetzko / 2020
AUTODESK
RSION
STUDENT VE
SIM900 GSM Module
Adafruit GPS Module
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
TV-Tuner Software Defined
BY AN AUTO
DESK STUD
ENT VERSIO
Raspberry Pi
Radio Dongle
PRODUCED
N
BY PRODUCED
AN AU
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
UDENT VE TODESK ST
RSION
BY AN PRODUCED
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
Tangent 42°56’12.6”N 78°49’29.4”W
Fig. 079 / 42°56’12.6”N
At the end of a row of school buses, on the other side of the fence, another a cell tower. Working on the roof of a nearby warehousetype building is a group of workers, they take notice of me and we exchange waves. I think I hear them ask me what I am doing, but I can’t quite make it out, so I keep walking. They were clearly surprised and intrigued.
78°49’29.4”W / Fetzko / 2020
082
s
X
rs.03
Fig. 080 / The Anachronicle: rs.03 / Quadrant 1 / artifact / Woolf Originals / rs.03 documents the final moments of a pair of pants / owned for over 5 years it has become a part of my identity / tragically it ripped beyond repair amidst undertaking Trajectory 3
Anachronicle Key
083
084
a
b
X
ev.02
01
02
X
ev.01
03
04 Anachronicle Key
Fig. 081 / The Anachronicle: Quadrant 2 / Environment / 2 outposts / 1 artifact
085 X
c
d
X
ev.03
app
Calibri
environment
“
086
”
X
ev.01
03
04
Anachronicle Key
087
Fig.082
/
The
Anachronicle:
ev.01
/
Quadrant2 / artifact / Dr. Martens / ev.01 documents the experiences of leather boots / the salt, dirt, creases, and scuffs can be read back as a chronicle of the paths walked / a world written on hide
en
088
X
ev.02
01
02 Anachronicle Key
089
X
Fig.083 / The Anachronicle: ev.02 / Quadrant 2 / outpost / parkway bothy / ev.02 proposes a temprary respite
located
adjacent
to
a
neglected parkway / the existing hedgerow provides the framework to build a more sophisticated shelter from / hiding in plain sight
090
ev.02 PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
parkway bothy
Fig. 084 / Trajectory 2 Fire-Pit / 42°55’35.8”N 78°49’10.9”W / Fetzko / 2020
1130 - Just to the right, up a small hill is an abandoned looking building with a new, but unfinished, fence; a suggestion of a barrier, border.
PRODUCED BY AN AUTOD
AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
Tangent 42°55’46.5”N 78°49’14.9”W
{At an overpass I start to see the trash. Cushions, a broken television, and a strange collection of plastic bags which have been blown up against a chain link fence. These bags have not been placed here intentionally, yet the collection of this detritus makes this spot feel occupied, designed} Fig. 085
42°55’46.5”N 78°49’14.9”W Fetzko / 2020 Forces Made Visible Discovery of the Bothy
091
Mobile Repository of Resources +
DESK STUDENT VERSION
Identity
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSIO Forces Fight Back
092
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDE
1135 - there is a small tangle of vines and branches that look at the same time natural and manmade. It could easily pass for a lean-too in the summer when the foliage is thicker
X
ev.03
Anachronicle Key
093 UDENT VERSION
ap
Calibri
Fig.086 / The Anachronicle: ev.03 / Quadrant 2 / outpost / Resource Lattice / ev.03 envisions a wall which continually adds and removes items / anachronistic relationships form between those who take and those who leave behind / growing + shrinking / alive
094 PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK S
identity X BENNETT
X
X
ev.01
HIGHLAND PARK
et.02
rs.01
et.01
X X X
id.03
Fig. 087 / The Anachronicle:
Quadrant 3 /Identity / 3 outposts
dix
Anachronicle Key
095
X
id.01
rs.02
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS
ev.02 KENSINGTON HEIGHTS
X X
GRIDER
DELEVAN-BAILEY
GENESEE-BAILEY
SCHILLER PARK
EMERSON
LOVEJOY
id.01
id.02
X
X
id.02
096
id.01
y
X
GRIDER
DELEVAN-BAILEY
EMERSON
LOVEJOY
Anachronicle Key
SCHILLER PARK
GENESEE-BAILEY
id.01
KENSINGTON HEIGHTS
X X
id.02
X
X
ev.02
HIGHLAND PARK
097
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS
BENNETT
et.02
X
rs.02
Fig.088 / The Anachronicle: id.01 / Quadrant 3 / outpost / Terminal Studios / id.01 speculates on a studio space situated within the abandoned Buffalo Central Terminal / utilizing existing rail networks and modular design balances space for the creation of new identity and the preservation of the old
098
X id.01
X
id.02
Anachronicle Key
099
Fig.089
/
The
Anachronicle:
id.02
/
Quadrant 3 / outpost / Viaduct Fortress / id.03 proposes a personal fortress from which to collect and transmit identity / the vanity totem serves as a beacon through which the obession with sharing and clout can be satiated / the fortress is hidden secure / built into the abandoned viaduct / a safe haven for the ego
100
id.02 identity entities environment L O V E J O Y V I A D U C T FORTRESS T O T E M O V E R T
vanity totem
Fig. 090 / Existing Viaduct
ODESK STUDENT VERSION
42°53’07.2”N 78°47’59.8”W / Fetzko / 2020
Broadcasting of Trajectory + Nomadic Consciousness
Connection to ground to provide stability + resistance to environment and conflict
101
Entrance to the fortress
1342 - When is this space most active? And by “who”? it has a unique border. Private, yet open, high enough to survey the surrounding area, like some medieval fortress, but unable to exert any feudal powers. Tangent 42°53’32.3”N 78°48’01.8”W
On the other side, my trajectory opens up again. Other pathways lead down a small hill and to my left looks like a lean-too structure, clearly manmade. Again I feel completely separated from the city.
Fig. 091
42°53’32.3”N 78°48’01.8”W Fetzko / 2020
Tangent 42°53’07.2”N 78°47’59.8”W
Covered in graffiti, crumbling, probably two stories above the ground. I sit and relax for a while. I change my socks. As I rest my legs, shoes off, a train passes by; Norfolk Southern. Do they see me? I am wearing a bright red and blue jacket so I am hard to miss. Do they know about their cooler? Fig. 092
42°53’07.2”N 78°47’59.8”W Fetzko / 2020
102
X
id.03
x
Anachronicle Key
103
X
id.01
Fig.093 / The Anachronicle: id.03 / Quadrant 3 / outpost / Niagara Obelisk / id.03 is a modern tower of Babel / located on the Niagara
river
itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
visibility
X
implies
importance / the obelisk becomes an eternal chronicle
of
itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
environment
and
the
identities placed upon it / a tool and a record / never finished /destined to fall
104
Fig. 094 / The Anachronicle:
Quadrant 4 / entities / 2 outposts / 1 situation
X
et.03
05
06
X
et.02
07
08 Anachronicle Key
105
entities ev.03
X
X rs.03
X et.03
X
et.01
106
et.03
X
et.01
Fig.095 / The Anachronicle: et.01 / Quadrant 4 / situation / The Amtrak Connection / et.01 identifies a potential relationship between Amtrak + an individiual along the imagined Beltline
Trajectory
/
extending
territory / impromptu hitchhiking
Anachronicle Key
107
oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
ap 108
X
et.02
07
Fig.096 / The Anachronicle: et.02 / Quadrant 4 / outpost / Gaiter Parkway an
Oasis
oasis
Gaiter
/
along
Parkway
/
et.02
proposes
the
desolate
brimming
with
excessive water infrastructrue / a subterrrainean respite / covert except for those who know of it or discover it
08
Anachronicle Key
109
X
110
gaiter parkway oasis
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERS
Fig. 097 / The Hydrant
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
42°55’49.8”N 78°49’17.8”W / Fetzko / 2020
03 / artificial spring baths utilize both the
02 / fluctuations in water table level
exsiitng water infrastrcuture and the water
provides water for a small sauna / steam can
tables, keeping the system in balance
be vented through exisitng sewer lines
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
111
UCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
et.02
Tangent 42°56’01.7”N 78°49’24.3”W
A lifeless artery. Immense infrastructure devoid of it’s intended occupancy. Multiple sedentary striations divide and segregate the users. Cars, bikes, people, nature all have their own intended trajectories. Crossing those boundaries are a faux pas, to say the least. Fig. 098
42°56’01.7”N 78°49’24.3”W Fetzko / 2020
Tangent 42°55’48.0”N 78°49’16.7”W
Under the overpass presents many intirguing encounters. Why is such a large TV here, was it dropped from the overpass? Was it intentional? There is eveidence of an event, but the anachronsitic relationship prevents all to be known.
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION Fig. 099
42°55’48.0”N 78°49’16.7”W Fetzko / 2020
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
1140 – the parkway is desolate. I pass fire hydrants, their regular intervals becoming obvious, as if they are the most important thing along this road. They seem too close together.
01 / Water Main povides water for a shower and can be recirculated into the water tables
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
112
X
et.03
05
06 Fig.100 / The Anachronicle: et.03 / Quadrant 4 /
/ outpost / Sea-ge
Towers / et.02 imagines a series of mobile infrastructures to pirate the inevitable surplus of modern shipping logisitics / intended for quick
infiltration
but
allowing
the remainder to continue to its destination / hiccups in the global Anachronicle Key
113
capitalist economy
e rs.03
114
115
Fig. 101 / Roadside Distraction / Trajectory 3 / road infrastructure provides an environment for entities to swap and share resources, creating,
influencing,
identities
and
manifesting
/ 42°58’29.2”N 79°15’18.9”W /
Fetzko / 2020
4.0 conclusion (or spatial foraging56) “History, then, is the record of many trajectories of worldmaking, human and nonhuman” - Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing
The Mushroom at the End of the World
4.1 Evaluating Relationships
After undertaking one or more (preferably all three)
of the exercises discussed in the previous section, one can begin to highlight the relationships which are formed, uncovered, or imagined. However, it must be kept in mind that for each of the exercises the specifics for these relationships will vary in scale, complexity, and intensity. How a person (or persons) undertakes and realizes these exercises will therefore be unique from each other. The processes through which these were accomplished provide the framework to compare and contrast each unique exercise.
