2015
Red Bull Arts
Campaign
Commissioned on behalf of Ryder Ripps’ *“Alone Together”* for Red Bull Arts by PWRPLANT. Conceived and produced by Campbell Carolan with contributions from Ana Cecilia Alvarez and BHQFU. Exhibition texts by Victoria Campbell.
Visible in the Web 2.0 platform economy is the tendency to couch exploitation in the emotional language of partnership: the “high touch” business landscape imposes “commitment”, “passion,” and “support” as industry standards. By contrast, words such as “consistency”, “respect”, “mutual benefit”, “support” and “reliability” pepper lonely hearts listings— alongside contractual obligations (“long term” or “NSA”?), and even vacation packages.
The project debuted as a public workshop that merged Brechtian performance method with strategic marketing how-to.
Writer and experimental educator Ana Cecelia Alvarez presented on the narrative structure of UX design; meanwhile, Campbell Carolan played the role of researchers, consultants, and strategic communications experts in the burgeoning field of “profile identity design”.
Live users were asked to identify the narrative structure of audience volunteers profiles on LinkedIn, OK Cupid, Ashley Madison, EHarmony— followed by a live profile audit and consultation. Staged in the basement theatre of Red Bull Arts on April 9th, 2015 as part of an educational series highlighting the utility of digital technology, an audience-led critique formed the bulk of the event, challenging the “intersection” of culture and technology as autonomous from that of labor and politics.
