Urban & Rural Exploration

 Urban and rural explorers are involved in visiting interesting buildings and rural locations that are usually abandoned or closed off to society; Explorers can create connections to “important historic events, which can be shared alongside the images [that are taken]” (Pendleton, 2005 – 2021). Urban and rural exploration requires a more intellectual mindset, and they must enjoy subliminal experiences because “[t]he fear itself is the gateway to go through. It's the gateway that leads [explorers] to 'wonderland'” (WG & Potter, 2011). Urbex is a term that combines the two words – urban and exploration. Rurex is ultimately the same thing, but it combines rural and exploration. Urbex and rurex offer “unmediated experiences of reality and they welcome the fear” (WG & Potter, 2011). By exploring industrial evolution, displaying abandoned sites, drawing attention to garbage as artifacts with beauty in the decay, and influencing worldwide treasure hunts, urban and rural exploration has been flooded with imagery and historical stories.