Exercise 1 is primarily a map and mapping exercise
focusing on regional and global forces, phenomena, and conditions. It will be most successful, according to this guidebook, in establishing a base understanding of the Four Forces by exploring them at a macro scale. This 116
base understanding is crucial when the ideas of Nomadic Consciousness and Anachronistic Space are introduced, as both stem from using the Four Forces as a means of evaluation and exploration. The closest analogies to Exercise 1 would be from offices such as Diller Scofidio + Renfro and
Lateral Office, among others.
The
BAMFF
presented
in
this
guidebook
looked
specifically at how five categories of nomadic communities are situated within global conditions. These communities are the Desert Traders, Arctic Hunters, Steppe Nomads, Siberian Herders, and Sea Nomads. While these communities did not engage specifically with one another in any documented way, there are large scale forces which affect most, if not all of them, although differently. This is most obvious through environmental factors, but exists through the other forces as well (such as the Yurt/Ger as an expression of identity and a means of mediating the environment). Smaller scale forces are also introduced, but often do not extend past the individual communities.
Exercise 2 is primarily an experiential collection of
fieldwork which seeks to establish a personal relationship with the Four Forces and therefore a Nomadic Consciousness in the person undertaking them. The forces are perhaps less obvious than in the BAMFF and thus going out into the world is necessary to gain exposure to them in an overt way. The understanding of the Four Forces developed in the BAMFF aids in facilitating the transition to thinking through a Nomadic Consciousness. This Nomadic Consciousness becomes crucial when one moves on to Exercise 3. The closest analogies to Exercise 2 would be the walks and textworks of Richard Long and site experience and documentations of
Unknown Fields Division and CHORA.
This
guidebook
presents
three
Trajectories
as
examples of Exercise 2. Trajectory 01 stayed within the city limits of Buffalo, NY but uncovered that there is an existing infrastructure (the Beltline) which links the city together both physically and through the Four Forces. This includes access to water sources, borders, and extending oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s occupiable area through rail lines and other modes of transportation. Trajectory 02 followed a more innocuous 117
infrastructure (Powerlines) to explore areas of Buffalo and just outside of Buffalo which may have seemed less connected or related. This includes the unequal and even wasteful distribution of utilities or the intersecting of public spaces with private infrastructure, essentially segregating neighborhoods.
Exercise 3 is not only a combination of Exercise 1
and 2, but an evolution because it introduces Anachronistic Space as a means of utilizing an awareness of the Four Forces to propose spaces which explore the world through a Nomadic Consciousness. This includes looking at macro and micro scale forces and relationships. The spatializing of these ideas becomes the goal of creating an anachronicle. Again each anachronicle will be unique depending on where and how it is specifically produced. The closest work to an anchronicle (although they only resemble aspects of one) is that done by Situationists such as Constant Nieuwenhuys or the drawings of Perry Kulper and Smout Allen.
The Anachronicle presented in this guidebook proposes
Anachronistic Space through a Nomadic Consciousness developed in the Great Lakes Region, specifically Western New York and Ontario, Canada. The relationships developed, uncovered, and imagined here include those from Exercises 1 and 2 to some degree. However it is through the proposed outposts that the Anachronicle takes these relationships further. The overarching themes of these relationships is through the utilization of existing resources, infrastructure, and other aspects of the Great Lakes Region (and the Rust Belt specifically). The abandoned, overgrown, derelict, and forgotten are prime locales for creating Anachronistic Space. Now that these relationships have been identified and imagined, the next step is to actually go out and realize these new spaces and relationships. This is where the guidebook sadly cannot go any further. It is providing a new perspective through which to interact with the world, and a series of exercises through which that perspective can be developed and explored within an individual. The next step is for the reader {and the author} to make sincere attempts at realizing Anachronistic Space out in the world. 118
4.2 On Spatial Foraging + Past the Guidebook Anachronistic Space is a guidebook which presents
a Nomadic Consciousness as an alternative mindset through which to interact with the world. These interactions (and the world) are explored through the Four Forces and new relationships are imagined through Anachronistic Space. In addition, this guidebook also presents exercises as resources and tools through which others can develop and explore these ideas for themselves. The methods of these exercises are ones which assist in fostering this awareness and sensitivity and ultimately leads to new engagements with the world; defined here as Anachronistic Space. The result is (connecting back to Dr. Tsing’s The Mushroom at the
End of the World) a sort of spatial foraging; it involves looking around and establishing personal relationships with both humans and non-humans as well as the Four Forces. Not everything is taken or used or interacted with; only what is useful, when it is ready, or when it is needed. Much like how the practices of many nomadic communities already operate within a Nomadic Consciousness, the relationships, pathways, and spaces which this guidebook presents can become instinctive. They can be ingrained in a person or community and shared or passed down, creating an everexpanding network of overlapping spaces and perspectives. This doesn’t mean that they become easy or “unconscious,” but
rather
one
instinctually
thinks
and
acts
with
a
consideration of their relationship with the Four Forces, Nomadic Consciousness, and Anachronistic Space. Again, this has ties to foraging, where experienced foragers have a deep understanding of their world and can move through this network successfully.
The process of developing a Nomadic Consciousness and
becoming a spatial forager this guidebook presents is through first
understanding
existing
alternative
perspectives
through which the world is understood and interacted with. This was examined mainly through researching specific nomadic communities and understanding the limitations of traditional anthropological definitions. This disposition also applies to methods of representing information and 119
experiences through the map and mapping. This guidebook has addressed these limitations through identifying the Four Forces as a method of gathering information and evaluating relationships. This resulted in the Nomadic Consciousness which serves as a new definition, not of Nomadism, but of operating in the world in a more flexible, adaptable way, which embraces a relationship with the Four Forces. These ideas are explored and developed further through three types of exercises.
These exercises are dense and complex. However, the
guidebook breaks down these exercises so that they can be repeated in new contexts with new parameters. This guidebook is presenting merely one perspective from one Nomadic Consciousness. This is because a Nomadic Consciousness is specific to the group or individual who creates it. It is shaped by a specific set of the Four Forces. The process and exercises to develop a Nomadic Consciousness can be repeated, but the specifics are always unique. Therefore, each specific exercise in Nomadic Consciousness or manifestation of Anachronistic Space cannot entirely evaluate another. There will certainly be similarities, though. This can be through shared forces or exercises, and these similarities should be noted and used as a method of developing new relationships. In addition, this guidebook is presenting itself to both designers and non-designers. Each camp may find this document useful for different reasons, but it is useful to both. The average person can certainly benefit from a greater sensitivity to the world which may result in a greater appreciation for new perspectives or openness to change. The designer will hopefully utilize this guidebook to inform future design actions.
In conclusion, realizing a Nomadic Consciousness
involves fostering an attitude towards the built environment which
actively
challenges
modern
sedentary
systems,
infrastructure, and practices. Anachronistic Space allows us to operate between these paradigms without completely replacing them, creating alternative perspectives through which to inhabit and interact with the world and become a spatial forager. Armed with a knowledge of the Four Forces,
your Nomadic Consciousness, and your Anachronicle, I wish you luck on your endeavor to create Anachronistic Space! 120
121
Fig. 102 / The Road Goes Ever On / Trajectory 2 / wilderness seems to exist directly next to the city / both are visible at once, yet distinct / one becomes conviced that this space is infinite / 42°56’23.4”N 78°49’35.8”W / Fetzko / 2020
122
notes Abstract
17. progress / a problematic term / see Appendix F.11
01. Nomadism / as defined by Encyclopedia Britannica
02. Deleuze, G., & Guattari
Félix. (1986). Nomadology: The War Machine. New York: Semiotext(e), 50-51.
03. Four Forces / see Appendix A.12
04. Nomadic Consciousness / see Appendix A.08
05. Trajectories / see Appendix A.26
18. Nomadism / see Appendix A.18 19. design things for nomads / see Appendix F.02
20. traditionally nomadic / see Appendix F.15
21. Deleuze & Guattari, 50-51 22. BAMFF / see Appendix A.06 23. outposts / see Appendix A.21 24. anachronisms / see Appendix A.04
06. Great Lakes Region / see Appendix A.13
07. Anachronicle / see Appendix A.03
08. outposts / see Appendix A.21 09. Anachronistic Space / see Appendix A.05
0.1 Complications + Potentials of Nomadism + Sedentism 25. Nomadology: The War Machine / see Appendix B.08
26. nomad / see Appendix A.16-A.20
Preface
27. state / see Appendix A.24
10. Jules Verne / see Appendix
28. absolute / see Appendix A.01
B.38
11. Southern Reach Trilogy / see Appendix B.37 / see Appendix F.14
12. Campbellian / see F.01
Appendix
29. Deleuze & Guattari, 50-51. 30. infinite / see Appendix A.15
0.3 On Utilized Methodolgies
0.0 Introduction
31. A Home is Not a House / see
13. Anachronistic Space / see
32. Many Norths / see Appendix
14. subcutaneous aquifer / see
33. opus primum / see Appendix
15. The Mushroom at The End of
34. Anachronistic Space / see
Appendix A.05 Appendix E.E
the World / see Appendix B.35
16. Tsing, A. L. (2015). The
mushroom at the end of the world: on the possibility of life in capitalist ruins. Princeton University Press. 22.
