Saturday, January 26th
Today was Day #2 of Project Commonweal. This time we took Orin instead of Christian, and once again, we went to Thruway.
First of all, Colin had to eat. What else is new?
While Colin ate, we wrote political messages on little pieces of paper to cram into easter eggs with candy. We sent Orin over to Rite Aid to buy the candy, which was a huge mistake - he returned with nasty Caramel Creams. We hid the eggs all over Thruway, in potted plants and in Borders and such.
EDIT:
A few days later, our friend Emily Wolfe told us that her brother found one of our eggs in a plant near Borders. Apparently he enjoyed his nasty caramel cream and political message.
Next, we went to Party City and purchased some Curious George masks, which served to conceal our identities from the public in our next mission; we planned to sport signs carrying political messages at the Five Points intersection (Lab#34). With our hoods up, we looked like members of some creepy monkey cult.
We thought for some time about what message we wanted to display on our signs. Eventually, Colin jokingly said, "Why don't we just leave them blank?". We laughed at first, but then realized that it was a pretty cool idea. If we were to write, "vote for so and so", people would either agree or disagree, and that would be it. There isn't anthing we could write to make people think more than if we were to write nothing (try and say that five times fast).
Once at the intersection, we wielded our large, blank pieces of poster board, thrusting them at confused drivers. When asked, "What the hell is that supposed to mean?", we would respond, "We're making a statement about propoganda". Some would nod their heads and smile, others would continue on in bewilderment. One guy said, "That's great! Don't watch Fox 
News!". Sometimes we would ask the drivers who they were voting for, and the closest thing we got to a straight answer from anyone was, "That guy right there! The one on your sign". Most passing drivers took notice of our signs, and we found that out of those who didn't, most were minorities. Perhaps this is a clue as to who in our society most propoganda is directed towards, and who accepts it as fact, or fiction. Either way, most people were trying to find words on our signs, thus proving that people are drawn towards propoganda - they crave the stuff. One old guy even stopped dead in the middle of the intersection to try and read our posters. As far as driver reactions went, some honked their horns or gave us thumbs up in support, while others (mostly teenagers) just shook their heads and raised their hands as if to say, "wtf?". In general, the reactions seemed to be positive, and we saw lots of smiles. Most importantly, the blank signs caused people to think, and that is exactly what our culture trains us not to do. 
News!". Sometimes we would ask the drivers who they were voting for, and the closest thing we got to a straight answer from anyone was, "That guy right there! The one on your sign". Most passing drivers took notice of our signs, and we found that out of those who didn't, most were minorities. Perhaps this is a clue as to who in our society most propoganda is directed towards, and who accepts it as fact, or fiction. Either way, most people were trying to find words on our signs, thus proving that people are drawn towards propoganda - they crave the stuff. One old guy even stopped dead in the middle of the intersection to try and read our posters. As far as driver reactions went, some honked their horns or gave us thumbs up in support, while others (mostly teenagers) just shook their heads and raised their hands as if to say, "wtf?". In general, the reactions seemed to be positive, and we saw lots of smiles. Most importantly, the blank signs caused people to think, and that is exactly what our culture trains us not to do. 
So go! Question society and question your government! Fight the power, and THINK!!!
- Colin & Zoe
10 comments:
Mad props to you guys for standing around there. Great idea about the blank board. Really made a statement!
I really liked this idea of holding a blank sign. I'm sure you caused lots of people to think about things in which they might have overlooked before. And nice masks, by the way!!!\
-Hannah Locke-
I really like the idea of hiding political messages in easter eggs. That's awesome.
-carlie
the blank sign is a really good idea. i also really like the easter eggs. good job mac
This was deffinitely an original idea! I'm really jealous that you guys actually got to talk to people about your signs--when Kalie did her T-shirt lab we were hoping for something other than just dirty looks, but unfortunately those were the only reactions we got...
I thought this was genius! I think it was probably the most intellectual lab because people actually had to use their brains, and for once think for themselves. I bet that some of the people who saw those signs are still thinking about it and what they should make of it!
---Kalie
I really liked both of these labs. The easter egg lab was really clever and come on who doesn't like finding an Easter egg! It's also a great way to get messages out and to get people thinking. And About poeple thinking the blank sign was genius! It's a little ridiculous they way people act over signs! Great Job!
~Carrie~
I think this is possibly the best lab out of any of them! I thought it was hilarious that yall wore masks and held the blank signs. It gives people the ability to form their own opionions on what those signs really ment! Smart choice!
I'm pretty frustruated that I didn't drive by you guys doing this lab!
You guys sure had guts to get out there and hold up blank signs to an intersection. It was truly an ingenious way to get a message out there without provoking raging drivers. I really liked the Easter Egg idea, too!
I think it's good to see the young people out in our society. I found one of your eggs at Thru-way that day and i just got around to visiting your site. your work is wonderful. the idea with the blank signs, brilliant. Good luck with the project.
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