Walking, often seen as a basic way to get from one place to another, was the focus of a recent interdisciplinary lecture at Florida State University. The event, titled “The Art of Walking,” was co-presented by the Milton S. Carothers Faculty Lecture Series and the Festival of the Creative Arts. It brought together faculty from different departments to discuss how walking shapes social identity and influences urban policy.
The lecture took place in the Bradley Reading Room at Robert Manning Strozier Library. Dr. Jai Vartikar, First Lady of Florida State University, opened the program by emphasizing the importance of collaboration across academic fields. “For 45 years, the Carothers Lecture Series has been a space for important conversations that bridge academic disciplines, bring people together and encourage us to think more broadly and to imagine more boldly. That spirit of collaboration is very much alive at FSU today,” Vartikar said.
Aimée Boutin, professor of French in the College of Arts and Sciences, spoke about the concept of “flânerie”—the art of urban strolling—as it appears in 19th-century French literature. She described how figures known as flâneurs experienced Paris as a “sensory feast.” According to Boutin, “The flâneur does not merely navigate space; they read the city like a living text, capturing the ephemeral beauty and social friction that define the urban experience.”
Boutin also addressed how walking on campus can connect people with both present moments and memories from past decades. “As we traverse the same paths over decades, our walk becomes a layered experience of both presence and memory,” she said. “You might pass a spot and recall the splash of a swimming pool that no longer exists, realizing that to walk across this campus is to walk through time as you do through space.”
Meaghan McSorley, assistant professor of Urban and Regional Planning in the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy, discussed how city design can foster these connections through features such as street trees, shade, and benches. She stated: “We have to build the world we want to walk in. When we invest in pedestrian-oriented amenities like greenery or furniture we aren’t just decorating the street; we are shaping an urban form that prioritizes human comfort and encourages people to slow down and engage with their surroundings.”
McSorley added that designing cities for pedestrians creates spaces where people feel welcome to linger and interact with others. She explained: “Walking is more than just a mode of transportation; it is also a visible signal of a healthy, active streetscape. This visibility creates a ripple effect: when people witness their neighbors enjoying public spaces, it normalizes walking as a viable choice and creates a welcoming atmosphere that invites the entire city to participate.”
The event was sponsored by FSU’s Office of Research, FSU Libraries, and Office of Faculty Development and Advancement. It highlighted efforts at Florida State University to promote interdisciplinary research between humanities scholars and social scientists.
Information about future lectures can be found at fda.fsu.edu.
