(small) creative initiatives that challenge (big) traditional ideas
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Posted by Sebastian on Mar 25, 2007
Thanks Anyway (Trotzdem Danke) is a hilarious short film by German artists Mischa Leinkauf and Matthias Wermke.
The film takes place in Berlin where it documents Matthias as he attempts to clean the windows of public trains and busses (and a police car!) while they stand still. He does not ask for permission but simply does it without explanation.
The free-of-charge service is generally not welcomed by those receiving it. Instead Matthias is - not surprisingly - met with hostility and bureaucratic suspiciousness.
Although the performance is focused on public systems, it exemplifies how we tend to react with mistrust when offered something for free by someone who has no other agenda than being friendly.
Thanks Anyway is on view through Apr. 14, at Eyebeam gallery in New York.
• Eyebeam
Marcello wrote:
i think the reaction to the experiment is biased by the fact that the same "non-service" is usually not offered for free, but aggressively forced on you and followed by panhandling requests.
plus, as weird as it may seems, people see their vehicles as "personal space", so any kind of uninvited contact with them is considered an invasion of personal space and people react accordingly.
so, i don't think the problem here is mistrust towards "free and friendly" but more about context and (lack of) communication.
sebastian wrote:
you are right, the movie plays on a very predictable response but the variation is quite funny (and even disturbing at some point).
in a sense, people's suspicion towards the "free service" is well founded as the service is not entirely provided as a philanthropic gesture - it is only provided in order to stage a shortfilm. hidden camera if you like.
Contact: Sebastian Campion