My brother, Chris, had to give a presentation on a form of media in his Media class at Humboldt State University (HSU). I decided to type it here, because honestly it is the funniest thing I've heard in a long time. Trust Chris to think outside the box on this one. WARNING: Pretty long (but funny!) post below.
BLOG SPOT WHILE YOU DROP LOGS ON THE POT
A bizarre form of media is the walls, tile, grout, tissue dispensers and the very toilet itself, of a public bathroom.
The wall of the Men's room on the third floor of the HSU library is an active blog spot, with a flurry of ideas, opinions and messages being exchanged. The messages conveyed espouse the views of people either doing their business, or people who like the free and open forum of bathrooms.
Some of the messages conveyed are simply 'tags,' a pseudonym for a graffiti artist to note to patrons of the restroom that they have been there.
Other topics include political messages, such as lambasting President Bush as being the "spawn of Satan." Responses to these messages are not uncommon. Some people like to censor the writings of others, some choose to highlight messages they find particularly poignant or moving.
Still others choose to express philosophical life views. One such message proclaimed "You are not a unique and beautiful snowflake." To which one response was, "Yes I am."
One other style of message is the proclamation of the bizarre religious symbolism. Some are straightforward, others baffling (show photo of Star of David with Bible verse written inside).
Regardless of the message, the media on which it is conveyed would certainly lessen the impact, as the reading of these messages is peripheral to the larger task beign performed by the receptor. The message is also lessened bcause the media causes one to beg the question, "Who wrote this, and why on a bathroom wall?" Based on the persons personal comfort and experiences with public restrooms, would determine the tone in which these messages are received. Perhaps if going to the restroom is a religious experience for you, you might be more receptive to the bizarre Judeo imagery. If you feel funny, you may be more receptive to the humorous passages. If it is a time of contemplation for you, the philosophical writings might be more meaningful to you.
I suppose a theologist might find that unusual bursts of praise for a deity are not uncommon, even when drawing the Star of David on the lavatory wall. A sociaologist might like to know how common the messages are and what profile of people leave them there, and how they are received by the public. An archeologist might find this bathroom after our civilization is lost and assume that it was a major form of communication.
Regardless, even a bathroom wall is a form of media.
Apparently everyone else in the class focused on more traditional forms of media, such as magazines and newspapers. What cracks me up the most is that this is the men's room...I would have expected more crude and less thought provoking. Maybe only in Humboldt County are the roles reversed.
1 comment:
This was disgustingly, disturbingly, clever and humorous! :)
Post a Comment