123
Appendix B B.16 F.10
Appendix A.05
0.4 The Goals of Anachronistic Space
48. McDonell, 14-16. 49. Deleuze & Guattari, 52-53.
35. Shultman, Johannes. (2016). Nomadic architecture mobility, gender, ritual. Retrieved October 27, 2019, from Spatial experiments website.
36. Deleuze & Guattari, 52-53. 37. Forbes, B. (2013). Cultural
Resilience of Socialecological Systems in the Nenets and Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrugs, Russia: A Focus on Reindeer Nomads of the Tundra. Ecology and Society, 18(4). https://doi. org/10.5751/ES-05791-180436
2.0 Identifying + Utilizing the Four Forces + Nomadic Conscience 2.1 On the Four Forces 50. Deleuze & Guattari, 52-53. 51. McDonell. 52. Bruce Forbes draws attention to environmental forces as being especially significant factors in one’s way of life through his research with the Yamal Nenets of Siberia.
1.0 On Nomadism, Mappings, + Challenging Mainstream Contexts
2.2 On Nomadic Consciousness
1.2 Nomadism as a Counterpoint
54. ibid
38. Salzman, Philip Carl (1980). Is “Nomadism” A Useful Concept? Nomadic Peoples, No. 6, White Horse Press, 5-6.
39. Salzman, 2. 40. McDonell, N. (2016). The
Civilization of Perpetual Movement: Nomads in the Modern World. Hurst, 115.
41. Deleuze & Guattari, 50-51. 42. Salzman, 3. 43. Deleuze & Guattarri, 50. Salzman, 4-6
44. Deleuze & Guattarri, 50-51. 45. Deleuze & Guattarri, 73-74.
53. Forbes 55. Kohl, I. (2010). MODERN
NOMADS, VAGABONDS, OR COSMOPOLITANS? Reflections on Contemporary Tuareg Society. Journal of Anthropological Research, 66(4), 449-462. https:// doi.org/10.3998/ jar.0521004.0066.401
4.0 Conclusions {or Spatial Foraging} 56. Spatial Foraging / an
architectural mushroom picker / one who searches for what they want based on their awareness of the relationships required to produce what they seek
46. Deleuze & Guattari,73. 47. terra nullius / see Appendix F.16
124
appendices
Throughout the process of developing this guidebook
a large amount of information was gathered and created. Not all of which could be fully incorporated into the main guidebook; from terms, to sources and inspiration, to drawing conventions and more. The following appendices serve as a repository of this information. Even if not specifically referenced in the main guidebook, these appendices serve as further resources, clarifications, and explanations to aid one in their own exploration of the Four Forces, Nomadic Consciousness, and Anachronistic Space.
A: Lexicon
Appendix A is the lexicon of Anachronistic Space: A
Guidebook to Exploring a Nomadic Consciousness. The terms which were defined, used, or invented in this guidebook. These are being defined as they are utilized in this guidebook regardless of other definitions or connotations they usually possess. 01. Absolute / the ultimate goal of the State and sedentary hegemony / having oversight, control, and definition / nothing is unknown 02. Ana / from Greek ana (prep.) “up, on, upon; up to, toward; throughout; back, backwards; again, anew,” 03. Anachronicle / “Anachronous Chronicle” - a record of events not beholden to the order in which they occurred, factuality, or a singular perspective; but absolutely detailed. 04. Anachronism / An error in chronology. 05. Anachronistic Space / Space which exists outside of conventional sedentary space and interacts with the Four Forces through a Nomadic Consciousness. 06. BAMFF / Big-Ass Map of the Four Forces / Mapping the global forces tied to Nomadism, movement, systems. 07. Chronicle / A work of fiction or nonfiction that describes a particular series of events. 08. Consciousness, Nomadic / intentionally (or at least
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consciously) engaging with or acting in complement with the Four Forces (not ignoring these forces or trying to prevent them altogether, which is a fallacy) . 09. Entities / Gov’t, companies, foreign communities, individuals, etc. an individual/community interact with but whose goals/drivers may not be the same / Four Forces 10. Environment / the “world” an individual/community inhabits/traverses and their impact on it / Four Forces 11. Fable / Inspiration / A mythical story of dubious truthfulness. 12. Four Forces: Resources, Environment, Identity, Entities
4 categories of forces which influence both nomadic and sedentary communities; these vary in scale and power (from a local resource to a government).
13. Great Lakes Region / Occurring within the context of the great lakes of North America but not confined to just urban or suburban or rural (these definitions are irrelevant or problematic) / Context 14. Identity / what an individual/community considers essential culture, practices, objects, etc. / Four Forces 15. Infinite / the unknown and unpredictable / the world as it actually is / loathed by the State and embraced by the Nomad 16. Nomadism; Asad / “production is for the consumption by the group itself,...for subsistence” / Concept / Research 17. Nomadism; Deleuze & Guattari / “an infinite succession of local operations” 18. Nomadism; Fetzko / understanding the Four Forces as essential to living in the world and are always active upon communities and individuals / interacting with the world through one’s Nomadic Consciousness / Concept / Research 19. Nomadism; McDonell / “movement of the residential community in the course of the yearly round of extractive activities.” / Concept / Research 20. Nomadism; Salzman / “movement of the residential community in the course of the yearly round of extractive activities.” / Concept / Research 21. Outpost / Architectural manifestation of Anachronistic Space. 22. Palimpsest / “a manuscript or piece of writing material on which the original writing has been effaced to make room for later writing but of which traces remain” / Reference 23. Resources / What we consume, use, and how we get it / Four Forces 24. State / sedentary hegemony / seeks, by nature, to conflict with the nomad 25. Terra Nullius / land considered unclaimed or unoccupied by certain entities / Concept 26. Trajectory / “the path followed by an object moving under the action of given forces” / First-hand development of a
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Nomadic Conciousness through exploring the Four Forces
B: On Sources
Appendix B lists and discusses sources, references,
and inspirations which were crucial and supportive to the creation of this guidebook. Following the list is a literature review of the major sources. Some of these sources are not discussed specifically within the text but may aid in understanding the ideas this guidebook is presenting.
References + Inspirations 01. Archigram / Inspiration, Precedent / Anachronicle 02. Atelier Bow Wow / Graphic Anatomy / Meticulously detailed drawings / Inspiration, Precedent / Anachronicle 03. Ban, Shigeru / Humanitarian Architecture (2014) / diagrams, cataloging / Inspiration, Precedent 04. Banham, Peter Reyner / A Home is Not a House (1965) / Architecture of the Well-tempered Environment (1969) / Inspiration, Precedent 05. Benjamin, Walter / Arcades Project / Inspiration, Precedent 06. Bunschoten, Raoul / CHORA Urban Flotsam (2001) / arrows, lines, crosses, text-play / Inspiration, Precedent / Trajectories, Anachronicle 07. Chronicles / Inspiration / Anachronicle 08. Deleuze, Gilles & Felix Guattari / Nomadology: The War Machine (1986) / Research, Reference 09. Deutinger, Theo / Handbook of Tyranny (2018) / Mapping / Inspiration, Precedent 10. Diller Scofidio + Renfro / In Plain Sight (2018) / merging data with dynamic visualizations / Inspiration, Precedent / BAMFF, Anachronicle 11. Fables / Inspiration / Anachronicle 12. Fisk, Harold / Mississippi River Maps (1944) / Reference / Overlays of Information 13. Fuller, Buckminster / Dymaxion Map / Inspiration, Precedent, Research, Reference
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14. Hugill, Alison / Co-machines: Mobile Disruptive Architecture (2018) / Axons, Icons, diagramming / Inspiration, Precedent / Anachronicle 15. Kaplicky, Jan / Neo-Futurism / Assemblages / Inspiration, Precedent / Anachronicle 16. Lateral Office / Many Norths (2017) / Inspiration, Precedent, Research / BAMFF, Anachronicle / hatches, icons, arrows, index, general graphic language 17. Lee & Daly The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Hunters and Gatherers / Reference, Research 18. Lim, CJ / Imagined, Speculative, Ridiculous Narratives / Inspiration, Precedent / Anachronicle 19. Long, Richard / poetic text, in-situ sculptures / Inspiration, Precedent / Trajectories 20. Martin, George R.R. / Tuf Voyaging / Inspiration 21. McDonell, Nick / The Civilization of Perpetual Movement (2016) / Reference, Research 22. Melville, Herman / “It Is Not Down in Any Map; True Places Never Are” / Moby Dick / Inspiration 23. Muir, John / Wilderness Essays / Inspiration 24. National Geographic / Magazine /
Inspiration
25. Nieuwenhuys, Constant / New Babylon (1959-74) / Reference 26. Palimpsests / Inspiration / Anachronicle 27. Rankin, Bill / A Physical Atlas of the World (2006) / Reference / BAMFF / Data, Gradients, points 28. Read, Piers Paul / Alive / Inspiration 29. Rudofsky, Bernard / Architecture Without Architects (1965) / Reference, Research 30. Sadler, Simon / Situationist City (1998) / Reference, Research 31. Salzman, Phillip Carl / Is “Nomadism” a Useful Concept (1980) / Reference, Research 32. Schoenauer, Norbert / 6,000 Years of Housing / Reference, Research 33. Smout Allen / Terra Incognita, British Exploratory Land Archive / Inspiration, Precedent 34. Tolkien, J.R.R. / The Hobbit, or There and Back Again / Inspiration 35. Tsing, Anna Lowenhaupt / The Mushroom at the End of the World / Inspiration, Reference 36. Unknown Fields Division / Kate Davies + Liam Young / Inspiration, Precedent
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37. Vandermeer, Jeff / The Southern Reach Trilogy, Borne / Inspiration 38. Verne, Jules / 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, The Mysterious Island, Around Journey to the Center of the Earth / Inspiration 39. Whole Earth Catalog / Inspiration, Precedent / Guidebook
Literature Review Many architects and designers have reexamined nomadic communities, challenged common dispositions towards place, or questioned sedentary frameworks regarding culture and architecture. However, they have focused more on the documentation of nomadic practices, stopping short of exploring the larger implications of nomadic thinking for architecture. Nevertheless, these sources have been instrumental in the creation of this document. The following section highlights this literature and other sources.
