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Lectures, laughs and liberation: Will Self leads walking tour of Bristol Lectures, laughs and liberation: Will Self leads walking tour of Bristol
(35 minutes later)
Will Self was not taking no for an answer. Having lined up a slightly reluctant 30-strong audience against a craggy old stone wall in Bristol, the author, journalist, thinker and walker was urging them to press their faces against it and ruminate.Will Self was not taking no for an answer. Having lined up a slightly reluctant 30-strong audience against a craggy old stone wall in Bristol, the author, journalist, thinker and walker was urging them to press their faces against it and ruminate.
“Think of how long the wall has been here and what it would have seen if it could see,” he said. “Feel the wall – its coldness, its integrity, its quiddity, its this-ness.”“Think of how long the wall has been here and what it would have seen if it could see,” he said. “Feel the wall – its coldness, its integrity, its quiddity, its this-ness.”
It was one of many strange, thought-provoking and downright funny moments during an hour-long walk with Self, organised as part of the Festival of the Future City, being held in Bristol.It was one of many strange, thought-provoking and downright funny moments during an hour-long walk with Self, organised as part of the Festival of the Future City, being held in Bristol.
Over the course of the 60 minutes Self led his group into odd corners and tight spots. He ignored private signs, leapt barriers, upset motorists and described why he believed walking was the way to break free from the shackles of 21st-century capitalism.Over the course of the 60 minutes Self led his group into odd corners and tight spots. He ignored private signs, leapt barriers, upset motorists and described why he believed walking was the way to break free from the shackles of 21st-century capitalism.
The walk began with a brief introduction to the situationists – the Paris-based artists and thinkers of the 1960s who championed the concept of “psychogeography”, the unplanned drifting through an urban landscape to become more in tune with one’s surroundings.The walk began with a brief introduction to the situationists – the Paris-based artists and thinkers of the 1960s who championed the concept of “psychogeography”, the unplanned drifting through an urban landscape to become more in tune with one’s surroundings.
“They believed as I believe that almost all our movement in the urban environment is circumscribed by time and money,” Self explained. He argued that we have become defamiliarised with our surroundings, trapped by a perceived need to be usefuland productive citizens. “They believed as I believe that almost all our movement in the urban environment is circumscribed by time and money,” Self explained. He argued that we have become defamiliarised with our surroundings, trapped by a perceived need to be useful and productive citizens.
The walk was an attempt to break free. “We will try to liberate our senses,” said Self. He straightened his jaunty hat, held his brolly high so any stragglers would not get lost and with an “On y va!” the party was off.The walk was an attempt to break free. “We will try to liberate our senses,” said Self. He straightened his jaunty hat, held his brolly high so any stragglers would not get lost and with an “On y va!” the party was off.
The first stop did not feel much like a conventional place of freedom – a narrow, damp gap between a container and redbrick wall. The Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas once claimed that in the future corridors would no longer be a means of reaching destinations, but would be destinations in themselves. “For you the future is now,” said Self.The first stop did not feel much like a conventional place of freedom – a narrow, damp gap between a container and redbrick wall. The Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas once claimed that in the future corridors would no longer be a means of reaching destinations, but would be destinations in themselves. “For you the future is now,” said Self.
His umbrella proved an invaluable way of stopping traffic – provoking outbursts of swearing from motorists as he led the party across a busy road. Self explained that pedestrians had the right of way on all British roads except motorways. “If you are hit, the motorist is liable. The problem is you’re dead.”His umbrella proved an invaluable way of stopping traffic – provoking outbursts of swearing from motorists as he led the party across a busy road. Self explained that pedestrians had the right of way on all British roads except motorways. “If you are hit, the motorist is liable. The problem is you’re dead.”
Still very much alive, Self went on to argue that understanding the age of buildings was a key to understanding the built environment. Elderly people were better at it, he said, because they had often seen the buildings being constructed. Young people less so.Still very much alive, Self went on to argue that understanding the age of buildings was a key to understanding the built environment. Elderly people were better at it, he said, because they had often seen the buildings being constructed. Young people less so.
At the back of a four-star hotel, what looked like a Georgian facade turned out to have been built in the 1980s. Self introduced the concept of uchronia, a hypothetical or fictional time-period. “A time that never really existed,” he said, “A merrie England, a feudal, bucolic past where wenches served mugs of porter.” At the back of a four-star hotel, what looked like a Georgian facade turned out to have been built in the 1980s. Self introduced the concept of uchronia, a hypothetical or fictional time-period. “A time that never really existed,” he said. “A merrie England, a feudal, bucolic past where wenches served mugs of porter.”
Next a muddy tramp across College Green – Self does not bother to keep off the grass – to the City Hall, seat of local democracy in Bristol. Self explained that he walked because he felt claustrophobic if he didn’t. He spoke of his “airport walks” in which he “ambulates” – it is hard not to adopt Self’s vocabulary when is around – from home or hotel to airport, boards his plane, disembarks and walks on to his final destination. “If you’re happy in a Ford Fiesta farting and playing with your iPhones, don’t worry,” he said.Next a muddy tramp across College Green – Self does not bother to keep off the grass – to the City Hall, seat of local democracy in Bristol. Self explained that he walked because he felt claustrophobic if he didn’t. He spoke of his “airport walks” in which he “ambulates” – it is hard not to adopt Self’s vocabulary when is around – from home or hotel to airport, boards his plane, disembarks and walks on to his final destination. “If you’re happy in a Ford Fiesta farting and playing with your iPhones, don’t worry,” he said.
As Self led the party up Hill Street (pausing at that venerable wall) he introduced another big word, skeuomorph, which he defined as an object that used to serve a function but is now merely decorative. The writer pointed out Scandavian-like wooden cladding on a modern building and a UPVC window with fake leading. “What is the point?” he asked.As Self led the party up Hill Street (pausing at that venerable wall) he introduced another big word, skeuomorph, which he defined as an object that used to serve a function but is now merely decorative. The writer pointed out Scandavian-like wooden cladding on a modern building and a UPVC window with fake leading. “What is the point?” he asked.
The walk ended at the 19th-century Cabot Tower, which offers commanding views over Bristol’s harbourside. But it was the hills further away that caught Self’s eye. The problem with cities, said Self, was that were too big – they had been designed for cars, buses and trains rather than people. The walk ended at the 19th-century Cabot Tower, which offers commanding views over Bristol’s harbourside. But it was the hills further away that caught Self’s eye. The problem with cities, said Self, was that they were too big – they had been designed for cars, buses and trains rather than people.
He quoted the writer Cyril Connolly : “No city should be so large that a man cannot walk out of it in a morning.” He quoted the writer Cyril Connolly: “No city should be so large that a man cannot walk out of it in a morning.”
“This is a fab city,” Self said. “Do you feel any freer?” Everyone agreed they did.“This is a fab city,” Self said. “Do you feel any freer?” Everyone agreed they did.