Google Maps presents us with a predetermined view of the city. Whilst I wish to show this in a film I also also want to look at the view of the 'walker'.
The 'walker' stems from Michel du Certeau's 'Spatial Stories' (found in the book "The Practice of Everyday Life") where "...the street geometrically defined by urban planning is transformed into a space by walkers".
The 'walker' and the 'viewer' are both mapping Spitalfields Market through different means and the results of this can be very interesting. The 'viewer' can only observe what the camera of Google Maps can see, which is fixed in position and time, whilst the 'walker' can experience what is hidden from the 'viewer'.
A 'walker' is free to walk and to look at what they wish, and according to du Certeau, because of the vectors which include time and direction, the 'walker' is changing their environment, something that the 'viewer' through Google Maps is unable to see and experience. Whilst they are viewing a static and fixed architecture, and are unable to see into Spitalfields Market, in real time, the space might now be an aquarium, a football stadium or it may even cease to exist due to the 'stories' that all of the individual 'walkers' have placed upon the area.
Another aspect that I was interested in was the loss of identity Google maps represents. Whilst the 'walker' can see and interact with the built environment around them and also with the people, Google Map blurs out any people that are seen in the image and also many signs. Any thing that has a specific identity is simply blurred, emphasising a disconnection between the 'viewer' and the city. Also, as the images of Google Maps do not represent real-time, it can be used as propaganda in a time when the area has declined.
I want to develop and analyse these points further, through more images and film.
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