Psychogeography: Liminal Loci and Haunted Haunts

The Area for Esotericism, Occultism, and Magic invites special panel presentation proposals on the subject of psychogeography to be included in its events at the 46th annual conference of the Southwest Popular/American Culture Association, held this February 19-22 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Bubbling up from a concoction of Marxism, anarchism, Dadaism, and Surrealism in the 1950s, “psychogeography” took shape, per the situationist Guy Debord, as “the study of the precise laws and specific effects of the geographical environment, consciously organized or not, on the emotions and behavior of individuals.” What started as a vague practice of urban wandering and an examination of the effects of architecture on feelings has grown to include a literary (sub)genre in which authors explore the strata of history that lie beneath, behind, and beyond the streets and buildings that their characters populate.

Authors like Iain Sinclair, Peter Ackroyd, and Alan Moore have made much of London, mining the city’s history and construction for storytelling material that ultimately insists on there being a special spirituality particular to that geographic spot, regardless of era and circumstance. This panel asks presenters to examine pop culture examples of psychogeography in which the writers, artists, directors, and/or producers emphasize a single geographic location and its particular “essence.”

Presenters are encouraged to consider works of film, literature, art, and/or music in which a place is treated as magical – for good or ill. These locations can be as varied as the Overlook Hotel, Stonehenge, and Cabrini-Green. A broad conceptualization of psychogeography is encouraged, especially with regards to esoteric, occult, and magical elements tied to one location.

Please direct 200-500-word abstracts, optionally accompanied by CV, to the Area Chair for Esotericism, Occultism, and Magic at SWPACA, Dr. George J. Sieg, at georgejsieg@gmail.com by November 14. The Area Chair will also provide the main EOM Area CFP on request by email, as well as any other information desired.