Urban Flaneur Guidebook

I was going through my photographs the other day and came across this one. It speaks for itself.

I think it is good to revisit this topic as it needs more thought as a methodology of urban geography. I came across this interesting blog post by Fiona Ferbrache on Geography Directions: http://geographydirections.wordpress.com/2011/05/10/urban-geography-a-flaneurs-encounter-with-graffiti-in-toulouse/ The author discusses her weekend stroll in Toulouse, France, her encounter with urban graffiti and her take on what it means to be a flâneur. She also mentions a recent article about urban graffiti by of McAuliffe and Iveson’s (2011). People are making statements in the city continuously. Graffiti is a message to the inhabitants of the city drawing them into contemplation to its underground element, its lack of color, and public art. Reference: McAuliffe, C. and Iveson, K. (2011) Art and Crime (and Other Things Besides … ): Conceptualising Graffiti in the City. Geography Compass. 5,3. pp.128-143

This represents an 'on-the-fly' blog entry while I am in an airport waiting to board.  While on one surface, it is offers a place to people watch, it not a very tranquil place.   One is forced to listen to piped in music and other peoples conversations--particulalry if they are on cell phones.  Then, the constant announcements for people that are being paged for a flight.   I wonder if these people show up.  The best is when Americans slaughter foreign names.  The best accents for this is a New York accent or a deep South accent.  I can't blog anymore, as they are calling my flight.

I found a very interesting and well researched entry on Wikipedia concerning the word "flâneur".  Click on the following link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fl%C3%A2neur  .  The basic meaning of "flâneur" is someone who strolls.  I think from viewing some of the entries here that it is far more than 'strolling.' It can be considered an entire methodology of research.  For a more developed version of what it means to be an urban  flâneur go to the article published in Urbana by Jesus Trevino: http://www.tamuk.edu/geo/urbana/Fall2006/flaneur.pdf

Do you have a manuscript that has been waiting to be published? Why not think about sending it to Urbana. Urbana is a well respectied journal concerning urbanism. If you anticipate publishing in the Spring volume, please send me the title of the article with contact information and expected submission date at michaelamcadams@yahoo.com . The anticipated publication for the new volume is April 2011. At a later date selected articles will be published in printed form. The link for Urbana is located at: http://www.tamuk.edu/geo/Urbana/

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?

Paris Photos by Peter O'Toole, Artist Book Press, Ltd.; First edition (January 5, 2009) ISBN-10: 0615239528 ISBN-13: 978-0615239521 You can go to Amazon.com or other booksellers to order this book. This is not an advertsement. Just a suggestion. I just happened upon this book while doing some research. This is the perfect gift for your friend or associate who is an urban flaneur. For some interesting reading about Paris and a literary interpretation go to the article by Joshua Parker that was published in Urbana: http://www.tamuk.edu/geo/urbana/fall2006/