Anthropology Anthropological research provides the threshold through which to understand Nomadism in the context of Nomadic Consciousness. Anthropological sources are often concerned with the expository; uncovering historic and contemporary information and conditions about nomads and rarely speculate or propose. This can leave one wanting more, but more often than not, it allows the common methods of field research and first-hand accounts to illustrate the minutia of nomadic life and often juxtaposes it with sedentary life. The anthropological sources can be grouped by their foci; nomadic philosophy, contemporary conditions, and cultural analysis. Philosophical sources seek to understand Nomadism as both distinct from Sedentism and contemporary to it. Nomadology: The War Machine (Deleuze & Guattari, 1986) is the most philosophical of the anthropological sources but their description of Nomadism in contrast to both the “state” (sedentism) and other forms of mobility (migration) is crucial to understanding Nomadism as a distinct system of human living. Anthropologist Philip Carl Salzman’s article “Is Nomadism a Useful Concept?” (1980) approaches the philosophical through the anthropologic through its highlighting of the fallacy of defining Nomadism as a specific cultural condition (based on geography, economy, etc.), and instead a definition of a more general understanding of a way of life which cannot be defined as sedentary. These sources provide the theoretical foundation for the argument of Nomadic Consciousness. Sources which focus on the contemporary conditions and challenges of nomads also highlight both the resiliency and adaptability of a nomadic lifestyle, as well as the complex forces, both man-made and natural, which are acting on nomadic communities. The Civilization of Perpetual Movement (McDonell, 2016) prefers to discuss the contemporary conditions of Nomadism on a more global level as opposed to focusing on any one nomadic culture, and especially highlight the relationships between nomadic and sedentary communities. Bruce Forbes and Ines Kohl
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focus more on specific nomadic communities in their papers Cultural Resilience of Social-ecological Systems in the Nenets and Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrugs, Russia (2013) and Modern Nomads, Vagabonds, or Cosmopolitans? (2010), respectively. Both of these sources discuss challenges to nomadic lifestyles as well as the adaptability and resilience of Nomadism which provide evidence that there is such a thing as a Nomadic Consciousness and Conscience that this thesis is proposing. Finally, The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Hunters and Gatherers (1999) and the cultural database of the Human Relations Area Files (eHRAF) based in Yale, provide crucial details into the practices and territories of nomadic communities, yet remain the most neutral towards the conditions of these communities and the forces acting upon them. As well as providing more specific data on both nomadic and sedentary practices.
Architecture Architects have addressed conditions surrounding the nomadic, informal, transient, indigenous etc. in the past and have developed explorations into cultures and dispositions fundamentally different than those of the settled. These sources can be considered either expository or speculative. Expository sources seek to explain and uncover conditions of nomadic architecture and provide crucial information which may otherwise be overlooked or disregarded. Bernard Rudofsky in his landmark exhibition Architecture Without Architects (1965) explores not only the nomadic, but the indigenous, and anonymous architecture which goes uncredited and underappreciated. The works explored by Rudofsky are equal part invention, ingenuity, and harmony between the built and natural environments. Other writers have also sought to uncover these global precedents and substantiate their existence. Norbert Schoenauer in 6,000 Years of Housing (2003) and Gordon Clarke in Tents and Other Nomadic Dwellings (2019) both take an anthropological approach, much like Rudofsky, to address indigenous and nomadic space-making. Lola Sheppard and Mason White of Lateral Office released Many Norths (2017) as an in depth exploration of the urbanism, architecture, mobility, monitoring, and resources of the Canadian North (a term they problematize in the book itself), and shed light on a unique, complex, and overlooked environment. Robert Kronenburg’s Flexible: Architecture that Responds to Change (2007) discusses movement, flexibility, and adaptability as core parts of human personality and society through case studies ranging from arctic research centers to circuses. These sources highlight that there is research being done in architecture which begins to align with the goals of this thesis and the ideas of Nomadic Conscience. Speculative sources can provide useful insight of the application of Nomadic Conscience in both expected and unexpected contexts, yet can risk sustaining sedentary or impractical dispositions. Simon Sadler’s Situationist City (1998) and Constant Nieuwenhuys’s New Babylon (1959-74) both seek to critique the city and reimagine it, the former through counter-culture and revolution, and the latter through a brazen commitment to a western capitalist mindset. However, some sources, such as Settling the Nomads: Rural Urban Framework, an Incremental Urban Strategy for Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (Bolchover, 2016), are exploring solutions to nomadic problems through sedentary frameworks, in Bolchover’s case, the integration of sedentarization Mongolian nomads into the ger suburbs or Ulaanbaatar.
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C: Chronicles
Appendix
C
is
a
record
of
the
chronicling
and
reflection of the Trajectory exercises. These were too long to put into the main body of the guidebook, but serves as additional context and description.
Trajectory 01 Here + There Along the Beltline / 02/15/20 0930 / After thoroughly checking over my gear, equipment, and supplies I lock the front door behind me. I fiddle with the apparatus holding my phone even though I have already started recording video. After a hundred feet or so I can tell this wasn’t an effective documentation method and abandon it completely, putting the apparatus and 4k video recorder in my backpack and my phone in my fanny pack, for easy access. I stop 2/3 more times over the next ~1/4 mile to keep adjusting things. Replacing my sunglasses with ski goggles (for glare reduction and wind protection) and throw on a scarf to keep the wind out. It’s sunny and the wind isn’t too bad, but it’s still just around freezing. 0952 / Walking down Main St. the 1st conscious turn I make is a right on Depew, walking towards Colvin Ave. bridge where I plan to enter the BeltLine. It’s late morning on Saturday and there are many people out walking, running, etc. I see a “Go Bills” sticker on the ground, covered in dirt. I snap a photo and chuckle at the poetry of it. When I get to Parkside Ave. the rather ridiculous size of the fractured fin retaining walls along the sidewalk becomes evident, accentuating the narrowness of the walkway. This large intersection seems oddly complex and certainly not designed with people in mind. There is a rail bridge here, but the car traffic and retaining walls make this an inconvenient entry point. 1015 / My plan to enter the Belt Line at Colvin Ave. is confirmed. There is a gentle service path through a gate which is supposed to be “Closed at All Times” but is currently open. I wait for a lull in the traffic to ascend the path, but no one seems to pay me any mind regardless. This access point is adjacent to the Nichol’s School. I wonder how many students use the Belt Line to skip class or hangout after school, surely some? 1016 / The level of the Belt Line at Colvin is about 1 story high, giving me an unusual vantage point to the surrounding environment. I feel as though I am floating through these private spaces, not intruding per se, but nearly crossing a threshold between the sanctity of “American domestic property” and public (although the Belt Line is itself privately owned). 1016 / The car tracks through ~2” of snow ends after a few dozen feet, although older tracks are still visible under the most recent snowfall, probably less than 1 week old. So I am assuming this service road is fairly regularly traversed. I keep waffling between walking along the middle of the tracks, the edge, and the ruts in the service road; each is not a very comfortable path, the couple inches of snow is just enough for me to wish I
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had snowshoes. 1019 / The lines of trees and bushes on each side do little to give either myself or those living behind the tracks any privacy in the winter, yet no one seems to notice or care I am there (besides some dogs). The only prints I see are deer and rabbit, maybe some cats and dogs. Another bridge is up ahead. The sides are taller than at Colvin, and essentially block both my view of the street and the street’s view of me. The first real “private” space I have encountered and I note the layers of amateur graffiti; only the billboards and power lines are visible from my cut-off gaze. 1028 / Finally some human prints! Cutting across the tracks between some houses and a bank, next to a Denny’s, probably frequent customers. One pair continues along the tracks. 1032 / About 10 minutes later on the right side, across a narrow trench, is a semi-secluded (in the winter) area with a snow covered mattress and some stacked tires and footprints, both fresh and covered crisscrossing the clearing. The trees and scrub forming a sort of veil between the track and the clearing. I pass someone walking into the clearing as I am leaving but neither of us acknowledges the other. They have a plastic grocery bag and winter clothes on. 1035 / Shortly after I pass a derelict brick industrial building, of which only the chimney stack I had seen from my entry onto the Belt Line, provides several areas which could provide shelter, or graffiti. But no actual evidence of this is present. I cross another overpass but the sides on this one are only a foot or so high and no privacy is provided, I am curious about these inconsistencies. The old Pierce Arrow factory is on my left as the cars dip under the rail line, diverting their trajectory, which is more frequented but less substantial, around this less frequented, but less flexible one. 1052 / Another 10 minutes and I come across what appears to be two small disused silos with a bit of the metal conveyor still present. I find it odd that these are here; what resources did they hold? They stand alone, but conjoined. Just ahead there is a solar panel mounted on a pole attached to a box with black + yellow stripes on it. Large cables and conduit are connected to the bottom. Perhaps there is a way to “borrow” some of this electricity? (on research after the fieldwork it was discovered the box is a rail friction management system by LB Foster, which lubricates the rail) 1058 / I have finally arrived at the first split in the Trajectory, one left and one right. I stop for a few minutes and just realize my feet are soaked, and I don’t have a change of socks ☹. I check my phone for the correct path, left (south), and remove my ski goggles, forgetting my eyes adjusted to the amber/rose hue of the lens. I feel blinded by the seemingly blue tint of the bright daylight. 1110 / The next odd sight along this much less urban feeling environment is a fenced off tank of (propane?) also with an elevated solar panel. Barbed wire encircles the top, but I think a pair of bolt cutters could get you through pretty easily. A little patch of private space within private space, this being of more value, clearly. The surrounding covered mostly in small trees. 1112 / Another clearing-type space is framed with logs to form a square, set against a corrugated steel, graffiti covered, wall.
