Ukcivilityproject's Blog

This blog reflects the urban flaneur tradition: Ukcivilityproject's Blog
Although the title indicates a blog on civil society, it is in essence a blog about civility in the city. Are urban places civil or have we lost civility in urban life?

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Be a Virtual Urban Flâneur

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(Street scene in London. Captured on  Robot Flâneur: Exploring Google Street View ) I chanced upon this site: Robot Flâneur: Exploring Google Street View website where you can explore: London; San Francisco; Manhattan (New York City); S ã o Paolo, Paris; Berlin; Johannesburg; and Mexico City via Google Earth. You can also explore the city of your choice by going to Google Earth and selecting the street view option, if it available for your selected city. This is an interesting way to view cities and be a virtual urban flâneur.   However, being an authentic urban flâneur means being involved with the urban environment, hearing sounds, awareness of activity and spontaneity.   Nevertheless It still holds your interest and could provide a teaching tool for Geography instructors.  
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Reverse Graffiti Art

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Here is something that baffles public officials, the cleaning of surfaces to create 'reverse graffiti' art. It is anarchist in nature because: How can you prosecute a person who cleans wall to create art."  Can this be considered vandalism?  Those who are urban flâneurs see the humor in such graffiti. Here are a few examples of reverse graffiti (the links also contain some interesting narrative):     (From Durban, South Africa, located at:  http://inhabitat.com/reverse-graffiti-south-africa n-artists-tag-walls-by-scrubbing-them-clean/ ) (Alexandre Orion – Skulls in  São Paulo, located at: http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/featured/35-greatest-works-of-reverse-graffiti/1949?image=20 ; the other images in this slide show are also noteworthy.) (Singapore: located at: http://1outdooradvertising.blogspot.com/2009/01/reverse-graffiti-by-caltex.html ;     what is surprising is that this is a legal advertisement.) ...
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The Café: an essential stopping place for an urban flâneur

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(Image from Lilit café Bethesda M aryland. ) When an urban flâneur becomes weary of wandering the streets, s(he finds himself a café that offers the best vantage to observe the outside street and the inside activity.   The flâneur always has in her/his possession, a book, a notebook and maybe a camera if s(he is an urban flâneur photographer.  The flâneur makes reads furtively when the scene is boring or writes in a notebook of his/his observations, but is always watching the inside and outside activity.   Sometimes, s(he is fortunate to overhear conversations.    The following might be some of the observations of a flâneur while siting in a  café: There is the couple looking at webpages on a laptop Another couple are holding hands across a table and talking quietly. A student who is reading a textbook in the corner. The old man who is circulating from table to table stricking up conversations with whoever will listen. ...
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