Flash Mobs

Performance Art Meets Mass Entertainment

I’ve seen a lot of incredible things on the internet - dancing midgets, acrobatic cats, the list goes on. Some of the coolest videos I’ve seen are of flash mobs, a relatively new phenomenon that is gaining popularity in the YouTube age. According to Wikipedia, a flash mob is defined as "a large group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual action for a brief time, then quickly disperse.”
 
The first time I ever heard about flash mobs was when a local grocery store was “hit” by a flash mob called SEXYattack! Here’s the video of that largely unnoticed performance. I love how a few shoppers just walk in the middle of the dance formation as if nothing were happening. Lol… The group hit a number of venues in Houston, but decided to disband after they began getting requests to appear at birthday parties. Guess it quit being “art” at that point.
 
Pillow fights seem to be a popular theme for flash mobs, as seen in this video. The biggest pillow fight flash mob occurred on March 22, 2008. Mobs in 25 cities around the world participated in what is now known as “International Pillow Fight Day.”
 
Flash mobs aren’t always so, erm, mobbish. Here is an excellent example of a silent flash mob. It took place at Grand Central Station in New York City and was organized by the performance art group Improv Everywhere. Simply BRILLIANT!
 
My favorite flash mobs involve choreographed dances. Here are a couple of examples of flash mob dances that will put a smile on your face:
 
“Do Re Me” in the Central Station Antwerp Belgium http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EYAUazLI9k I get goosebumps every time I watch this video.
 
A Tribute to Michael Jackson in Seattle. Now I really want to do a “Time Of Your Life” flash mob tribute to Patrick Swayze.
 
Most recently, Oprah got into the game when The Black Eyed Peas performed "I Got A Feeling" on her talk show. Wow. Just… wow.
 
Who knows how this phenomenon began or where the next flash mob will hit? The good thing is it doesn’t matter where or when, we know we’ll get to enjoy watching it virtually on YouTube if not in person.
 
You know, I think this is something that could truly unify us on a global scale. Imagine… instead of bombing each other we could just have a big, global pillow fight. Israel? Palestine? You in?