FlockSmart

If you’ve come across them, you might think that their behavior might seem inexplicable — but is it? A “smart mob” is defined as “a group of strangers organized by electronic media, who gather in a public space, behave in a pre-determined manner for pre-determined amount of time, and quickly disperse.” They come together for all kinds of reasons, from those inspired by politics or artistic creativity to a simple desire for ridiculousness.

A smart mob could be classified as group performance art or a public prank, but its collaborative nature makes it a unique social gathering that encourages positive interaction, often between perfect strangers. Spark watched as a San Francisco’s FlockSmart came together in 2003 via cell phone and instant messaging to spread a little holiday cheer in Union Square — in July.

FlockSmart 31 July,2015Spark
  • Array

Related Episodes


The Bleeding Edge

... is this really art? Judge for yourself.


Sponsored by

Become a KQED sponsor