Famous flash mobs. The brightest flash mobs in history! Flash mob from a musical group of the US Air Force

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Flashmob(read as flash mob, from the English flash mob - flash - flash; instant, moment; mob - crowd, translated as “flash of the crowd” or as “instant crowd”)

This is a pre-planned mass action in which large group people (mobbers) suddenly appear in public place, for several minutes people with a serious look perform pre-agreed actions of absurd content (scenario) and then at the same time quickly disperse in different directions, as if nothing had happened. It is a type of smartmob.

Psychological principle flash mob is that mobbers create an incomprehensible, absurd situation, but behave in it as if it is quite normal and natural for them: serious faces, no one laughs, everyone is of sound mind, sober and sane.

A flash mob is a performance designed for casual spectators (Fomich) who have mixed feelings: complete misunderstanding, interest, and even a feeling of their own insanity.

The ideology of the classic flash mob adheres to the principle “flash mob is outside of religion, outside of politics, outside of economics,” that is, a flash mob cannot be used for selfish purposes.

Flash mob rules

The flash mob movement is based on the fact that flash mob actions have standard rules. Their most important points:

* Apparent spontaneity of action. Prohibition of gathering or attracting attention on the spot before the action, simultaneous start and end of the action by its participants.
* One should get the impression that mobbers are random passers-by like everyone else. Ideally, the participants in the action should not be acquaintances or somehow intersect in real life.
* The script should bring absurdity and mystery to what is happening.
* Exactly following the script.
* Do not cause an aggressive reaction from random viewers. Do not break laws, do not show any political preferences. Do not litter.
* Do everything with a serious look and being of sound mind. Be sober and sane.
* After the action, you need to immediately disperse from the scene in different directions, without giving the appearance that something unusual has happened.

To avoid conflicts with law enforcement officials, there are also the following recommendations:

* Have your ID with you.
* If you are nevertheless detained by law enforcement officers, you are responsible for yourself. No one will vouch for you. Deny that you participated in a pre-planned action: you accidentally ended up in this place and just decided to do something. Participation in unauthorized mass actions is, as a rule, punishable by law.

Details of the rules may vary, which is preliminarily specified in the promotion script.

Flash mob scenarios

The ideal scenario should be absurd, mysterious, not very noticeable and in no case cause laughter. Mobbers should not violate laws and moral principles. They just have to do something meaningless, but as if it makes sense. As a result, casual viewers (Fomich) take this as a serious situation in which there is some meaning, and try to find it. They experience a feeling of interest, anxiety, misunderstanding, or even a sense of their own insanity. The script should not cross the line beyond which it becomes funny, but this happens extremely rarely.

Examples of flash mob scenarios, about the goals of the flash mob, about the history of its occurrence, terms, etc. You can read it on Wikipedia.

I have one idea, but it’s interesting to know your opinion on this question: “ Is a flash mob possible on the Internet?«

Note:

Since New Yorkers staged the first ever flash mob on June 17, 2003, the world has never ceased to be amazed. Intricate activists pretend to be zombies, drop their pants in the subway and raise thousands of Chinese lanterns to the sky. What are the most famous flash mobs that took place in Russia?

When and how did the first flash mob take place in Russia?

On August 16, 2003, St. Petersburg and Muscovites, coordinating through LiveJournal, went to the platforms of railway stations. At the hour of arrival of the train from St. Petersburg, mobbers lined up on the platform of the Leningradsky station, showing a sign with the strange inscription “NzR178qWE”

The first flash mob in Russia took place at the station. Their “colleagues” in the City on the Neva, having settled at the Moscow station, were waiting for an honorary member of the Society of Alcoholics Anonymous - Tatyana Lavrukhina, returning from the capital. Unlike the failed attempt to collectively applaud the fountain at the Nerezinovaya Main Department Store, the station flash mob went off with a bang.

Rating of the most interesting Russian flash mobs

The fame of the country's first "instant crowd" spread throughout the world. Russia was gripped by a real fever. Residents of Perm en masse offered prayers to the monument to the “eternally living” Ilyich, and Muscovites blew bubble in the middle of Arbat and depicted the “Rug of Love” on the Patriarchal Bridge. But it was not these planned actions that won our hearts and shook our imaginations.

