Process

This is a group walking practice investigating the power of media, the center that collects attention and  makes impact. I drew a circle on the group. People stand around the circle when the practice starts. I offered options for the participants to stand facing the circle or back to the circle. After several times of asking, most people chose to face the circle. When facing the circle, one can get more information of others. And people's choice makes the circle the media that connects everyone.  Is this the reason why mass media got so much attention? 

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Then, I asked if anyone want to be seen. If want to be seen, stand in the circle. Some people did that, but very rare. Then, the person in the circle can make a gesture, and I asked everyone around the circle to copy that gesture. The person in the center becomes the head of the media and gains power to direct others. 

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However, are people still led by the same media today? I would concern power of media today is de-centralized and distributed to more forms and agencies. So, I asked people to leave the circle and find a place they like. Then, same question, do you want to be seen? Some people did. I asked people to follow the person's pose and move to the person while holding the pose. People seems like having more content choices to receive, but still led by what they are exposed to. And people who want to be seen are still rare.  

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The original idea was having the people who want to be seen compete each other and strive for the audience. However, only one person wanted to be seen, so she gets all the attention. 

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Iteration

In the real world, do people become the media only because they want attention? Is there external force that builds media? Does the media gain power only by having more people's attention? If someone gets the power to influence the public, does the power last? When the person stops wanting to be seen, does the person have the choice to leave the public's gaze?

In this practice, different groups of participants may generate different walking patterns. 

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Drone Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AalYU0nnXQRd2W8DwhnVfHqfhNWU6uAo/view?usp=share_link

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