Follow a stranger
Apparently there's a long history of artists surreptitiously following strangers around in cities, just to see what happens. It's called the Art of Following. More details from Debbie Kent in the Guardian:
I don't see anything that could possibly go wrong with following a complete stranger around.
“Follow a stranger” is one of the instructions I’ve been given by Serbian artist Miloš Tomić in what is billed as an alternative tour of the city, and I really enjoy it, while also feeling as if I’m doing something a little bit wrong...
My assignment from Tomić is, of course, not intended to upset anyone. Rather, what I’m doing is a one-off exercise, and, as artist and writer Phil Smith puts it, is handing over control of exploring the city to someone else, chosen at random.
Smith regularly gives this task to students of theatre and performance at the University of Plymouth, seeing it as a valuable exercise. “The idea is that you’re exploring the space but someone else dictates it to you – it neutralises your will,” he says. “The intention – or hope – is that the followed person will lead you into places you haven’t been before.”
My assignment from Tomić is, of course, not intended to upset anyone. Rather, what I’m doing is a one-off exercise, and, as artist and writer Phil Smith puts it, is handing over control of exploring the city to someone else, chosen at random.
Smith regularly gives this task to students of theatre and performance at the University of Plymouth, seeing it as a valuable exercise. “The idea is that you’re exploring the space but someone else dictates it to you – it neutralises your will,” he says. “The intention – or hope – is that the followed person will lead you into places you haven’t been before.”
I don't see anything that could possibly go wrong with following a complete stranger around.
Comments
"...the followed person will lead you into places you haven’t been before.”
Such as their private lives, their home addresses, etc. This following someone would be a flimsy excuse during a police inquiry. Would the professor step forward and explain or would the student be on their own?
agent j
Such as their private lives, their home addresses, etc. This following someone would be a flimsy excuse during a police inquiry. Would the professor step forward and explain or would the student be on their own?
agent j
Posted by agent j on 09/29/18 at 04:47 PM
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Category: Art | Really Bad Ideas