{"id":12287,"date":"2023-08-09T11:00:52","date_gmt":"2023-08-09T10:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/c3riimpact\/?p=12287"},"modified":"2023-08-21T16:45:43","modified_gmt":"2023-08-21T15:45:43","slug":"phil-waterworth-blog-the-flaneur-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/c3riimpact\/phil-waterworth-blog-the-flaneur-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Phil Waterworth Researcher blog: The Fla\u0302neur Part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

Phil Waterworth is a practice based PhD candidate in Fine Art, whose PhD research explores \u2018disabled fl\u00e2nerie<\/em>\u2019. This blog post series describes the process of Phil, with his support worker, Joe, undertaking an odyssey across Sheffield city centre as part of a film project. In this first part, the journey begins as we head to the Institute of Art at the Head Post Office.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Introduction<\/h2>\n

Dorothy Allen Pickard, a documentary film maker, heard about my PhD research into \u2018disabled fl\u00e2nerie<\/em>\u2019 and wanted to make a short film for the Filmmaker Challenge 2023 at Sheffield DocFest<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Dorothy was interested in capturing how I access the city from a wheelchair perspective and engage in fl\u00e2nerie<\/em> and psychogeography<\/em>, practices that are historically speaking, \u2018walking practices\u2019. The fl\u00e2neur<\/em> or psychogeographer<\/em> is someone who, in the words of Walter Benjamin, is \u2018botanising the asphalt\u2019.<\/p>\n

The film shows how I use fl\u00e2nerie as a method to observe and explore the city streets on four wheels. A chief premise of the fl\u00e2neur is to slow down<\/em> and be curious of the overlooked and disregarded parts of the\u00a0 urban landscape. As a wheelchair user, I am looking for what I call Islands of Solace. These are areas of terrain where the ground is smooth and flat, areas where the floor is kinder to four wheels. On these \u2018islands\u2019, I am able to experience freedom of movement.<\/p>\n

\"This

123, Phil Waterworth<\/p><\/div>\n

The Fl\u00e2neur <\/b><\/span>Notes on a film by Dorothy Allen-Pickard <\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
\n

To want nothing. Just to wait, until there is nothing left to wait for. Just to wander, and to sleep. To let yourself be carried along by the crowds, and the streets. To follow the gutters, the fences, the water\u2019s edge. To walk the length of the embankments, to hug the walls. To waste your time. To have no projects, to feel no impatience. To be without desire, or resentment, or revolt. <\/i>Georges Perec<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Part One<\/h3>\n
\"Page

The Fl\u00e2neur – Notes on a film by Dorothy Allen-Pickard. Page 1 of 4. Words by Phil Waterworth<\/p><\/div>\n

\"In

DROPPED KERB IN ABSENTIA – Phil Waterworth<\/p><\/div>\n

>> Read Part Two<\/a>
\n<\/em>>> Skip ahead to Part Three [coming soon]<\/em><\/p>\n

*A fl\u00e2neur is a French term to describe an urban wanderer or idler and fl\u00e2nerie is a description of their practice.<\/p>\n

Resources<\/h2>\n