about the flaneurship
The word flaneur derives from the French word flâner, which means to idle about and stroll ... it's a word I learned while taking a postmodern art class in undergrad. The Flaneur represented an urbane individual who on the outside seemed like idling but the artistic depiction of him (usually a guy back then) showed a profound individual who took joy in observing and reflecting on social surroundings.
I strongly believe in the art of observation and reflection in every aspect of our lives. The more you reflect, the more you become cognizant of the current, immediate, and future. Just as an athelete trains her body to react to situations, constant reflecting will allow your mind to react better. The brain is a muscle and you must exercise it.
Flaneurship is not just about reading and writing research papers. It's not about becoming a great orator or debater. It's not the art of talking. It's the art of understanding of what's going on and having a good grasp of the issues that shape our world.
As an urban flaneur, I grew up and live in NYC, and had some work/school experience in Chicago as well. My discussions will be dedicated to my reflections in social issues, political trends, and public-private collaborations.
- UF