The Great Yawn
Yesterday, while frantically trying to finish off my work for the exhibition, I was also involved in The Great Yawn. A twitter performance, or a "tweformance" As An Xiao called it.
I'm always interested in these type of flash mob/viral situations, how they escalate, and the buzz that comes from participating in it (such as the BadMovieClub with Graham Linehan and Phil Jupitus on 13th Feb, which was also on Twitter). I'm interested in the way that a social space - be it virtual, or physical - can be used, and encourage performance from not just those involved, but the viewers/audience too.
Twitter, of course, is the type of social space that can be mundane (what you are having for lunch?) or monumental (the inauguration of Obama?) in equal measure. Similarly, when a simple yawn is exposed to an audience it is contagious. Its fun to see how many get swept up in the moment and join in, regardless of the fact that they are unwittingly 'performing.' In the same way as something exciting/of interest on Twitter gets re-tweeted among your friends... and beyond.
I found a great pic on Wiki of a cat yawning and kept it on my screen all day, encouraging me to yawn (which wasn't difficult since I was already tired!) and inspiring the viral nature of the tweformance, as was intended.
I'm eagerly awaiting the next viral 'tweformance.'
I'm always interested in these type of flash mob/viral situations, how they escalate, and the buzz that comes from participating in it (such as the BadMovieClub with Graham Linehan and Phil Jupitus on 13th Feb, which was also on Twitter). I'm interested in the way that a social space - be it virtual, or physical - can be used, and encourage performance from not just those involved, but the viewers/audience too.
Twitter, of course, is the type of social space that can be mundane (what you are having for lunch?) or monumental (the inauguration of Obama?) in equal measure. Similarly, when a simple yawn is exposed to an audience it is contagious. Its fun to see how many get swept up in the moment and join in, regardless of the fact that they are unwittingly 'performing.' In the same way as something exciting/of interest on Twitter gets re-tweeted among your friends... and beyond.
I found a great pic on Wiki of a cat yawning and kept it on my screen all day, encouraging me to yawn (which wasn't difficult since I was already tired!) and inspiring the viral nature of the tweformance, as was intended.
I'm eagerly awaiting the next viral 'tweformance.'