The Flourishing Flaneur

The nineteenth century term flaneur describes a figure “who walks the city in order to experience it,” (Baudelaire) “a detached observer strolling… at a leisurely pace.” (Prouty, 2009) Although the term dates back to another era, I feel as though it is an action relevant in today’s modern society.

The Internet is a space where I can wander aimlessly, focusing solely on content that interests me and disregarding all else. Like most of present-day society, I am a cyber-flaneur. As the “arcades offered a respite from the bustling crowd[s]” (Prouty, 2009) for the flaneur, the anonymity of the online world does the same for the cyber-flaneur. Instagram, the popular photo sharing application, is a social network I visit habitually, and one that allows me to engage in flaneurie.

A message to the cyber-flaneur,

 from everybody else.

Instagram users obtain a profile in which they can post photos, however, they are also able to ‘follow’ other profiles: this is where the cyber-flaneur flourishes. Without drawing attention to themselves (by posting photos to their own profile), the cyber-flaneur is able to use Instagram as a way to browse content at a leisurely pace, as “there are no limits to exploration in cyberspace. [They] instead create their own spatial and temporal boundaries through a cognitive [map]”. (Barnes, 1997. p.1)

However, to post personal pictures to their own profile, or to ‘like’ or ‘comment’ on someone else’s post, would attract attention to the cyber-flaneur, consequently withdrawing them from their flaneurie state. Given that I have no interest in such attention, feelings of inadequacy do occasionally present themselves when recognising the power other users hold due to their wide-spread recognition. Nevertheless, while gaining attention on the internet can feel empowering, with it comes pressure and scrutiny. So, as a cyber-flaneur, I am currently caught between observing and partaking.

Barnes, G. (1997). Passages of the Cyber-Flaneur. Otago University. Retrieved from: http://www.raynbird.com/essays/Passage_Flaneur.html

Hendel, J. (2012). The Life of the Cyberflaneur. Retrieved from: http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/02/the-life-of-the-cyberfl-neur/252687/

Image:

Lrie, A. (2014) Pinterest: Funny Makes me Smile. Retrieved from:

https://au.pinterest.com/pin/156500155775786752/

 Prouty, R. (2009). A Turtle on a Leash. Retrieved from: http://www.onewaystreet.tyepad.com/one_way_street/2009/10/a-turtle-on-a-leash.html

Brooklyn Flaneur, The. (2010). What is a flaneur? Retrieved from: https://brooklynflaneur.wordpress.com/what-is-a-flaneur/