Walking and whatnot...🧑🦯🚶♀️➡️
Who did the walk?
Hester Parr and her friend Sharon
What big event was happening?
The 2021 UN Climate Conference (COP26)
What did Parr do after the event?
She returned to walk again and reflect
Where did they walk?
Through Glasgow, Scotland
What does “securityscape” mean?
A place filled with security and surveillance
What changed in Glasgow after COP26?
The barriers and security were removed
Why did they walk there?
To observe how the city changed before and during COP26
Name one thing that made the city feel watched
Cameras, police, or metal barriers
How did the city feel after the barriers were gone?
Calmer and more open
What methods did Parr use to record her walk besides notes and photos?
Engaging in spontaneous conversations and paying attention to sensory experiences
How did the securityscape affect Parr’s emotional experience?
It created a mix of tension, curiosity, and heightened awareness of being observed
Why did Parr conduct a “re-walk” after COP26?
To observe changes, reflect on the event’s impact, and note how the space had returned to normal or retained traces of the securityscape
How does walking ethnography help researchers understand the relationship between emotion and space?
By capturing how people physically and emotionally experience their environment as they move through it
How can a temporary security-focused event like COP26 change people’s perceptions of urban spaces?
It can make familiar spaces feel restricted, charged with authority, and emotionally different, highlighting the interplay between power and everyday movement
What broader insight does Parr’s walking ethnography give about public spaces and large events?
Temporary events can leave lasting effects on both the urban environment and people’s emotional and sensory experiences, revealing how power and surveillance shape everyday life