In Search of Third Space: Flâneur’s Escape from Polarization

Abstract

This paper examines the flâneur in Orhan Pamuk's novel A Strangeness in My Mind and argues that flânerie can be a powerful practice for overcoming polarization and creating new forms of identity in a Third Space. We argue that flâneur has often been used in without considering its political implications. They propose that flânerie can generate resistance against hegemony by drawing on Bhabha's concept of the Third Space. In Pamuk's novel, the protagonist, Mevlut, is a flâneur who wanders the streets of Istanbul, observing the city. However, Mevlut is also a marginalized figure, caught between the wing and right groups that dominate Istanbul's peripheral neighborhoods. Despite these challenges, Mevlut's flânerie allows him to create a Third Space, a position that is able to move beyond polarization. In this Third Space, Mevlut is able to explore his own identity and to form connections with the others who are also marginalized.