Friday, January 14, 2011

mobocracy

An acquaintance (read ‘facebook friend’) recently complained that some of the passersby in some flash mob video just failed to catch the enthusiasm and walked by as if nothing were happening. This particular flash mob was a wedding that “spontaneously” occurred in what seemed to be a shopping mall, complete with jubilant musicians and flower girl. Whatever. I’ve also seen a bunch of Hallelujah choruses and sycnopated dancing and generally loopy skip-to-my-loo.

I have sometimes enjoyed watching these, despite the nagging feeling that they are the utmost in schmaltz, and the fear that pernicious hormones would eventually seize my vulnerable brain.

Not to side with the naysayers, but some of those people passing by without clapping or collapsing in collective orgasm may just be tired of the “Everybody is a Star” mentality and apparently insatiable need for attention that has gripped the population like an syndrome. A rash! An infection!

If someone followed you around watching your every move, you’d freak out a little bit, no? Sure, because it's the legal version of voyeurism. So why on the other hand when a clutch of obviously attention-starved exhibitionists thrusts its amateur theatrics in everyone’s face is it considered “cute?” Even if the naughty bits are left out, it’s a form of exhibitionism that some don’t want to support or participate in, innocuous as it might be.

Some people are just getting on with their lives and errands and worries and personal joys, which they manage through good taste or good breeding or greed to keep to themselves. Oh well, I guess I am a humbug. On top of which, these days, when I encounter a public commotion I run for my life.

On that note, let me point out the terrific collage above by Dayna Thacker, “Breathing Room.” Check out her site, which is full of cool collages using printed matter.

9 comments:

Kathleen said...

I do love the collage, and you are a fun humbug. Now I'm worried about my hormones....

Kass said...

I enjoyed being assaulted by the opera flash mob, thought of staging one of my own. I think some artists are just trying to spread the joy, don't really want the attention on themselves, but on the art form. Am I naĩve?

SarahJane said...

No, and I've found some of them fun, but sometimes they're creepy and not everybody can dance on command.

ArtSparker said...

Interesting, it does seem to go hand in hand with facebook...Also odd, if you are talking about the U.S., because it seems as if American individualism goes hand in hand with the demand that you show pride/interest in something that everyone in a certain group feels you should get on board with.

Dominic Rivron said...

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! What a good read. I think flashmobbing is great - but then so's humbugging.

SarahJane said...

really, i've always enjoyed being left alone in public.

Toni Clark said...

Here's to both flashmobbing and humbugging. I hadn't thought much about it, but DO like to be left alone in public! (I like watching flashmobbing on tv, though.) Re the everybody-is-a-star mentality -- maybe why I hate HATE (okay I'm out there all by myself) "American Idol."

I LOVE the collages. Now I want to do that.

SarahJane said...

I have to say, 'Glee' just got to Germany and it is exactly the kind of wholesome plaidskirt belting out the treacle tunes kind of crap I hate. In fact it was a duet of Journey's 'Don't Stop Believin,' which was enough to turn me off permanently. Ok, I only saw five minutes, but the impression was lasting. I am a confirmed non-tv watching humbug. And very content.

SarahJane said...

when this girl starts singing i want to stop being a human being:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9XEnkAEMRE

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