Flash mobs with soap bubbles are popular in Russia

Let's dance with Milka

In October 2009, one of the Moscow supermarkets turned into a branch of the Alps. Dozens of flashmobbers, following the example of the cheerful cashier, began to hum catchy Austrian songs and dance wildly. Moving their shoulders, moving their butts and clicking their heels, they filled the entire store with fun. Everyone who was not “stuck” to the cameras - old women, children, and respectable gentlemen in suits - was momentarily transported to the endless emerald meadows of the picturesque mountain range. This holiday became the most memorable advertisement for Milka chocolate.

“Chocolate” flash mob was liked by many Russians

Don't be afraid of the cold - wash yourself up to your waist

The healthiest flash mob, designed to draw attention to the problem of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is known to the entire planet. Taking on the challenge of someone who has already risked dousing themselves with a bucket of icy water, three people continue the Ice Bucket Challenge relay. Those who do not believe the saying “If you are toughened up at a young age, you will be good for the rest of your life,” are obliged to make donations to the study fund incurable disease. In Russian version mass event, which became popular after the dousing of Mark Zuckerberg, has already been attended by the co-owner of Mail.ru Group, the founder of VKontakte and the creator of Qip.

Giraffe VKontakte

A couple of years ago, a craze hit social media. All the avatars featured giraffes: cartoon and real, lying and standing, scary and cute. The reason for such love for animals turned out to be unsolved mystery, set by the organizers of the flash mob. Those who could not count the number of legs in a room containing a bed, two dogs, a giraffe, five hippos and four cats were forced to put a photo of the slowest-witted creature on the planet on their profile for three days. Since the task was a tricky one, and few people thought of adding sofa legs and their own limbs to the list, friendship with the giraffe reached truly cosmic proportions.

Giraffe is the most popular flash mob on VKontakte

Pensioners are “on fire”

Not only young people are ready to play pranks by taking part in unusual flash mobs. On May 18, 2011, three hundred old people filled the Moscow subway. Pushing into the depths of the crowded carriages, they kicked younger passengers out of their seats and sat down near the aisle. Elderly people were not at all busy raising the younger generation. The leaflets they distributed called for starting a family and having children. Demonstrating that soon there simply won’t be enough room for all the pensioners in the world, they not only solved the demographic problem, but also communicated, remembered their youth and simply sang old songs.

Flash mob of pensioners in the Moscow metro

Read, bookworm, don’t spare your eyes

For 4 years in a row, a book flash mob has been organized in Pervomaisky Park in Novosibirsk. While checking their watches at City Hall, protesters disperse around the fountain and take out paper novels. For half an hour, their books find a voice: mobbers, walking along the alleys or relaxing on benches, read aloud the works of Arthur Conan Doyle and Leo Tolstoy, life lessons from Confucius and Irina Khakamada.

Flash mob “Living Library” in Novosibirsk Then, without saying a word, they scatter in different directions. The purpose of this cultural event– arouse interest in the “Living Library” project, which offers to communicate with representatives of different walks of life, from the homeless to the millionaire.

"Macbeth" at the Baltic House

The day before the premiere of Macbeth at the Baltic House, scheduled for May 30, 2014, St. Petersburg residents, actors and guests of the city gathered near the theater building and recited the words of the brilliant Shakespeare into a megaphone. The action, organized by the St. Petersburg edition of the Metro publication, caused a huge stir. Despite the pouring rain, students from the University of Physical Education and youth from South Korea, elderly St. Petersburg residents and their young grandchildren caused tears, expressively reading sonnets, and stormy applause, echoing the crazy Othello. Every fan of the great playwright received invitations to the premiere of the sensational play.

Theatrical flash mob in St. Petersburg But one of the bizarre ideas implemented by the creative organizers of flash mobs completely went out of the general rut of dancing, singing and dousing.

The most interesting flash mob in Russian history

The bearded beauty Conchita Wurst, who shocked the world with her erotic performance at Eurovision, evoked many different emotions. While the parents, shedding tears of joy, called the overgrown “lady” the daughter they had always dreamed of, the Russian men set out to prove that they were not Conchita. Taking hold of razors and armed with cameras, the knights got rid of their beards and showed photos of their smooth chins on Instagram, Vkontakte and Odnoklassniki. Dominic Joker, Rodion Gazmanov and Andrei Malakhov turned out to be real men.

Flash mob in honor of Conchita Wurst Flash mobs often take place in squares and stadiums. But there are also other events taking place there.