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A tree grows through the middle of the space, clearly older than the space itself. Among the detritus is a blue highway cone, a tattered green camp chair, remnants of a small BBQ grill, and some ash from a fire after the last snowfall. Tracks crisscross the area. 1115 / Another propane(?) tank, though one side of the fence is missing, it looks disused and possibly empty, but perhaps it is just forgotten. 1118 / A Verizon satellite dish can be seen connected to some sort of small CSX building, room sized. Like the solar panels I wonder if one could borrow some bandwidth if they had the proper tools? It is relatively private here, especially when the 100 yards thick or so tree line has full foliage in the summer. I can see church steeples in the near distance and if I was feeling guilty or in need of salvation, I could easily make my way there. 1121 / The only “no trespassing” signs I see are on the rail bridges. Are they the only things actually owned by CSX? Or the only things they care about people trespassing on? What If I was caught camping out just on the other side of the bridge? 1130 / Finally at the Niagara River! I cross what I believe is the Scajaquada Creek. As I cross the steel truss bridge I see a sign for a walking/biking trail along with the crisscrossing of highways and city streets that creates a sort of node of overlapping jurisdictions, owners, and methods of movement, each at its own level. 1136 / I pass “Ranchero’s Mexican Food” and could have stopped if I didn’t bring food, tacos would hit the spot right now. This space between the 190 and Niagara St is peculiar; partly private from the gaze of the city and irrelevant to the concern of the highway drivers. I can easily exit the Belt Line onto Niagara St. I also pass “Roost”, a more upscale restaurant, yet the view looks out across the trails to the other side of the river. No doubt the people eating inside could see me walking by. I probably could have walked right in to eat. What would/do they think? Am I destroying their view over the rusting landscape? 1146 / Another tall-sided rail bridge gives me a moment of privacy and I drink some of the water I packed; ahead a video billboard advertises to, I assume, the highway to my right, but could they also be advertising to me as well? 1151 / This path has definitely been walked before. “GLARE” keeps tagging points along the Belt Line. Am I stopping where they stopped because they made it obvious or by coincidence? Why did they consciously choose this spot? Because it is visible to others? Or are they trying to tell me something about this spot? A personal, but anachronistic, dialogue is developing but without the knowledge of what the previous visitor said and what the next one will say. 1200 / as the concrete barrier ends the Niagara river opens up before me. The Peace Bridge lies just ahead, several stories above me; again these overlapping jurisdictions become clear. The dually owned bridge (USA +CA) intersecting the dually owned Niagara River (USA + CA). both very close but nearly impossible to actually cross without the involvement of governments and bureaucracy. 1211 / The topography has changed and the Belt Line is now an underpass, the short but dark tunnel providing almost absolute privacy. A discard towel lets me assume someone had used this space at some point.
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1213 / The rest of these trajectories converge onto the same plane as I pass the Buffalo Water Pumping Station, a source of fresh water, yet not accessible directly, only distributed from that point. As I turn, downtown Buffalo lies on the horizon, the highway again running parallel as well as the park; the park having no barrier between me and it. Private space bleeding into public. Yet between the highway and me, fences and barriers. Is car space more sacred than people space? 1240 / Remnants of human activity scatter the fringes of the Belt Line as I near downtown, finding the most private spots (around bridges and overpasses) in an otherwise exposed landscape. 1243 / Finally the tire tracks of the service road end, a small pool of leaking coolant marking the recent passing of some sort of track monitor? 1256 / As I sit and eat my lunch, the cold creeping in from stasis, an Amtrak passes by. Did the passengers notice me? Could I have flagged it down to stop? Or tried to hop on? Take it to some far away location? I toss my banana peel aside (it’ll decompose) and get back to walking, about halfway done and the soreness is noticeable. 1304 / More tunnels; longer, darker, and more private than the last, although pooled, frozen water prevents any current occupation. The large grade of gravel makes walking clumsy. I would take 2” of snow over a rolled ankle. 1310 / As I near the Amtrak Station the columns of overpasses and the roads themselves frame the ownership space of the track. A perfect rectangular prism. Any deviation off of it changes my relationship with my trajectory, new taboos emerge. 1311 / As I pass the station I wonder if I should just buy a ticket, go somewhere further, much more quickly; but I keep going, my brief brush with downtown quickly receding, I hadn’t even noticed I had gone through it. It gets much warmer I shed some layers and unzip my coat. 1330 / The city relaxes and stretches, the roads spread out and the highways frame the silos and factories on the fringes of the city. The smell of some sort cereal in the air, but again I can’t get it from the source. I actually cross a road! The literal intersection of trajectories the first I have experienced. There is infrastructure in place to coordinate these crossings, yet I am too small to activate them. Maybe I could feign being a train, and get a celebrated, traffic-stopping crossing? And just like that I am back into the fringes of the city, behind the factories and houses. To my left an empty signal(?) building. Partially caved in, exposing the tangle of metal and brick making the already small space inside unusable. 1345 / I notice “Exchange” written on the side of a rail with an arrow pointing back towards the direction I came from. Are these directions? Who is it for? Clearly not the trains. Another anachronistic dialogue with an other. 1400 / My path widens as small CSX buildings pop up around me, the tower of the Buffalo Central Terminal can be seen above the tree line. This section of the Belt Line has been the most “desolate”. 1407 / To my surprise my trajectory cut rights through the Buffalo Central Terminal, a building I have always wanted to visit. I did not go inside but seeing it from the perspective of a one-time passenger gives me a sense of the past of the; very grand, yet empty now.
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1420 / As I take another break a CSX freight train passes by. I wonder how many other people the conductor has seen trackside. What are they carrying in the box cars and tankers? Again, resources I am not supposed to access immediately, I must wait for them to reach their final destination. 1440 / I finally notice what I think is a way to tell if the tracks are active. The tracks I have seen activity on all have cracked snow around the ties, no doubt from the vibrations of the trains. The inactive lines show no such fissures in the icy snow. 1450 / Passing between two factory buildings; on the left an active Milkbone plant, on the right a defunct Wonderbread plant. This line was their access to the global market. 1515 / A large water tower stands a few hundred feet from the tracks. Like the pumping station, I wonder if I could access the fresh water it stores inside. 1535 / My soreness and fatigue are peaking and I take more frequent breaks. However, there is less “stuff” around so I must be more strategic about when I stop. It also becomes overcast. I re-zip my coat and put my scarf back on. My mood is worsening. 1550 / I take another break under an overpass. A pile of newer looking gravel provides a comfortable seat. The cold quickly encroaches when not walking. Graffiti covers the walls. Some just tags, others are questions or comments with responses by others. At this point I really want to get home. I know I will start to go below street level and I would prefer to exit the Belt Line at its intersection with Main St. instead of walking all the way back to Colvin Ave. 1552 / I see a gently sloping service road which goes back up to street level. I take it instead of walking all of the way to the main St. intersection in case there is no egress at that point. 1600 / I exit the Belt Line at Dewey Ave. and make my way along the Tri-Main building. Each step seems to be getting more exhaustive. 1630 / I am back at 129 Lisbon Ave. My feet and boots are soaked, an enormous blister on my left heel. Barely able to stand up straight.
Trajectory 02 There and Back Again / 02/23/20 1020 / This time I am more prepared. Chest harness with my cellphone attached, tripod for my camera, and the temperature is ~20° warmer so I have lighter clothes on. Trajectory #2 is ~12 miles + follows a linear path. I am excited to leave and return on the same path. The only food I bring is a Cliffbar and half as much water. I do remember to bring extra pairs of socks! 1030 / About ¼ mile from 129 there is a wireless tower. It’s something I know is always there but seldom notice. It is around 300’ tall and its adjacency to my neighborhood should equal better wifi right? Several layers of fence prevent direct interaction with the tower, but this could be easily subverted. One may have to physically climb the tower to attempt to siphon any bandwidth.
