Improv Everywhere

Last class we began discussing public space and how mediated it is. This reminded me of a creative group called Improv Everywhere from New York City that my friend often particapates in. Their goal is to "causes scenes of chaos and joy in public places." This may not initially seem like a form of Alternative Media, but they use human bodies in public spaces to attract attention, which makes the point that many media images infiltrate our minds without us noticing. For instance, most billboard ads feature models wearing basically nothing, but passers by think nothing of it. On the other hand, when hundreds of real people get on different subway trains wearing no pants, it causes a much different reaction.



This image below is from a mission over the summer, "the mp3 experiment," where 826 people downloaded the same mp3, pressed play at the same time, and interacted together on Lower Manhattan’s waterfront. This culminated in a huge bulls eye, created by people wearing different colored shirts.

My favorite mission is the "Frozen Grand Central" where hundreds of participants froze for five minutes in the middle of grand central.

This mediated world often results in less human interaction, so I like how Improv Everywhere forces the public to notice the space and people around them. You guys should check out their YouTube channel for more hilarious videos.

-Brittany