On our website you can watch the best dance flash mobs from all over the world online for free. We have collected big list videos where people dance synchronously, interesting movements, ideas. Large selection unusual flash mobs await everyone who wants to watch videos from YouTube.

Not so long ago, the first mass action was held in the United States, the purpose of which was to surprise and amuse others and themselves. Today this is a whole movement, widespread throughout the world and called flash mob.

This name suits this movement perfectly and means “instant crowd” in English. Our resource contains many videos with the best flash mobs, which are very pleasant and fun to watch online. All the events are very different, however, they are all united by the desire to have a good time and give positive emotions to both unwitting spectators and participants. All such events have general rules holding is spontaneity, the absence of general leadership and the obligatory lack of financial interest of both organizers and participants.

A huge collection of flash mob videos will allow you to watch online on our website. Everything is available for free and without registration. All mobbers gather in one place and perform a certain physical action at a specified time. For example, they turn on umbrellas, freeze on certain time or even enter the subway without pants. On our website there is access to online videos about synchronized movements performed in the most different places and on a variety of topics.

If in not particularly complex flash mobs it is still possible to comply with all the unwritten rules, then in mass dance and vocal events it is increasingly more difficult to do this. Of course, the most popular are dance flash mobs held both in Russia and abroad. If you are active, positive and a kind person, then watch funny YouTube videos about dancing for free strangers, posted on our resource, is what you need to improve your mood.

You can watch the best flash mobs with dancing and more online with us without registration and without viruses. It is watching free YouTube videos that gives people interest in such massive fun, and every year more and more more people become mobbers. Also in demand are videos where event participants start singing in a restaurant, at the airport, or in other most unexpected places.

If you are interested in this category, then others will also interest you. One such example could be the “Sports Jokes” category. There you will find a lot of positive moments during sports competitions, and all the jokes are from different types sports You won't regret if you go there.

Nobody will call full list flash mobs carried out throughout the history of the movement. Without it, it is clear that every year more and more interesting people Those who love to dance until they drop, sing, enjoy life and make others happy become mobbers.

PHOTO Getty Images

Key Ideas

  • Flash mobs help us feel important. This is a personal moment of glory.
  • A person is always more comfortable in a group.
  • The Internet and participation in various events is a way of self-expression.
  • We want to be like celebrities, wanting to imitate them, we participate in flash mobs.

Flash mobs came into fashion about ten years ago. Through the Internet, people agreed on a time and place to meet, gathered in a public place, and at the appointed hour, completely unexpectedly for passers-by, they began to carry out their routine - dancing, singing or doing something else unusual. Some turned into a real show, and their videos became viral and quickly gained popularity on the Internet. Now flash mobs are moving entirely online. Physical presence is no longer required. With minimal effort we get feedback from the world, confirmation that we exist.

Psychologists identify four main reasons that force people to take part in online performances.

1. Feeling of self-worth

At the heart of any flash mob is an official idea - to draw attention to a problem, raise funds for charity, release pent-up emotions or popularize cultural values. Duke University psychology professor Dan Ariely notes that everyone strives to create an image of a good, respectable person 1 . Participating in flash mobs with noble ideas is one of the easiest ways to achieve this goal.

Post a picture online while sitting on the couch,- easier than doing something in real world. At the same time, we receive immediate rewards - likes, reposts and comments from our virtual friends. In 2007, a team of scientists led by University of Michigan School of Computer Science professor Nicole Ellison examined how young people use social media. Scientists have come to the conclusion - active work on social networks helps to increase self-esteem and level of life satisfaction 2.

“Group actions provide an opportunity to feel involved to some “important matter,” which always increases self-esteem,” explains psychologist Elena Solomeina. - Unfortunately, when solving their problems in this way, many do not pay attention to the essence of the flash mob, to the idea for which everything was started. This is the emotional and demonstrative component of the flash mob. “I belong to a group of people who care, I help people and in general I am useful for society and the world as a whole” - in our time, it is not so much success that is relevant as demonstrating this success to the world.

The Internet allows you to get results instantly: post a funny video with yourself and you’re a celebrity

Flash mob participants create the illusion of working to achieve socially significant goals. “However, the real changes that are available to a person in the first place are changes in his real life,” says psychologist Mikhail Balakin. They require more effort, courage and determination than publishing a story or completing a task online. Unlike changes in real life, in a flash mob you don’t have to think about what to do.

