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3. How does this subject area relate to the bigger picture of your own area of expertise? Have you explored similar concepts before? Talk about a project (s) you have done in specialism that is relevant either conceptually or technically. Which mediums, techniques, materialsthat you have mastered on the course so far could you utilise in your FMP?

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3. How does this subject area relate to the bigger picture of your own area of expertise? Have you explored similar concepts before? Talk about a project (s) you have done in specialism that is relevant either conceptually or technically. Which mediums, techniques, materialsthat you have mastered on the course so far could you utilise in your FMP?

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When looking at this topic, I think I'll find  it useful looking at both extreme and more mundane versions of this because I can definitely explore the less extreme examples with primary research and really involving myself in herd mentality.

Projects  I've  done previously that could really come  in handy would be the Millbank protest  project where I  documented people's accounts from the protest through a series of  portriats where the subjects face was obscured.I'd say the  same  idea  of anonymity plays  well with herd mentality as one of the main  driving forces for herd mentality to take place is being able to hide behind a crowd and people aren't  called on individually to face the consequences for their actions.

My  Illegal lego project could also come in handy  in terms  of trying to get into the mindset of a movement despite not actively supporting or following it. But  also the idea of  designing propaganda  and supportive material  for a group.

I  am relatively skilled at sewing so could really have some fun making "costumes"  to go undercover into different groups. I also enjoy street photography so will definitely utilise that in observing behaviour of other in both everyday life and in protests etc.

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students in lockdown's protest signs against online art lessons

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adapt protest gear football scarf. Can you make the "uniform" to be part of crowd an appear to support and ideology, but upon  closer inspection the items have language that doesn't support the group on it ? Would it be easily discovered or would having it make it harder for you to be swayed by herd mentality as it's an added reminder to yourself that  you're faking it?

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Jamie Lee Curtis Taete's photography from anti-quarantine protests.

Also a good way to document protest through photography.

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Examples of business cards used by Chicago gangs in the 70s and 80s way before the introduction of mass produced business cards.

I think there is something interesting here in terms of the secretive spread of information non-verbally. All the cards stick to the same sets  of "Rules" such as K always standing for killer and a name upside down is a sign of disrespect.

Here, the small business cards identify individuals as being part of a group. Rather than it being a football crowd all wearing the same colours, the gang all carry round copies of their groups  calling cards.

Can herd mentality take place in a less obvious more underground way- do you feel almost stronger as a group because only you know you are aligned?

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A really interesting short film/ documentary where a fictional character called Ben was put into numerous different football crowds during the Euros. He jumps between lots  of different teams seemingly being welcomed to all supporter fan bases. It's an interesting insight  into football culture and the positive sides to it. But also displays ways in which mob mentality can occur and the  nastier side to the game as It's discovered that Ben isn't  a true fan of one of the  football teams  after some fellow supporters  find he's wearing a rivals shirt under his top and they beat him up. As I discussed in the previous question I'd like to try something similar to this and go "undercover" to protests and football matches and attempt to  become one with them. I could learn all the football chants and wear their team colours and see if even tho I'm pretending, is it easy to be influenced by the atmosphere in the crowd?

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QAnon- mob mentality in the form of information  spreading/ cult-like behaviour 

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QAnon- mob mentality in the form of information  spreading/ cult-like behaviour 

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Qanon is a political conspiracy theory that later turned into a political movement. The group was started by and named individual or group individuals named "Q" as the claimed to have Q level clearance as a government official. They claim that a cabal of satanic canabalistic sexual abusers have bee conspiring against Donald Trump. The group  is rooted in antisemitic beliefs due to its fixation on Jewish financier George Soros and conspiracy theories about the Rothschild family, a frequent target of antisemites.

I think It could be interesting to look at this extreme form of  herd mentality in relation to information spreading. Could this be seen as extreme gossiping? The spread of baseless lies online. Definition for gossip is: unconstrained conversation or reports about other people, typically involving details that are not confirmed as being true.

How easy  is  it to be indoctrinated by this form of beliefs  and information? How do people  not read this information and question it?

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2. Please contextually reference your subject matter. What art, design, cultural, historic references can you look at to gain insight? (650 words) 

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2. Please contextually reference your subject matter. What art, design, cultural, historic references can you look at to gain insight? (650 words) 

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Mobs in simpsons when Homer makes Springfield get trapped  in a dome because he dumped "pig crap" in the lake. Where else in popular culture do mobs exist  in a less serious and  scary way than events like Qanon etc?

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1. Please introduce your chosen subject area. What interests you as potential starting points or areas of research? What influenced this choice? 

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1. Please introduce your chosen subject area. What interests you as potential starting points or areas of research? What influenced this choice? 

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I would like to research mob/ herd mentality in my final major project. My interest with the subject matter came about after watching the documentary “Four Hours at the Capitol”. The documentary details the events that unfolded when thousands of people (mainly Trump) supporters stormed the US Capitol in January 2021. The whole situation is an example of mob mentality but one moment that particularly interested me was when there was a large group attempting to gain access to one of the Capitol’s many entrances, but they were being held off by the riot police. At one point, one of the police officers was dragged from his ranks and carried by the crowd with people yelling “We go one of them”. People in the crowd were kicking and punching him and tasing him at the base of his skull with his own taser, causing him excruciating pain and spasms. He recounted that people then became more aggressive and started shouting to kill him with his own gun. The officer repeatedly shouted that he had children and to please stop which appealed to the humanity of some in the crowd- people insisted they put him back and he was placed behind police lines. This both fascinated and terrified me as it showed how easy it is for people fired up in a crowd can get carried away and the small act of individuals spur others to act too which can end up culminating in an extreme result.

The definition for Mob mentality is when people’s behaviour is influenced by a group of people around them and the decisions, they make are on a largely emotional basis rather than rational; they make decisions they wouldn’t have done if they were by themselves. The case of the capitol riots intrigued me as it made me begin to question in what circumstances could I be influenced by Mob mentality and take part in acts I would then come to regret later? I think it could be interesting to explore these extreme versions of mob mentality by going “undercover” in situations where people hold different beliefs to myself but pretending, I am part of the group and playing the part. Would I find myself without realising being influenced by mob mentality, or even beginning to hold sympathies with these people’s views?

I’d like to take a closer look into these extreme places that mob mentality takes place in such as the EDL and Qanon. These types of groups spread misinformation and extreme beliefs which is aided by mob mentality and convergence theory- where people with similar beliefs come together and therefore there is no questioning of their viewpoints from their closest social contacts. The rise of these far-right groups is also helped by Emergent-Norm Theory (and The Anonymity of The Internet.

I would also like to try and explore the less extreme versions of mob mentality that take place in everyday life and explore ways in which mob mentality exists on foundation. Taking part in gossiping is a form of herd mentality, as humans we are built to imitate one and other. That’s why, for instance, it feels natural to pass along gossip and counterintuitive to stop it. This idea of gossip really interests me because I'm quite a big gossip- it's a less obvious and in your face way to take part  in herd mentality. The more secretive underground spread of information that isn't rational and around mundane subjects.

What forms of positive herd mentality exist?