Mall Adventurers
Accomplices:
Renee
I don't think the idea was stupid, but I didn't like
it: people can be stupid and ignorant. If it wasn't personal, I would've
thought it was funny, because people were exposed to something they
didn't think was normal. I was nervous - afraid of how people could
react (I thought people might be aggressive and attack you).
In the mall, I saw people staring, and doing double-takes as you walked
by. You looked uncomfortable, like you wanted to get out of there
and did not belong there. Outside the mall, I saw a group of young
men driving away, staring back at you; they were making a spectacle
out of you.
Driving home, I felt relief, despite the people staring in all the
other cars as we drove by. I found it a little funny, but I wouldn't
do it myself, I didn't want to be involved because of the people.
It's kindof pathetic how intolerant people are.
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"People are stupid." -R
"How Avant-Garde."
(sarcastic) -J
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John
I thought the idea was kinda silly.
People were disgruntled. Many were staring. They looked scared and
shocked.
I felt a bit bored, because I knew exactly what was going to happen;
not much of a mystery.
Two women in radio shack remarked as you left: "Did
you see that?" "Wow." "I thought that was a girl
at first." I think it just blew their minds to see someone
dressed like that.
Afterwards, I felt relieved, glad it was over. It was just what I
expected.
I thought the whole experiment was an exercise in futility, because
you're not going to change people's minds.
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Neither her, nor his, story:
Steeling myself to enter, I rushed to test and prepare the recording device
which I hid in my bag. Despite a sea of stares, I made it inside unscathed;
though the people I had brought with me quickly evaporated.
Inside the mall, surprisingly, no one really said anything. Jaws dropped,
people stared openly in amazement, but no one addressed me at all except for
one teenager who asked me, "Want some Viagra?" (laughing) After
wandering around for about 10 minutes, it became somewhat boring. Throughout
the Mall, it was the same: some people would stop and stare, others would
turn to their companions and whisper, while others were too oriented on their
shopping experience to notice. I felt let down that I wasn't scared anymore,
I thought I could go anywhere there, do anything, it was all predictable by
then.
Nothing was the least bit aggressive, let alone violent as I had vaguely feared.
And so I left.
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I wanted to gender-fuck the mall and record/document the experience.
I was a little worried about possible violence, but not very, after
all, it is the mall - relatively safe, and I had gone there wearing
skirts before, just not anything so flamboyantly disregarding the rules.I
was a bit worried about bringing in recording devices, but the microphone
looked like faux-fur coming out of my bag, and could've been a stuffed-animal
or shawl. I did not plan to bring my camera inside, though I would've
liked to (mall security doesn't like recording devices). The main purpose
in the initial idea was to get audio samples for a recording device,
but then, I decided to take some photos and do a website component as
well.
The period before we departed, I argued with Renee as I got dressed.
She did not go at all, she was afraid she would get angry at people's
reactions. I was alternately pleased and terrified as I put on make-up
and clothing. Finally, I pinned my hair, put on the wig, and made sure
my lipstick looked okay. We got John and drove off..
Inside the mall it was sometimes very scary, sometimes exciting.
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