Created by social networks a virtual reality- replacement of real activity, substitution of life, its simulation. It's always easier to play than to really work. The Internet allows you to get results instantly: you signed an appeal, talked about something intimate, posted a funny video with your participation - and you are a celebrity. They talk about you, they discuss you - a personal moment of fame.

2. The desire for social belonging

Flash mobs allow us to be part of something bigger. Thematic - find like-minded people, some of whom can become friends in real life.

In the case of emotionally charged flash mobs, people understand that they are not alone in their trouble, and enlist mutual support. The need to be part of a group is not new. The survival of our ancestors depended on the ability to settle into society. Belonging to a community increased the chances of survival. The outcasts died. These mechanisms still work today.

In 2010, a group of scientists led by Michael Bernstein, PhD, a psychologist at Pennsylvania State University, conducted a study on social isolation. Participants in the experiment were divided into three groups: the first was asked to write an essay about how society rejected them; the second is about acceptance and inclusion; the third - on a neutral topic. All participants were then shown a series of short videos of smiling people. The subjects had to recognize genuine and fake smiles. The results showed - “rejected” participants did the most. Scientists have concluded that social isolation activates an adaptive mechanism that helps us restore contact with the community 3 .

Singing in a choir is not as scary as performing solo

It is important for a person to feel like a member of a community or groups. This allows him to form an idea of ​​himself and answer the question “who am I?” “By joining one community or another, a person gains a sense of belonging and strength by finding like-minded people,” says Mikhail Balakin.

“In the virtual space, people satisfy social needs,” says psychologist Alena Al-As. - You can easily join a group of your own kind and become part of something big. Even a withdrawn, timid and lonely person finds “friends”, they begin to respect him, they begin to listen to him.”

“Openly expressing your views and feelings is not easy. When everyone does this, it becomes easier,” says psychologist Elena Solomeina. “Singing in a choir is not as scary as performing solo.”

PHOTO Getty Images

3. Opportunity for self-expression

The Internet is the most popular platform for creativity. First, there are no barriers to entry. Anyone can register an account on a social network. There is no need to climb up to the podium or otherwise physically attract people's attention. Secondly, a limitless audience. Perhaps among your friends there are not enough like-minded people or people facing similar problems. They will probably be found on the Internet.

Communications expert Alena August believes that The online social circle is much wider than what we have in real life. On the Internet, you can meet a person with whom you have something in common, and reinforce this connection with relevant posts. You can say something that is unlikely to be asked Everyday life, as in the case of the flash mob #I'm not afraid to say. The lack of direct physical contact creates a feeling of safety. No one is safe from malicious comments, but they certainly won’t throw rotten eggs at you.

Flash mob - group psychological training, during which a person expresses himself openly, throwing away inhibitions

“The Internet gives a person experiences that are missing in reality, brings additional adrenaline - and all this against the backdrop of a feeling of complete security,” confirms Sergei Gorin. “The Internet creates a feeling of being chosen and initiated into secrets.”

“On the Internet we realize what we don’t have the courage to do in real life,” says Alena Al-As. “This allows a person to express their feelings, cope with fear of rejection and get the support needed to deal with difficult situations.”

“Flash mob - group psychological training, during which a person openly expresses himself, casting aside inhibitions,” says psychologist Elena Solomeina. This has a positive effect on the emotional sphere of his life.

4. The desire to imitate

In the most popular flash mobs famous personalities took part- Vin Diesel, Mark Zuckerberg, Stephen King doused themselves with ice water during the #icebucketchallenge movement. We want to prove that we are no worse famous personalities. We try to get closer and join them. The same thing happens when all our friends participate in a flash mob. We feel left out if we don't join the movement.

In any group there is a leader, a bright creative personality who calls for something. The group accepts the message and implements its idea, explains Alena Al-As. Usually flash mobs depend on such bright personalities.

But psychologist Valentin Denisov-Melnikov explains the popularity of flash mobs by the fact that for many it is easier to be like everyone else. The #icebucketchallenge received such a response because few people decided to give up when challenged. They were embarrassed to show themselves as cowards and not get doused with ice water. Only the most independent were able to say: “I don’t want to.”

We take part in flash mobs

Flash mobs not only attract public attention to important issues, but also help participants have fun or feel better. Main - the right approach to these events.