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1044 / Walking through McCarthy Park (a large park I didn’t even realize was here) I notice a bench with a lanyard and keys tied to it. This has me thinking, were these keys left here intentionally? Are they being shared? An unspoken relationship between multiple people. The design of the bench itself almost fosters the hanging of objects on it. Yet they do not interfere with bench itself (or sitting on it), 1050 / Not far away is a large water storage tank. It lies off of my trajectory, but one could easily detour to access it. Walking closer to the tank I come to the edge of the park, where a path takes me towards the road. Here is my first real “obstacle.” East Amherst Ave is over 1 story below my current path with a large rock escarpment. The other side is at the same level as me. Showing that the road was cut through what I am guessing is the Niagara escarpment. 1100 / after walking down what I think is another path, I realize the cliff overlooking the road is the best way down to street level. Luckily the rocks form a sort of staircase that makes the decent relatively easy. I have now left or adjusted my trajectory for the sake of the road. I can tell the path on the other side of the road is much less travelled. There is a way up but it is less clear and more difficult to ascend. Once back on my planned trajectory I am at the level I started on; facing a guard rail mirrored from the one on the other side. 1105 / almost immediately the space is bordered on one side by a large, if disrepaired, fence and the ground before me seems almost bog-like, with frozen pools of water not yet melted in the 40-degree weather and sunshine. The buildings beyond the fence are clearly in rough shape and look abandoned. There is a gate which doesn’t quite appear to be locked, but it doesn’t really matter because there is a huge hole in the fence about 10’ to the right. 1110 / a pile of tires lies adjacent to this breach in the fence. Discarded from when the buildings were still active I presume. These are just sitting here, not doing anything, forgotten. How would this space change if people wanted to use the tires? What other amenities would be needed? 1115 / at the end of a row of school buses, on the other side of the fence, there is a cell tower. Again, a large, but unassuming structure until you really focus on it. Working on the roof of one of the warehouse-type buildings are a group of workers, they take notice of me and we exchange waves. I think I hear them ask me what I am doing, but I can’t quite make it out, so I keep walking. They were clearly surprised and intrigued. 1116 / past the industrial buildings the topography changes. It may be due to landfill, but this area reminds me of a collection of burial mounds or small barrows. Probably hiding something of interest underneath. 1126 / my trajectory gets pinched by a fence and road on my left and an elevated parking lot on my right. It will soon be too narrow to keep walking on my planned trajectory. So I divert again. I decide to go up the little hill and cut through another school bus parking lot. 1130 / after a brief detour onto a side street my trajectory picks back up. It is now a parkway with 2 lanes of traffic, a sidewalk and a paved bike lane; as well as a generous, grassy shoulder. My trajectory has been made official! Just to the right, up a small hill is an abandoned looking building with a new, but unfinished, fence; a suggestion of a barrier, border. I follow it (it is a small area but the foliage density gives
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it an odd sense of privacy. 1135 / there is a small tangle of vines and branches that look at the same time natural and manmade. It could easily pass for a lean-too in the summer when the foliage is thicker 1137 / this raised area ends and I reenter the sidewalk and as I do so I see an AMR center. 1140 / the parkway is desolate. Maybe a weekday would be busier with people walking, cars going by, etc. I pass fire hydrants, their regular intervals becoming obvious, as if they are the most important thing along this road. They seem too close together, especially with how infrequently they are used. The lack of structures close to the parkway make the hydrants appear even more out of place. 1145 / at an overpass I start to see the trash. Cushions, a broken television, and a strange collection of plastic bags which have been blown up against a chain link fence. It is clear that these bags have not been placed here intentionally, yet the collection of this detritus makes this spot feel occupied, designed. An old loading dock on my right looks like it could be a great spot to stop for a while. 1200 / the parkway ends and my trajectory is now a thick, brush filled area between 2 fenced off properties. The pathway starts under a telephone pole support wire DISASTER!!!!!! As I was using my tripod to take an in-situ photo the wind blows it over. The lens pops off and I rush back. At first all looks surprisingly fine, but I then realize that the lens cannot connect to the camera body, even though nothing else is broken. This put my DSLR out of commission for the remainder of my trajectory, and puts me in a bad mood. I must make do with my phone for the remaining 3/4 of my trajectory. 1208 / this is the toughest part yet. Something akin to reeds covers the foreseeable part of my trajectory. They are loud and rigid, although I can make my way through them. Surprisingly I come across what appears to be part of pelvis and spine. Maybe from a deer? There are no other bones and these are sun-bleached and picked clean. This space feels the most foreign of the trajectory. 1210 / a few feet from the bones is a traffic cone, surrounded, almost intentionally, by branches and reeds. It appears nestlike, but I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t disturb it. 1215 / these reeds are getting exhausting so I decide to move to a small ridge which seems to have more of a pathway. Up on the ridge I am reconnected to the city. On my left are buildings and on my right is an electrical transformer station, partially hidden from the city by my trajectory and its secluded location. This is where my trajectory opens up and I am walking under the power lines. 1222 / the power lines continue overlaid on my trajectory, but the ground again slopes down to meet the road which intersects it. The power lines have their own â&#x20AC;&#x153;planeâ&#x20AC;? of space several stories in the air thanks to the steel truss towers holding the power lines up. 1230 / I cross two streets at angles as the traffic moves on, ignoring me. As I take the slope which rises back up, I smell cooking food, probably from the McDonalds a few hundred feet away. The path before me clearly has been in recent use. 1235 / some pathways lead off of my trajectory and down onto
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adjacent streets. I continue forward until I come across another road. Here there is a railing preventing direct movement to the street level. I must back track slightly and take a side street to the crossing road. However, afterwards I easily pick up my trajectory again. 1240 / the trajectory widens and a large brick and terracotta wall is on my left. I can just barely see a large, religiouslooking, building. A little further there is a gate which is locked, but could give one access to this very private property. The snow is heavier here and the foliage thicker. 1252 / after crossing another street I arrive at the CSX railyard; the biggest obstacle I was expecting to encounter. At the edge of it there appears to be what is left of an old bridge, or maybe a viaduct? But it still can give me a great vantage point to survey the yard. I don’t see much activity and I think about crossing the yard directly, but a strategically (intentionally?) placed line of freight cars forces me to walk towards the eastern end of the yard and cross at a much narrower spot. 1301 / as I walk back towards the power lines I see a few CSX trucks, but they pay me no mind. I also see a Norfolk Southern Railroad cooler, upturned. Was this stolen by CSX employees? Were Norfolk Southern employees spying on CSX? Is there some secret railroad turf war? It was an unexpected sight. 1310 / when I am back up on my trajectory I feel exposed. The tower of the yard I think can clearly see me. I walk gingerly by and try to stay in the areas with the most foliage. 1315 / now I need to cross the other arm of the railyard. There are many more CSX trucks so I move more towards the end of the yard. One truck passes right by me but doesn’t stop. Could I have walked right through? 1322 / once past the yard I cross Broadway Ave and the power lines continue. The 4 lanes of traffic provide what could be a challenging crossing, however the Sunday traffic is light, so I don’t need to use the crosswalk and instead walk directly back onto my trajectory. Once up on the power line level I pick up a new path with recently fresh tire tracks. It looks like an atv? The path continues back down to the street, the power lines ended, but the clarity of the pathway has supplanted it. 1332 / the continues on the other side. My trajectory opens up again. Other pathways lead down a small hill and to my left looks like a lean-too structure, clearly manmade. Again I feel completely separated from the city. 1336 / I cross another street, each one gets less and less busy, feeling more on the periphery of the city. This path looks more frequently travelled. I see other foot prints and dog tracks. The path passes by a body of water, triangular. Drinkable? I see another railyard nearby; is this Norfolk Southern? Am I on another railroad’s turf? 1342 / finally at the end of my trajectory, a viaduct. Covered in graffiti, crumbling, probably two stories above the ground. There is a rail line ahead of me. I can hear a busy road nearby but I cannot see it. I sit and relax for a while. I change my socks and watch someone walk by from across the yard, past me. We exchange glances that’s it. There is no one else on the viaduct, but I am curious what a happens at other times of day here. When is this space most active? And by “who”? it has a unique border. Private, yet open, high enough to survey the surrounding area, like some medieval fortress, but unable to
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exert any feudal powers. As I rest my legs, shoes off, a train passes by; Norfolk Southern. Do they see me? I am wearing a bright red and blue jacket so I am hard to miss. As I prepare to leave I see “1932” cast into the viaduct and it makes me think of the history of this spot. Almost 90 years. How many generations have drank beers here at night? When did the viaduct close? 1430 / on my return trajectory I start to deviate more. As I near the lean-too I take one of the other paths, but quickly go back to my previous trajectory, my new path deviating to far, leading to a large vacant lot. 1440 / back at the CSX yard I cross further west. As I move up the hill between the two arms I decide, spontaneously, to move west, hoping to cut through another spot. This leads me through private property, but I disregard the signs and move through the complex of buildings. I hope to cut right across and go across the yard, but there is a fence, without any breaches. I am forced to deviate significantly by doubling back to Broadway, and walk down to Bailey Ave. (it is only afterwards that I realize staying on Bailey could have made the return trajectory shorter) I find a hole in the fence where Bailey crosses over the rail line. Between the overpass and the rail line I wait for a train to pass; observing all of the trash collected over the years. From here I pick up my previous trajectory. 1530 / the next part of my return trajectory is the same as the outgoing trajectory until I again get to Bailey Ave. I consult my map and see ahead of me the ubiquitous white tower next to UB South Campus (I still don’t know its purpose) and realize I can take Bailey to bypass the toughest area of the trajectory, and it takes me back to the parkway. 1615 / my next deviation is to take the road that starts where the parkway ends. It brings me alongside my previous trajectory and past the building where I saw the group of people working, but I only see 1 person, and they don’t notice me. 1618 / I cross E Amherst St again, and on the other side I see another body of water (about ½ mile from 129), yet I didn’t know it was even here. It is deep with some sort of metal lift. I am not sure of its purpose and the gates are securely closed. I continue on. I reenter McCarthy park and see a group of kids playing basketball, a man flying an rc plane, girls swinging. The remainder of my trajectory is nearly identical to the outgoing one and I return to 129, less sore then Trajectory #1.
