The peculiar case of Mrs Petray

I was more than a little surprised to discover the subject of our readings this week. I have the sensation that I'm being watched. I am a Flaneur you see. I park my car (or bicycle) at a central location and drift around the city and through it's arcades, of which Cairns still has many. I promenade. I melt into the crowd and become anonymous. I see and I am seen. I become a piece of the phantasmagoria of public space, (Prouty, 2009). I saunter past the boutiques and specialty stores in my snappy streetwear, without any real interest in purchasing from them, and certainly without any urgency. I am merely residing in my home, (Benjamin,1928).

Image 1: Cairns CBD

This is a pastime which I have cultivated for a considerable time and in many different places, so I was not daunted to engage cyberspace when it emerged from the ether. I merely extrapolated my experience of the actual world to discover the virtual. However my wanderings on the internet far outdistance my urban excursions. I visit many, many locations. Looking. Learning. All without leaving my seat. As Barnes (1997) proffers, 'cyberspace offers to the cyber-flaneur an unrestricted flânerie'. For instance, I have petitioned to join (membership pending) a Facebook group dedicated to Democratic Socialism, as that is an ideology that appeals to me. Although I am familiar with the concept I am no expert and I hope by engaging with this group I will become more knowledgeable of the doctrine. I have not used a pseudonym as I am a great believer in honesty and transparency.

"Yes, yes," I hear you say, "but what of Mrs Petray?" In her lecture (Petray, 2013) Theresa Petray investigates mapping, and more specifically 'mapping from below' or sousveillance.  "Who has this information and what are they doing with it?" she asks, alarmed. Theresa goes on to quote her mother, "I'm not doing anything wrong so I don't care if they see me," It is this lack of concern which is peculiar to me and no doubt to Theresa Petray. Although Mrs Petray is not concerned about the state watching her, there are many eyes observing that aren't those of law and order. The electronic footprint we leave behind can also empower the predatory and the criminal, as exemplified here: Smartphone pictures pose privacy risks. So as Wood, Kaiser & Abramms (2006) illustrate, two people sitting in the same place at the same time can perceive completely different events.

Reference List

Barnes, G. (1997). Passage of the Cyber-Flaneur. Retrieved from http://www.raynbird.com/essays/Passage_Flaneur.html

Benjamin. W. (1928) One Way Street [Einbahnstrasse], Rowohlt, Berlin.

Petray, T. (2013). BA 1002: Our Space, Networks, Narrative and the making of Place, Lecture 3: 3.3 Maps http://flashstream1.jcu.edu.au

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

Smartphone pictures pose privacy risks. (2010). In Youtube. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2ARzvWxwY

Wood, D et al. (2006). SEEING THROUGH MAPS: Many Ways to see the World. New Internationalist Publications, Oxford.

Image Credits

Image 1: Cairns CBD. (2005) Retrieved from http://www.waywardwandering.com/20050629/sights-of-cairns/#6