Remember the main idea. Before you post a picture under a popular hashtag, think about whether you really support and share the idea that the flash mob is promoting.

Test yourself for conformity. Ask yourself: am I participating in this because it is important to me, or am I uncomfortable being apart of mass activity?

Think about the consequences. What is once posted on the Internet remains there forever. Disclosing personal or traumatic information can bring relief to short term, and then be replaced by a feeling of shame and regret.

1 D. Ariely, “The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty: How We Lie to Everyone - Especially Ourselves” (Harper Collins, 2013).

2 N. Ellison et al. “The benefits of Facebook ‘friends’: Social capital and college students’ use of online social network sites,” Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 2007, vol. 12, no. 4.

3 M. Bernstein et al. “A preference for genuine smiles following social exclusion,” Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 2010, vol. 46, no. 1.

Flashmob ((English flash mob (flash - flash, instant, moment; mob - crowd, gathering) - instant crowd))- a large group of people that performs some similar actions and then disperses.

What is a flash mob

Examples physical actions participants (offline flash mobs):

After the flash mob, its participants meet physically or virtually, get acquainted, discuss the results of the action, plan further actions, come up with new flash mob scenarios and their goals.

Rice. 1. Example of a chain letter

One of the most widespread and popular offline flash mobs around the world is the dance flash mob.

Flash mobs on the Internet can occur spontaneously - in the form of comments on a funny post, variations of an interesting video story, or be planned when members of a group on a social network are given a task: put a picture on their avatar, answer a few questions and “pass the baton” to other users ( ask them to continue).

Flash mob on the Internet: history and features

Before the advent of the Internet, chain letters were common. The tradition (especially among children) of sending “chain letters” was reminiscent of a modern “flash mob”.

The letters said that the letter needed to be rewritten and sent to several acquaintances within a certain period. Many people took part in this game (Fig. 1).

With the advent of the Internet, this tradition was revived, acquired new forms and was called “flash mob”. The distribution medium for flash mobs is email, social networks, forums, chat rooms, video services.

How do flash mobs happen?

1) Flash mobs on the Internet can occur spontaneously. For example, in comments to posts, surveys - with the aim of having fun, having fun.

2) An Internet flash mob can be planned:

  • to promote a website, brand, personality;
  • for the purpose of conducting a hidden advertising campaign;
  • in order to control the political sentiments of the masses.

The concepts of “advertising”, “political”, “social” flash mobs appeared. And also professional flash mobs - proflashes. All these actions in their goals, objectives, features of organization and implementation are the opposite of a regular flash mob. They contradict its original rules and principles.

The main (“classic”) goals and objectives of the flash mob

Flash mobs are made for random spectators, causing them feelings of confusion, misunderstanding, surprise, interest, delight and even a desire to join.

People take part in a flash mob with the aim of:

  • have fun;
  • feel freedom from society’s stereotypes and norms of behavior;
  • capture the attention of others;
  • assert oneself;
  • get rid of complexes;
  • get a “dose of adrenaline”;
  • feel unity with other people;
  • feel involved in a common action;
  • get the effect of a “group psychotherapy” session;
  • emotionally recharge (discharge);
  • Find friends.

These goals are achieved using the “crowd effect”.

Flash mob participants are often serious, more or less successful people in everyday life. The reason for participation in such actions, as a number of psychologists explain, is fatigue from everyday worries and routine.

Flash mob rules and principles

1) The director (leader) of a flash mob is often unknown.

2) The action should seem spontaneous.

3) Initially it was assumed that the flash mob should not contain advertising elements; be of a political, agitational nature; have financial goals. But such flash mobs (in pure form) are rare. The listed elements are most often present in the promotion.

5) Flash mob participants (ideally, people who do not know each other) should not show that they are connected by something. They should appear to be random participants: Internet users, “ordinary passers-by.”

6) The actions of the participants in the action can cause bewilderment, surprise, fun and delight. But the flash mob participants themselves do everything with a serious look.

7) The flash mob scenario (for outside observers) may seem absurd (the actions of the participants defy logic). For example, freeze in a certain position, circle a bottle on the asphalt with chalk, shoot a video that is meaningless in content.

However, the goals of the action can be clearly visible: to ridicule or condemn a certain media personality; achieve a specific result (for example, influence the course of the trial by mass commenting and filing petitions, etc.).