Monday, July 13, 2009

Who needs a fourth plinth when we have the internet?

The fourth plinth project on London's Trafalgar Square offers everyone (well, one an hour for 100 days) the chance to occupy the empty plinth and express themselves to the world.

You have to wonder where those who came up with the idea have been these last 20 years.

The Internet is the fourth plinth. The place where anyone (with none of the physical one-at-time restrictions of the plinth) can express as much of their meta data as they wish for as long as they wish.

And they can connect with other people - not just broadcast at them.

The 4th plinth seems little more than the X Factor outdoors.

If they must have a statue, make it of Sir Tim Berners-Lee. But better still, just make it a free Internet connection available 24/7.

Hat-tip to Ivan Pope.
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1 comment:

  1. Anonymous7/13/2009 10:39 am

    I take your point, but I think you miss a few things. Firstly, this is a world where projects like One and Other can exist alongside the internet. There is something extra in the physical existence of a unique space that the ubiquitous internet doesn't do. On the other hand, the distribution of the project via online adds something that the plinth on its own can't do. The input and responses from Twitter have added a whole world to this project, I've really enjoyed it so far. I've been critical of the lack of real interactivity, there is no real mechanism for feedback or involvement - but I also know from discussions that there is a lot of work going on in the background on these issues, so we may see an evolution.
    From my perspective, the most interesting thing that the plinth does is single people out and give them a unique platform for a short period of time. It's a bit like giving you a blogging platform that you can only use for an hour, one time only. You have to have an interest in what drives people to get up there at 4am on a tuesday morning in driving rain to watch or talk to the street sweepers or the drunken clubbers.
    You also have to be interested in watching how this project evolves as it builds a history. All the plinthers to come can watch how things work at this point and moderate their behaviour in the light of that. So the project self moderates and evolves over time. It's fun now, but it's a long haul. What will be happening in six weeks when everything that seemed like fun in the first week has been done a hundred times over?
    In many ways, it is a bit like the early days of the web, as everything can be tried out and we learn from those who come before.
    Try it - you'll find it's strangely addictive.

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