ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book describes the visual trajectory of human movement viewed through the intersection of place, space, and time. It explores spatial agents that mostly end on the -eer suffix, e.g., the sauteur, the mountaineer, the flâneur, and the traceur. The book describes agents that end mostly in the -naut suffix, e.g., the aeronaut, the cybernaut, the selfienaut, and finally the astronaut, and cosmonaut. It provides the metaphor of “walking on air” to its logical conclusion, by applying it to visual agents that aim at conquering height and overcoming gravity. The book argues that steps into the arena is that of the tightrope walker. It explores the threat posed by nature through mountains, ravines, and cliffs is virtualised into hyperspace.
