SCENES FROM THE LIFE OF THE CROWD

What Questions should we ask ?

THE CROWD

What is a crowd ?
How does it behave ?
Does it obey rules ?
Can it be controlled ?
How is it to be visualized ?
What do we make of it ?
Audit of number, density, flow ?

DRAWING THE CROWD

The appropriate medium

Still versus the time based media

outlines

movement

colour / black and white

the strategies of group composition

THE HERO

Lord Raglan's characteristics of the life of the Hero
Destiny and fate
Qualities of character
Feet of clay

THE LEADER

How do we recognise this person ? gestures, expression

Caught at ease - the home life - partner and children

Branding and lapses ?

Intermittent or constant ?

From Jesus Christ to General Boulanger

THE BEHAVIOUR OF THE CROWD

Stupid, dilatory, comic, brave, foolhardy, generous, mean, diffident...

MOVEMENT

planned
accidental
involuntary
flow and counterflow
procession versus flow

IN DETAIL

Uniform (hats, shoes, sashes etc)

Accessories (sticks, keys, signs)

Noise (intermittent, constant, chant,music)

flags (waved, weapons)

focus in a podium/monument

ANALOGIES

the sea

volcanic lava

the jelly fish

earthquake

GENERIC CROWDS

sports,

worship/religion

theatrical audiences

LOCATION

the City

the Battlefield

the Gallery

the Salon

 

ORATORY

the preacher

the actor

rhetoric

the speaker (orator, demagogue rabble rouser)