Passive subversion : franchised city vs. found-object adaptability: a media beacon

Abstract

"Television is a medium of entertainment which permits millions of people to listen to the same joke at the same time, and yet remain lonesome." -T.S. Elliot. Fifteen percent of the globe’s population is connected to the internet, 99% of Americans own a television and watch 250 billion hours of TV a year. Electronic media has formed a passive culture which is exposed to a plethora of information. This information affects political viewpoints, consumption habits, lifestyle choices, etc. Face to face encounters are dwindling due to the convenience and portable nature of these media. The media has a monopoly on the market of information, but a physical place can bring people together for the purpose of interacting with other people and exchanging information. Thesis statement: Mixing paths of varying intents subverts passive culture by creating opportunities for active cross-social events. Thesis Intent: Explore design opportunities which would proactively address our contemporary consumer culture. What can be done to regain the civic sense and lost condition of public space? What can be done to counteract the passive population, built environment, and the norm? The solution is not reliving the past, but creating something new which is relevant to contemporary society.