Trajectory 03 A Shortcut to Pants / 03/09/20 0855 / After a week of feeling sick I finally feel up to do Trajectory #3, which will use my bike and travel almost 70 miles. The weather is the most agreeable yet, especially on a bike. Unlike the previous 2 trajectories, I will be limited to more defined pathways, roads, etc. and I already have a few ideas of when/where I want to stop for photos. On this trajectory I am planning a bit more in advance. I have a small emergency repair kit as well as my ID and passport for crossing the border. I was able to mount my phone to my bike for mobile photo-taking, but I am also taking my DSLR (now repaired) and tripod, but again, utilizing this method of documentation will require a greater disruption in my trajectory. The night before I give my bike a once-over and am able to put some of my gear on the bike frame
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itself, instead of on my back. 0911 / I did not fully plan my route beforehand, but instead tried to understand and remember a few key aspects, waypoints, locations etc. of the environment of the trajectory. I know I need to go around Delaware Park towards the Niagara River and Niagara St. As I round the northwest edge of the park I see a sign that reads “Scajacuada Trail” and infer that the Scajacuada Creek runs below the Scajacuada Expressway, out to the canal, Niagara River, and Niagara St. 0912 / As the trail takes me on an overpass the trajectory constricts, almost awkwardly so, where I feel nervous riding between the walls. I Perhaps I should be walking my bike across the overpass? I notice the green reflective road sign that points to Delaware ave. and decide it applies to the cars as well as myself. 0924 / on Niagara St. glimpses of the Belt Line and Ranchero’s connect my current trajectory with my past trajectory. Highlighting the multiple ways in which one can traverse and connect an environment. However, now I am on a “legitimate” trajectory (the road) instead of an informal one (the Belt Line) and therefore have easier access to all of the resources and systems on Niagara St. From here I do not even notice the river, or the highway, or the Belt Line. The gas stations, restaurants, auto shops, and construction create a barrier, both physical and psychological, between my current and past trajectories. I am inhabiting a different (although not completely) set of forces. 0930 / Niagara St. has transitioned into some other road and the peace bridge should be near. It’s physically right in front of me, but I need to find the entrance. This is all very confusing, the signage is almost nonexistent. I go back and forth a few times near a Peace Bridge sign and ride towards where the bridge touches the ground. 0934 / Just past the US Duty Free building I approach the entrance, wait not the entrance. The sign on the gate instructs me go to back the way I came! The “others” are not making this part intuitive (although I could probably fit through the gate). 0941 / As I pass under the peace bridge, following the cryptic instructions of the gate, having a feeling like I am trespassing, an officer confirms I am at the pedestrian/bicycle entrance. Dismounting (which is required) he points me down a narrow, again poorly labelled, pathway to a turnstile certainly too small for my bike, which briefly makes a nearby door my likely path, but the officer again points me in the right direction, assisting me through the turnstile. 0952 / My environment changes abruptly on the bridge, the already strong winds become stronger, and my vantage appears higher than One Seneca Tower. My trajectory slows considerably as I walk my bike across, and my awareness of the vehicles, mostly semitrucks, passing by; the bridge physically, noticeably, rising and falling, like breathing or a gently tide, the springiness of the cambered deck. 0954 / Ahead, electronic signs communicate the flow of people and resources across the Peace Bridge. The “Open” or “Closed” lanes visualizing the number of lanes and directionality. But these lanes can change (I assume given the electronic signs). But how often? Throughout the day? Only on certain days? Once a year? This binary relationship is fluid. What happens if the “operator”, if it is even sentient, fails to change the lanes to their optimal configuration? Will the drivers create their own arrangement? Can Canada switch the lanes on the American side
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based on activity on their end? How cooperative is this lane manipulation between these 2 countries? 1003 / Halfway over the bridge Buffalo now appears small and stout. I have always thought that Buffalo has a deceptively small skyline. The city is so flat and sprawled and short that it’s size is misrepresented from afar. Surprisingly far, off to my left, is the Buffalo Water Intake Crib (unbeknownst to me at the time) it also signifies the water border between the USA and Canada, and serves as the intake for fresh water for the entire city. However, from here, it looks like some odd Venetian chapel, only accessible by boat. Such an intriguing folly. 1006 / On the Canadian side there are 4 lanes on traffic (the US side has 3). Why the difference? The space feels more like an airport tarmac. 1014 / Signs (which are actually present) direct me towards customs, which as a cyclist is the same as being an automobile. This surprises no one, the border patrol appears familiar with my confusion. The officer questions me as one does when entering a country, yet I mention I am recording my trajectory (I didn’t use that term) and they enquire if I am recording now (I’m not) yet the question throws me off a bit. Is that not permitted? Are they just curious? 1025 / Although geographically (and legally) in Canada on the Peace Bridge, I am officially in Canada after going through customs. Nothing really feels any different; the gas stations and dollar stores look different, but it’s essentially Western New York. Was I expecting something different? Some major thing that makes it clear I am not in New York, or the USA? Perhaps the Great Lakes Region has a more dominant identity. 1029 / Riding towards the lake trail I come to large power lines which span the Niagara river! Is the energy (or bandwidth, data, etc.) moving in one direction, or back and forth? Does the energy have to go through customs? 1038 / The head wind along the lake edge is predictably intense. It’s colder, despite the sun, which requires me stopping to put on a pullover I packed. Additionally, I remove my helmet and don my beanie, feeling more comfortable taking the risk without a helmet on the bike path. The path (which is paved) is hardly any easier than the grass. Thick layers of mud and rubble from what looks like a nearby wall separates the lake from the land, no doubt the wind, waves, and ice continually degrade the stone wall. Perhaps there is a better retaining system? Some more adaptable. 1043 / The lake path oscillates between adjacent to the lake and on the far side of private property adjacent to the lake. This obviates the delineation between property values, the rhythm of real estate and class. The trail abruptly ends, 2 large concrete barriers constrict my trajectory, the paving disappears. Or does it? A sign reads “Private Property No Trespassing” which reinforces my belief that my path ends. Checking my phone and backtracking provides little clarity. Returning to the barriers I notice what could be a path continuing past them, and decide to wing it. 1047 / This path is wooded, like some sort of parkour area, cut down trees, multiple paths, partly paved, crisscrossing in different directions. I sort of guess the way forward and wind up back on a paved path. Is there a more direct path during the summer when the lakeshore is open? 1052 / The path, and my trajectory, diverts from the lakeshore,
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and straightens. As far as I can see my trajectory is completely straight, like some Roman road or Nazca Line. Completely devoid of any context, unlike along the lake. This trajectory has determined its own route, straight, with little regard for its surrounding environment. 1058 / The trajectory develops a rhythm or trail intersected by road, both paved, but a clear hierarchy is established, both through the literal signage on the Friendship Trail and with how one interacts with the space. A dozen feet or so before the intersection a dashed line divides the trail in half, much like a road, formalizing the relationship between others moving in each direction. A bench located just before an informational sign and a small stop sign indicates that one is expected to stop fully before crossing the road, highlighted by the dense foliage creating blind corners, even before the leaves grow back. This is clearly a space intended to stop, relax, and then consciously proceed forward. However, I only slow down to ensure I will not be hit by a car, in order to maintain my momentum on my trajectory. 1147 / This rhythm continued, unchanged, for the next hour. Until a sign (literally). “L’ETIQUETTE DE LA VOIE” grabs my attention, the French text I can roughly translate to “Bike Etiquette.” However, even though I am a cyclist, I am not the cyclist this sign is made for. Regardless, studying the sign reveals my location and my proximity to Port Colborne, the first preplanned waypoint on my trajectory (~ ¼ of the trajectory). Around the sign, larger rocks (boulders?) are arranged to form a sort of growth on the existing pathway. I am in a town square, at a campfire, this convinces one to stop and read, and rest. 1231 / Another hour or so of riding brings me to Port Colborne, I can assume this because I see a lift bridge over a canal, both things I assume are in Port Colborne. this feels unexpected, unearned, no suburbs, no feeling of building urbanity. I just arrive. The quiet is also surprising, the inactivity unexpected. Cars rarely pass by where I’ve stopped. Few people are seen crossing the park. The huge, hulking, cargo ships lie dormant. The lift bridge lowered, appearing as if it has never been raised. The Welland Canal, a manifestation of Buffalo’s decline, is itself standing still, giving no argument for its dominance as a force of resources, external systems, identity, and environment. It’s just a strip of water. 1303 / Equinox (the name on the side of the ship). Equilibrium, balance (irony?). The only balance this floating building is in is with buoyancy. It’s a symbol to these global forces which seek to move, create, provide; at an unsustainable scale. The ship is the largest manmade thing I see. Dwarfing the world around it. 1307 / Crossing the canal is an underwhelming event. The bridge is small, too small for the canal or the ships which must pass beneath it. Like at the border, I must demount to cross, although it feels less significant, a less important disruption in my trajectory. 1314 / Passing through what appears to be a small “downtown” area (I later learn it is actually on an island between 2 arms of the canal. I return to a defined bike trail. 1318 / Passing through a former industrial area the “Robinhood Flour” elevator looms across the canal. I first assume it is inactive (as I am used to in Buffalo) but when I pass it on the other side, it is active. I now wonder who/where it services? Port Colborne? Ontario? Canada?
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1345 / following what I believe is the main canal is in fact a ruse, revealed when the canal abruptly ends, bisected by a wide set of rail lines. Crossing a highway brings me back to the canal, as if it had never been cut in half. There is a sort watersports area, very nice, almost like an Olympics facility, but not in use. 1402 / Coming back into a town (Welland, technically a city) I come across some winter coats, situated/hung on a guardrail on the road. I have never seen this! Can I take one? (I think they are for homeless people, but perhaps someone just left them there). I also notice my own pants have ripped quite severely, essentially around my upper thigh, but still connected by a thin strip of fabric. Starting back up my focus is now on finding a clothing store on my trajectory. 1429 / My trajectory ends! The barriers ahead of me confirm this. I therefore take the rail bridge across the canal and back onto another path (I get flashbacks of trajectory #1) 1439 / Another map/sign defines other trajectories. Similar to mine in many ways, I notice where and when and how long these overlaps occur. Ahead is where a ferry would be if it was the right season (late spring - early fall). But its inactivity forces another deviation in my trajectory to another lift bridge (I learn of this crossing from another cyclist) 1538 / From the sign I consulted earlier I know I can take Route 20 all the way to Niagara Falls, CA. However, requires stopping again, donning my helmet, and riding along a highway, where my presence has cause the most disruption on other trajectories as cars pass by, giving a wide berth. My environment quickly shifts from rural to urban/suburban. Commercial retail, restaurants, etc. pass by. Flanking me, reminding of my many needs (water, food, pants). I finally find a clothing store. I buy a new pair of pants costing over $50CA and wear them out of the store, probably confusing the clerks. 1548 / Passing through “Lundy’s Lane Battlefield” 1814 (the War of 1812) I can’t help but wonder if this memorial, location, event is viewed differently by Americans, British, and Canadians. A British flag can be seen in the background. 1604 / After another brief detour (due to confusion) arrival at the Rainbow Bridge is more grand than the peace bridge, and easier to navigate. the falls look majestic in the background, but their scale is trivialized. I am again confused by how to cross, but learn that, contradictory to the Peace Bridge, I can simply ride my bike across. Why is this? Is one more safer or more secure than the other? Is my presence on a bike more of a disruption on one crossing compared to the other? 1609 / This crossing point is more dramatic, even if it is more focused on tourism than resources/economy. Going through custom’s is comparable to the Peace Bridge, and declaring I bought pants seems to have amused border patrol. Quickly I return to US soil, and to cell service, it’s odd how stark this division of invisible energy is. 1620 / I stop in a small informational building to refill my water. 1647 / taking another break the river in front of me rushes by, a small wall the only barrier between the static ground and the torrential stream of the falls rapids. After navigating the Olmsteadian web of paths I am back on a designated bike path. The soreness is getting intense.
