I wrote last week about the Black Octopus Necklace for sale on eBay by Jaz. Out of courtesy, I sent the link for the post to Jaz, and we had a bit of back and forth. She’s a very switched on artist, and understands where I’m coming from (she has a degree in Marketing and Commerce). After a bit of a discount, I am now the proud owner of a Black Octopus Necklace.
The necklace is making me think about micro-projects, artwork, and the convergence between conversation and creativity. It’s human nature to be drawn to things we find interesting, engaging, attractive, desirable, etc etc. When there are shared desires, there’s the potential for shared experience, conversation, and connection. Art galleries, comic book stores, sporting venues, bars and nightclubs all understand this, if not consciously.
But how long is a piece of string? What happens when we try and create a social object?
Project Octopus
I’m going to do a little mini-project - I’m going to wear the Black Octopus Necklace religiously for two weeks, and note down the conversations that occur around and because of the necklace [YouTube vid, 1:22].
The Rules Of Project Octopus
1. You Do Not Talk About Project Octopus:
I cannot initiate the discussion - I must be asked (either directly or indirectly) about the necklace.
2. Credit Where Credit’s Due:
I must tell the story of where it came from, and reference Jaz.
3. It’s All About The Metrics:
I must ask why the person was interested in the necklace.
4. Permission, Permission, Permission:
All responses are anonymous unless permission is given to identify the speaker.
5. The World Isn’t Flat:
Conversations can happen online, as well as in real life.
Since this is as much an exercise for me as it is for you -
- Are there any questions I should ask during the conversations?
- Is there somewhere you want me to go to see what reaction I can get?
- Should I do anything different to aid Project Octopus?
It’s going to be fun, it’s going to be interesting, and most of all, it’s going to be educational. I’ll be sharing the results with you in two weeks.
Subscribe via RSS