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Spectacle of the Self, Spectacle in the City : The figure of the urban flâneur (Durham, USA)

Spectacle of the Self, Spectacle in the City : The figure of the urban flâneur (Durham, USA)

Publié le par Marc Escola (Source : South Atlanta Modern Languages Association)

Spectacle of the Self, Spectacle in the City : The figure of the urban flâneur

The figure of the urban flâneur has, since the 19th century, inspired a variety of artists and critics to explore the relationship between city life and aesthetic production.  Looking beyond the act of city strolling, this panel seeks to examine a variety of modes of representation in the urban environment.  This kind of representation, or “contemplative aestheticism,” as R.V. Johnson in his book Aestheticism defines it, is “the idea of treating experience [. . .] as material for aesthetic enjoyment” (12).  Considering life “‘in the spirit of art,’ as something to be appreciated for its beauty, its variety, its dramatic spectacle” is a position adopted by many nineteenth-century aesthetes, dandies, and flâneurs and then revisited in a variety of ways by supporters of twentieth-century movements such as futurism, surrealism, formalism, camp, situationism and deconstruction (Johnson 19).  We welcome essays that explore “spectacles of the self” as a form of aesthetic creation, as constructed by authors, designers, composers and artists of every kind.  We also seek papers that analyze “spectacles in the city” as observed, recorded, or created by flâneurs, dandies, urban chroniclers, street artists, performance artists, and bold provocateurs.  Submissions might explore the dandy’s solipsistic performance of an elegant and refined spectacle of the self, the flâneur’s artistic search for urban spectacles of modern beauty, the fashionista’s construction of gender identity through sartorial performance, fashion as spectacular politics, performance/cinema/theater as metropolitan acts of mimesis or simulations of urban experience, etc.  We also encourage essays that present new theoretical considerations of the act of turning oneself into a spectacle or creating urban spectacles.

 

By June 5, please submit a 300-word abstract, brief bio, and A/V requirements to both Marylaura Papalas, East Carolina University, PAPALASM@ecu.edu, and Kelly Comfort, Georgia Institute of Technology, kcomfort@gatech.edu.