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1659 / I reach the “Old Stone Chimney”, a remnant of some old building important to the local history, standing as some sort of obelisk to a bygone era. It is surrounded by a fence, but there is no lock and it is open (so what’s the point?). The chimney looks in great shape, and it’s probably usable. Perhaps I could warm myself if need be. Would anyone even care? 1714 / following both the river and the highway (I’m in between) I come to the Water Intakes. These Bladerunner-esque towers without windows or context, they could I guess have anything in them, should I trust the signs if I cannot see inside? How truthful are these structures? Adjacent to these towers is a line of solar powered light posts. Unlike previous encounters with solar panels these are out of reach; the scale is larger than seems practical. Could one still co-opt these powers? 1721 / The bike path again merges with a road and riding through what feels like a small town is actually the outskirts of the city of Buffalo. I pass Love Canal without even realizing it. 1748 / I pick up the path again, stopping more frequently to rest. Using Grand Island as a reference to my proximity to Buffalo. 1759 / A guardian, telling me to stop (or is it?). As I pass a water treatment plant (the smell is almost overwhelming) the gate blocking my path is obviously communicating with vehicles trying to enter the plant when it is closed. However, I can’t help but think it is also communicating with me, reminding me I am not the most important entity here (the car is). 1827 / I find myself on Tonowanda Rails to Trails with many similarities to the Friendship Trail in Ontario, straight and paved path with lots of signage. I am surprised by the number of people on it. Crossing roads familiar to me, although in the context of a car instead of a bike, connects my location and trajectory to my local, remembered environment. 1900 / The Rails to Trails ends, fittingly, at the LaSalle metro station. One trajectory connecting to another.
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D: Forces in the Great Lakes Region
Appendix D is a collection of the forces identified
through this guidebook in the context of the Great Lakes Region. These forces may or may not exist within other contexts but can serve as examples of each of the Four Forces. Also take note that some forces exist in multiple categories. This is intentional as within specific contexts forces may exist in different or multiple categories of forces.
Resources What we consume, use, and how we get it 01. 129 Lisbon Ave, Buffalo, NY, USA / Home / Identity / Resources / Trajectory 01,02,03 02. Buffalo, New York, USA / great lakes Region / Environment / Identity / Resources / Entities / Trajectory 01,02,03 03. Buffalo Water Intake Crib / Resources / Trajectory 03 04. Cellular Service Areas / Resources / Trajectory 01,02,03 05. Dr. Martens / Boots / Resources / Identity / Full Grain Leather 06. Essential PH-1 / Smartphone / Resources / Identity / Trajectory 01,02,03 07. Niagara River / Environment / Resources / Trajectory 01,03 08. Nikon D80 / Resources 09. Scott Goggles / Resources /
polarized ski goggles
10. Socks / Resources / importance of which is not to be overlooked 11. Woolf Originals New York Trousers (2014) / Resources / integrity compromised during Trajectory 03 / Ontario, CA
Environments The “world” an individual/community inhabits/ traverses and their impact on it 12. 129 Lisbon Ave, Buffalo, NY, USA / Home / Identity / Resources / Trajectory 01,02,03 13. Bailey Ave / Environment / Trajectory 02
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14. Belt Line / Entities / Environment / Rail-line / Trajectory 01 15. Buffalo, New York, USA / great lakes Region / Environment / Identity / Resources / Entities / Trajectory 01,02,03 16. CSX / Entities / Environment / Trajectory 01 17. Customs / Entities / Environment / Trajectory 03 18. Friendship Trail / Ontario CA / Environment / Entities / Trajectory 03 19. Grand Island / Environment / Trajectory 03 20. Great Lakes Region / occurring within the context of the great lakes but not confined to just urban or suburban or rural (these definitions are irrelevant or problematic) / Context 21. Niagara Falls, ON, CA / Environment / Trajectory 01,03 22. Niagara Falls, NY, USA / Environment / Trajectory 01,03 23. Niagara River / Environment / Resources / Trajectory 01,03 24. Niagara St / Environment / Trajectory 01,03 25. Norfolk- Southern / Entities / Environment / Rail-yard / Trajectory 02 26. Peace Bridge / Environment / Entities / Border 27. Port Colborne, ON, CA / Environment / Entities 28. Rainbow Bridge / Environment / Entities / Border 29. Route 20 / Environment / Ontario Canada 30. Scajaquada; Creek / Environment / Trajectory 01,03 31. Scajaquada; Expressway
/ Environment / Trajectory 03
32. Scajaquada; Trail / Environment / Trajectory Trajectory 01 33. Tonawanda Rails to Trails / Environment / Entities
Identities What an individual/community considers essential culture, practices, objects, etc. 34. 129 Lisbon Ave, Buffalo, NY, USA / Home / Identity / Resources / Trajectory 01,02,03 35. Buffalo, New York, USA / great lakes Region / Environment / Identity / Resources / Entities / Trajectory 01,02,03 36. Dr. Martens / Boots / Resources / Identity / Full Grain Leather 37. Essential PH-1 / Smartphone / Resources / Identity / Trajectory 01,02,03
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38. GLARE / graffiti artist / Anachronistic Relationship / Entities / Identity / Environment / Trajectory 01 39. Old Stone Chimney / Identity / Entities 40. Tunturi 10-Speed
/ Identity / Gear / Bicycle
Entities Gov’t, companies, foreign communities, individuals, etc. an individual/community interact with but whose goals/drivers may not be the same 41. Belt Line / Entities / Environment / Rail-line / Trajectory 01 42. Buffalo, New York, USA / great lakes Region / Environment / Identity / Resources / Entities / Trajectory 01,02,03 43. CSX / Entities / Environment / Trajectory 01 44. Customs / Entities / Environment / Trajectory 03 45. GLARE / graffiti artist / Anachronistic Relationship / Entities / Identity / Environment / Trajectory 01 46. LaSalle Station / Entities / Trajectory 03 47. LB Foster / Rail Friction Management System / Entities / Resources / Trajectory 01 48. Norfolk- Southern / Entities / Environment / Rail-yard / Trajectory 02 49. Old Stone Chimney / Identity / Entities 50. Peace Bridge / Environment / Entities / Border 51. Port Colborne, ON, CA / Environment / Entities 52. Rainbow Bridge / Environment / Entities / Border 53. Tonawanda Rails to Trails / Environment / Entities 54. Welland Canal / Entities
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PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
e
E: On Drawings - The Anachronicle Appendix
Appendix D highlights data and conventions as they pertain to drawings and graphic representations in this guidebook.Presented here as the Appendix located in the Anachronicle.
appendix
Calibri
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t
“
r
”
X
id.03
149
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
old enflish text mc
i rs e s
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X
appendix 151
F: On Etc.
Appendix F is reserved for anything which cannot
be placed in another appendix. This includes tangential thoughts and references, as well as comments and opinions by the author which may not be necessary in the main guidebook.
01. Campbellian / pertaining to the ideas developed by Joseph Campbell / the “monomyth”, hero’s journey, etc.
02. design things for nomads / an early goal of this guidebook and
thesis, but quickly abandoned / who am I to say what would imporve a nomad’s life? / this has become a very popular perspective to take, but misguided in my opinion
03. Designed Resourcefulness / Concept / A useful idea which is not
explicity explored in Anachronistic Space, but can provide further information and precedents
04. Dungeons & Dragons / all RPGs are effective (and fun) ways of challenging perceptions of time and space
05. Garamond / serif text common in many novels, especially classics / compact and elegant / analog
06. GoPro / acquired during the trajectories, a GoPro or similar
piece of equipment is extremely useful for any fieldwork bieng undertaken
07. Kentucky Route Zero / an incredible video developed by Cardboard
Computer / if any video game explores ideas akin to Anachronistic Space, this is it
08. Monotxt / font used for general + annotative text / utilitarian / digital
09. Old English Text / font used for titles + headings / opulent and dramatic / analog
10. opus primum / “prime work” in Latin / the main focus and effort undertaken
11. “Progress” is used as an amorphous ambiguous term. However, here
it is used to represent the aspirations of sedentary civilization.
12. Roman Mile / 1481 meters / 1000 paces / Used a base to the grid of the Anachronicle because of it’s human scale
13. Sock / an often overlooked item / never forget to bring an extra pair or two
/ preferrably non-cotton (wool or synthetic)
14. Southern Reach Trilogy / A truly unique and inspiring modern
science fantasy series / life through replication, mutation, alienation / aggressive recovery / these books will put you in some sort of consciousness that’s for sure!
15. traditionally nomadic / a vague term / essentially, the general understanding of nomads / Hunter-Gatherers, etc. / generally considerd unsophisticated in relation to modern sedentary accomplishments
16. terra nullius / “no man’s land” in Latin / a concept which
believes that newly discovered lands are unnoccupied / akin to Manifest Destiny / espoused by western hegemony
17. Water / crucial to have anywhere / hydrate or die!
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