CONTAGIOUS MEDIA*
April 28 - June 4, 2005
New Museum of Contemporary Art / Chelsea
Media Lounge
In an era where the proliferation of information has been accelerated through technological advancement and the Internet, how do people decide what information they will share with others? Contagious Media explores this question in an exhibition of recent projects developed specifically to quickly spread socio-political messages through the digital equivalent of "word of mouth."
Contagious media projects seem deceptively simple at first glance, but in fact originate in a critical and satirical context. The projects create socially relevent portraits of issues such as labor rights or the subtleties of racism - all illustrated with a touch of humor. Some of the most well known contagious media projects were created by writer and performer Chelsea Peretti and her brother Jonah Peretti, Director of Research and Development and Leader of the Contagious Media Group at Eyebeam. Peretti's BlackPeopleLoveUs, and a series of e-mails with a Nike representative concerning sweatshops are examples of projects promoted via e-mail to a small group of people, yet eventually seen by millions and covered by international media. The exhibition will recreate, using contagious media, some of the stunning social dynamics created by BlackPeopleLoveUs, and another project, The Rejection Line. Contagious Media is organized by Rachel Greene, Adjunct Curator.
Media Lounge exhibitions and public programs are supported
by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, the Jerome Foundation and
the New York State Council on the Arts.
The New Museum of Contemporary Art receives general operating
support from the Carnegie Corporation, the New York State
Council on the Arts, the New York City Department of Cultural
Affairs, JPMorgan Chase, and members of the New Museum.
