In The Vortex of Times Square case study, the textbook calls the tourist area a “space dedicated to performance” by actors and spectators alike. When I hear Times Square, a different kind of artist (or worker) comes to mind– the amateur character actors  in knock-off Elmo and Dora costumes. I wonder if to them, pretending to be a child’s favorite TV character is their 15 minutes of fame… a chance to perform on Broadway in a way… or are they just concerned with making a few bucks? There seems to be a low-brow element to this, perhaps a parallel between the cheap vaudeville performances in the early 20th century that became popular in the area because of their affordability and accessibility.