‘Flânerie is Alive and Well’

‘Flânerie is Alive and Well’

Figure 1. Hypebeast sporting Supreme clothing and accessories. (Jaysse Lopez, 2017).

“Cultural geographers study humanly constructed places and the forces that have brought them into being,” (Tuan 1991, p.684). Through human geography, we can understand flânerie and how it has continued through history from 19^th century Paris to modern-day Congo and Western Society.

19^th century Paris saw the rise of the flaneur, with the developments of urbanism and the construction of the Paris arcades. These arcades “offered a respite from the bustling crowd outside. Dandies began to frequent the fashionable arcades, taking in the sights and offering themselves up as spectacles in their own right.” (Prouty, R., 2009). This change in space created a new place, in which people were urged to engage with space differently and with different kinds of people, breaking borders of class within shared public spaces. The flaneur largely was from an ambiguous economic background, which contributed to the notion that fashion and class were not solely tethered to the upper classes.

For many flaneurs, it became fashionable to walk the arcades with a leashed turtle, as it would set the pace and demand greater attention. “While the figure of the flaneur may be firmly set in the past, the figurative and transgressive qualities of flânerie, the practice of the flaneur, helps us understand this figure's popularity over the past 30 years.” (Coates, J., 2017). Contemporary instances of flânerie can be seen in Congo’s La Sape and Western Society’s Hypebeasts.

The flaneur is a key figure, conveying the relationship between the individual, the city, and of modernity. What was a dandy who strolled Parisian arcades in the 19^th century has morphed into something very different in very different contexts.

“La Sape is a lifestyle built on a simple set of values: dress sharp, act with integrity and inspire others. This is why they do what they do.” (Mann, A., 2018). The La Sape movement originated in colonial Congo as a means to “imitate bourgeoise elegance as a way of presenting their best selves” (Mann, A., 2018), but by the 1960s and the independence of the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, dressing up became an act of empowerment. La Sape is an acronym, which translates to the ‘Society of Ambiance-makers and Elegant People’.

We can see that the La Sape are a reaction to the limitations in place, forcing a way to both to celebrate their difference and assert their identity, in a space that is not so welcoming. “Clothing is a vehicle to challenge limitations.” (Mann, A., 2018).

In a modern Western context, we can see the rise of Hypebeasts. The urban dictionary defines a hypebeast as: " a kid that collects clothing, shoes, and accessories for the sole purpose of impressing others. Although the individual may not have a dime to their name, they like to front like they are making far more than everybody else. Equipped with mommies credit card, the Hype Beast will try his hardest to make sure he has every pair of Nikes he saw Jay-Z wearing on 106 & Park." (Alexander Langox510x, 2006).

The Hypebeasts are a type of modern flânerie, where they also attempt to become a spectacle and to outdo their peers by wearing the most expensive items of clothing. The clothes worn become a placeholder for currency and a symbol of wealth, even if that is not true, (Anwar, 2015).

In conclusion, flânerie is tied to place and is a through-line in history which can teach us about the values held during a certain time, and how this is tied to human geography. Whether it is to be a spectacle, to express your identity, or to impress—flânerie is sure to remain a constant within a culture.  

References:

Alexander Langox510x, (2006). Hype beast top definition. Retrieved from https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=hype%20beast

Anwar, M. (2015). What Is a Hypebeast? 5 Important Aspects of the Hypebeast Lifestyle. Retrieved from https://www.bustle.com/articles/97047-what-is-a-hypebeast-5-important-aspects-of-the-hypebeast-lifestyle

Beltran, S. (2018). What is a 'hypebeast' and where do you find them? Retrieved from https://www.esquireme.com/content/26947-what-is-a-hypebeast-and-where-do-we-find-them

Coates, J., (2017). Key figure of mobility: the flaneur. European Association of Social Anthropologists, vol. 25, (iss. 1), pages 28-41. https://doi-org.elibrary.jcu.edu.au/10.1111/1469-8676.12381

Jaysse Lopez, (2017). Hypebeast sporting Supreme clothing and accessories. [image]. Retrieved from https://thesolesupplier.co.uk/news/the-biggest-hypebeasts-on-instagram-right-now/

Kuttainen, 2015.

Mann, A. (2018). The Congolese dandies who see fashion as a way of life. Retrieved from https://www.huckmag.com/art-and-culture/le-sape-maximum-effect-alice-mann-photography-congolese-fashion-dandies/

Prouty, R. (2009). A Turtle on a Leash. Retrieved from https://onewaystreet.typepad.com/one_way_street/2009/10/a-turtle-on-a-leash.html