How to be a cyberflaneur: Step by step

Image 1: The modern Flaneur. Photo by LinkedIn Sales Navigator on Unsplash

 

 ‘Flaneur’ is an antique term that likely you have never encountered before. Coined by the French poet Baudelaire in 1860, the word describes ‘someone adrift in the city, a detached observer strolling through the streets at a leisurely pace.’ (Prouty, 2009). The activity was thought to be a lost art, however, Flânerie has resurrected in a modern space. We now flaneur online.

 

The original flaneur strolled the streets idly ‘while he did not deliberately conceal his identity, the flaneur preferred to stroll incognito.’ (Morozov, 2012). Without a schedule or purpose, the flaneur took time to take in the environment. Sadly, flaneurs met their demise when the home of their activity underwent refurbishing. In the late 19^th century, the thin alleys and walkways of the city – where the flaneur thrived -- were demolished in an attempt to ‘clean up’ the city, leaving the flaneur placeless. The activity of flânerie was thought to be lost forever, until the creation of a new space – the internet.

 

Does it come as a surprise to you that we can compare the physical place of the streets, to the virtual arena of the internet?

 

‘Place is a social product, or a complex social construct (based on values, and the social production of meaning) which affects spatial practices and perception.’ (Kuttainen, 2020). In other words, place is created by ‘us’, whether it’s something tangible or abstract. Where there Is a church building on the corner of 5^th avenue, there is a religious Facebook group two clicks away. Both bring together a cohort of believers of a specific faith, to whom they offer communication, participation, and education. The only difference is, one is a virtual place and the other is a physical place.

 

Now the flaneur -- or cyberflaneur -- can stroll through their Instagram feed, gaze at a YouTube video, and turn a corner by pressing a link. The internet presents a new space to be adrift.

 

So how can you enjoy the leisure of being a cyberflaneur? Likely, you’re already doing it!

 

If you have ever aimlessly scrolled through your social media feed, you are a cyberflaneur; if you have ever caught yourself at 2am watching cat videos, you are a cyberflaneur; if you stumbled across this article and you’re not really sure how, you are a cyberflaneur.

 

Step 1: Be aimless

As already mentioned, the flaneur distains the demands and schedules. So, scroll aimlessly on your news feed with have no perception of time. The deeper the rabbit hole, the better.

 

Step 2: Take it all in

The original flaneur practiced the activity to stimulate their sense, ‘the arcade was primarily a pathway to a rich sensory experience.’(Morozov, 2012). The internet provides mental stimulation on a higher level. Allow the sounds, the colours, the movement to take up all your attention.

 

Step 3: Play with subjectivity

The crowded streets of 19^th century Paris provided a blanket of anonymity for the flaneur. ‘[the streets] urged not just different engagement with space but also different kinds of people, ways of being in the world.’ (Kuttainen, 2020). The separation of space between screens allows you test ‘rubbing shoulders’ with a new crowd and play with the creation of your identity.

 

While much has changed since the 19^th century, cyberflaneurie represents many of the original essence of its historical counterpart; and you’ve been participating in it without even realising.

 

References

 

Kuttainen, V. (2020). BA1002. Our Space: Networks, Narratives, and the Making of Place; week 6 lecture notes [PDF]. LearnJCU. https://learn.jcu.edu.au

 

Morozov, E. (2012, February 12). The death of the cyberflaneur. The New York times. https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/05/opinion/sunday/the-death-of-the-cyberflaneur.html

 

Prouty, R. (2009, October 28). A turtle on a leash. One-way street. https://onewaystreet.typepad.com/one_way_street/2009/10/a-turtle-on-a-leash.html