In Charles Baudelaire‘s “The Artist, Man of the world, Man of the Crowd and Child” written in 1863, he discusses and studies the representation of a walking observer in today’s modern world. He names this metaphorical character M.G and follows his movement and perception of what a privileged modern man may encounter and acknowledge within a public space.

This study of immersion within today’s modern world is particularly interesting to me when one realizes how observation through public spheres allows for a better understanding of the spaces we inhabit. For an individual existing within the 21^st century, although we all to some degree take witness to our surrounding atmospheres, the way in which we encounter the craziness of modernity has changed.

Through vast social constructs and the rise of social media we are now immersed within many social spaces, without even physically being there. Our social spaces now exist within tiny screens that we may spend hours staring at, while observing and soaking up new ideas, information, opinions and even creating conformity biases.

Baudelaire states  “The moral reflections and musings that arise from the drawings of an artist are in many cases the best interpretation that the critic can make of them; the notions they suggest are part of an underlying idea.”

Taylor, Charles. Modern Social Imaginaries. Durham and London: Duke University Press, 2004.

I believe this means that everything we see, whether it be through a screen or in person as we stroll through the streets of our city is all up for interpretation and relies on the individuals moral stance to help absorb the information and do something with it.

Within the Strolling Series we are introduced to two young women discussing the lack of representation and understanding of being of black French woman.

The young woman expresses that other African Americans or African English people cannot understand that being a black French woman is a thing. One of the young woman states “For instance when they talk to us, they cannot fully grasp all the subtleties of our culture being black and French, they always refer to French image, croissants and being a white dude with fucking cheese”.

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This is a prime example of how stereotypes have been embedded within our minds through conformity biases that we primarily see within social media and within confined public spaces.

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Whether it be through a phone or enjoying and observing all things associated with living, it is important to realize that being a Flâneur also comes with a responsibility. Through the expansion of technology, it has now become even easier for us to witness and absorb the world around us.

Public spaces are now within the palms of our hands!

As we observe the world around us, it is important to keep in mind that we may become susceptible to conformity biases and stereotypes. Public spaces are now becoming more diverse and require a higher level of analysis in today’s media culture.

BE AWARE OF WHAT YOU OBSERVE!