Collaborative entertainment is usually perceived as an art form
, but would it be safe to categorise the SantaCon as one? SantaCon is a genuine large scale gathering of people dressed in Santa Claus costumes the focus is on spontaneity and creativity, while having a good time and spreading cheer and goodwill! Can such events help propel us through the Christmas period or is it silly season for misguided entertainers?
Its easy to associate uniformity with civilian roles that are for the public good, such as those of the traffic wardens or police officers. Does voluntarily dressing up as Santa require the group to perform an act for the public good? Part of the fabric of social expression it could be described as a nonverbal form of communication between strangers, indeed when hundreds of people dressed up as Santa Claus and descended on Liverpool Street Station in London on Saturday 11th December (2010) their only challenge was to spread cheer!
The requirements were for the Santas to put on their dancing shoes and arrive in a complete Santa outfit and dazzle Japanese tourists with flair and panache. The flash mob Santas began their journey through the streets of London, spreading cheer and frequenting a few bars on the way! The first SantaCon was organised by members of the Cacophony Society of San Francisco from as early as 1994 and has steadily attracted new crowds worldwide.
The SantaCon incorporates part of the Flash Mob phenomena, a term used to describe a large group gathering in open public space for a short period performing a dance routine or entertaining the public. The Santas began dispersing among the many people and bars of London during the busy Saturday. Flash mob (dance) events are organised using social networking sites to generate participant awareness and make use of public spaces, it appears to have caught the imagination of advertising agencies who have also used flash mob features in recent ad campaigns.