Bonnett, Alastair (Ed.) Transgressions: A Journal of Urban Exploration 1-5. London, UK: Salamander Press, 1995-2001. 96-132p..; ill.; 25 x 17.5 cm; ill. covers.

Transgressions: A Journal of Urban Exploration ran five issues (published in four volumes, 2/3 was a double issue) from 1995-2001. Founded by Alastair Bonnett, the publication saw itself as providing “an essential forum for the critical debate of the contemporary city”. In effect, Transgressions reflected an increased interest in – and re-discovery of – psychogeography in the United Kingdom and beyond; by means of illustration, the London Psychogeographical Association (LPA) and the Manchester Area Psychogeographic (MAP) were active around the same time. The review also diverged from Orthodox Situationist theory by introducing concepts like “Magico-Marxism” and discussing the work of the Italian “Situationauts”. The editorial board included, among others, Stewart Home, David Pindar, and Luther Blissett

Transgressions was also unique in bringing together a wide range of content, from academic articles by esteemed scholars to accounts of derives in various cities, interviews of pro-Situ figures (e.g., Tom Vague), translations of Situationist content (e.g., Jorn’s “Critique of Economic Policy”), debates, book/zine reviews, and more.

Rare in the trade, with no full set available (the editor himself, who was kind enough to send these to me, only has a single copy of Issue 1 left)

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