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Monday 17 November 2008

The potential for mass mischievery using the internet


450 women posing for Spencer Tunick in New York central station


Ever since (and probably slightly before), it’s creation, the internet has been seen as a potential solution to many a problem. The revival of democracy, creating a responsible media and the education of the world are just some of the small problems lumped on it, and I now intent to add to that list.

It seems to me that the potential to create mass pieces of art by getting, say 0.003% of facebook (about 4,000 people, based on my very dodgy maths), involved could be phenomenal. It also seems to me that, and I may just be out of touch and thus very wrong, apart from flash mobs and events like the circle line party networking sites really haven’t been used to there full potential in this way.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not criticising anyone here, but I just really wanted to see what people feel about the subject. Do you think that there is things that could go wrong when organising in this way? Do you have any ideas about a piece that you’d like to create? Do you think that some of these sites are too heavily monitored?

One of the only reservations I think there is about organising things this way is the slightly unsure feeling about anything arranged over the internet. No matter how many “confirmed guests” there is, there is always a slight inkling that no one will turn up without some real human contact. Never the less I still think that the internet holds a massive potential for some artistic mischief. Ideas anyone?

3 comments:

Holly said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Holly said...

Hmmm artistic mischief! like the expression! I've advertised on facebook and gumtree recently for participants for a project and not had 1 single response! I remember when I placed the add, feeling quite nervous about people contacting me, but a bit excited too - sadly I was the hostess with the leastess!
I think that communication via the internet is ambiguous and people are still very reserved unless you approach them directly or the cause is known and established... Its hard to get people to give you their time without an incentive...
I think you're right though, there's loads of potential and its worth playing around with some virtual ideas - (e)mail art?

Anonymous said...

I would tend to agree with holly on this. I think that facebook/ email etc are great ways to remind people about events but unless you have a big following or group with a common interest it wont have the same impact as getting involved in similar events and building up your own strong networks.
although this does led to some interesting question of what people will or wont sign up to...a project????