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10 Comments
I just noticed our 15 minutes of fame was reduced to 15 seconds. What would Warhol say? Life @ hyper-speed.
that was cool! I wasn’t sure what you were powering with the Duracell bikes?
it’s amazing how much media is in Times Square – and how much electricity! I enjoyed your travelogue – it also made me more ‘aware’ of different media and how it interacts with me in the world. thanks!
Very, very cool (and very well-produced!) You touched on some interesting ideas about the city’s architecture being influenced by our movement within it. (Even if this capacity is only being harnessed by purely for-profit ventures like *ugh* American Eagle Outfitters!) The Duracell bikes that harness your energy to supply Times Square with power is a great example of the fairly new trend of croudsourcing in urban planning (like in certain subway stations in Japan, where the power of foot traffic is tapped as a source of power for the energy grid). Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on this stuff in person…
Awesome. I actually remember going to the Duracell Power Station or whatever it’s called last year. You could charge your cellphones and other devices. Did you guys get a chance to visit the Charmin Restrooms? Another great example of how brands can harness practical needs (such as public bathrooms!) to fit themselves nicely into our movement throughout the city. While the cynic in me wants to hate on these massive marketing campaigns for being too obnoxious or in-your-face, I can’t help but be impressed by them and have had fun experiences visiting them – looks like you guys did too.
Thanks, all! I didn’t know about the Japan foot traffic thing–cool! Alison, we did stop by the Charmin Restrooms to “enjoy the go.” I was creeped out by that place because I grew up in a house where we did not discuss such matters. What happens in the bathroom, stays in the bathroom. So the whole idea of embracing that brand was lost on me.
The Duracell one was too evil genius for me to hate on it too much–kind of like my relationship with Google
. We certainly had fun.
What is this Charmin Restroom thing? It sounds like communal peeing. I… don’t understand.
That was cool. I didn’t expect such literal evidence of being a part of the city’s architecture. Did I see that your Duracell biking is going to help the ball drop? Not only did you get integrated into the landscape, you’re integrated into part of a cultural institution!
@Sara It kind of is communal peeing, but you do get your own stall. And yes, we did help to power the Times Square ball drop.
You guys seem like you’re experience childlike joy at many points throughout this video, which is fun. This city and particularly times square is definitely more interactive than most places that I’ve been. Perhaps thats urban planning capitalizing on our newfound craving for a two way experience with media.
I know that the two of you worked extremely hard and experienced a ton of stuff that probably didn’t make it to the video. Was there anything that you found too invasive? (Aside from the Charmin thing… perhaps you could better explain that?? I never go to times square.)
As always guys, nice to see the angry shake on film
I really enjoyed your overall travelogue that ended in the explosion of the digital environment that is times square. I can’t believe you were able to stand it for any length of time because I feel over loaded with that many screens. I think part of the issue with places like Times Square that are all about catching your attention is that no matter what, no matter how engaging, you tune them out.
@Jason–what a great question! Like Lauren says above, I too find Times Square to be too much. Going up on that billboard was extremely uncomfortable (yet fascinating) for me which I guess is surprising since I’m a definite extrovert. I like attention, but not fame, and the architecture of Times Square stinks of fame, greed (they pushed out a lot of homeless when Rudy “cleaned it up,” I hear) and money (how much does it cost to power those boards?). Our message to TDMCC on the board was very literal. I think we were assimilated into not only the architecture, but the brand of American Eagle, which is unsettling even for a PR maven like me.
Plus, and we didn’t capture this on video, the crowds there creep me out. Too many people in one place and the square invites it–the more eyeballs to see the ads, the better! It is designed for inefficient travel for this reason, in my opinion.
And yet for all this angst, I’m glad to see the child-like joy came through because we were thoroughly entertained and relaxed. Despite what Adorno might say (or even me in “artist” mode), we need that sometimes, right?