Introduction to Participation

"What are some of the ways that participatory art differs from individually produced art, historically and in the present?"

Individual art is produced either with an intensely personal meaning (perhaps never intended for display or critique), or for the intention of raising awareness, invoking controversy, disseminating a message, or sparking conversation. Participatory art, on the other hand, takes the meaning of the message to an entirely new level compared to its socially passive predecessor. By allowing for and incorporating the efforts of more than one or two people in its creation, participatory art becomes a group effort that is created, justified, and supported by a community.

The more people that believe in a cause or belief, the greater the spread of the message. Just like a grassroots organization, this artwork can take new shapes dynamically, by receiving input from members of the community in response to what's happening in the world and their local environments.

In the past, participatory art was more aligned with what is known today as a "flash mob," which is a planned gathering of people doing unusual activities, usually for the sake of comedy. A well-known ontemporary group who performs like this is Improv Everywhere, who broadcast their videos on YouTube. Modern and future participatory art takes more the shape of remixing and responding to media, instead of simply collaborating on one "set" project or event. In a world where the technology provides interconnectedness, we will see this type of participation become more prevalent.