The Subway Surfing project was the culmination of a few observations made by Matt, Jeamarie, and Julie. As native New Yorkers, the three used the MTA’s subway system as their primary transportation, and realized that through the years, there has been an uptick in the number of phones populating the underground trains. As such, society has been greatly impacted and it is apparent in three particular outcomes:
First comes observation: Because society is become more and more removed from the “real” world and becoming increasingly engrossed in the digital universe, our physical interactions are changing. In observation, we discuss how technology has enabled us to remain as bystanders, choosing instead to record and observe interactions rather than participate.
Next, we have communication: or rather, the lack of communication. Due to us being further removed we no longer communicate as mentioned in observation. Instead we take what we observe and communicate it with others in our digital networks.
Finally, we have creation: Though the previous portions paint our society and surfing on subways as a bleak reality — technology on the subway systems has allowed us to create an infinite amount of content, creating a circulation of knowledge, creativity, and music within the society and beyond.
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