FAQs
Why am I here? What is my purpose? Who am I? Am I living to my full potential?
This can help you.
What is this thing for?
We see many possibilities for the site, but we’re interested in how you use it, and suggestions you have for us. Right now, the site maps the connections between roughly 100,000 influential New Yorkers and over 2,500 New York organizations. It shows how influential figures are connected through pictures, and very soon, through creative work. The site allows you to navigate between public events, organizations, and the people that are affiliated with them. It gives you a rough approximation of who is getting talked about in the local media, who is out on the town the most, and for what.
Most importantly, it puts all the artists, capitalists, fashionistas, filmmakers, actors, socialites, journalists, architects, and businessmen in the context of the same network. We don’t really see these separate scenes, or the varying levels of attention on different names, as being a material distinction. We all deal with the final product of our culture.
What significance does mapping these scenes have?
The data represents the networks of capital, influence, and attention that drive NY’s cultural economy. Providing universal access to that information, and making the sharing/usage of it social and participatory and relevant to a broader range of cultural participants may facilitate new connections between people, new ideas in culture, more party invitations and real world socialization, and a livelier public-cultural space.
What is the “attention” chart next to everyone’s picture?
Famegame’s Attention Index is an approximation of the attention paid to individuals from four different sources: industry parties, blogs, select New York media institutions, and other influentials they’re connected to (people they’ve been photographed with). The chart is a chronological representation of the composite data over a three month period. Though imperfect, the algorithm is a well-reasoned calculation for relative ‘fame’ in NY.
The features we plan on adding over the coming months will serve to make this metric more participatory, allowing for community intelligence to start complementing the machine generated data that currently informs it.
note: the vertical axis represents a person or organization’s percentile rank (in terms of our composite “attention” metric) relative to everyone else in the network.
Why are we tracking people’s ‘fame’?
Well to start with, a little history: This website grew out of a documentary film that was investigating the celebrity media space in New York. We were interested in why celebrity news was steadily creeping into mainstream media, why boldface names dominate our national discussion, and why everyone seemed to criticize talking about Paris Hilton…and yet continue to do it anyway. We found many reasons for this (we’ll be releasing parts of the video on this site in the future), but one overarching conclusion we reached was that our culture could benefit from a higher degree of transparency, especially when it comes to the production and proliferation of media.
It is our hope that the knowledge of how cultural production works, once shared, will enable a greater number cultural participants to join in the fray, which will benefit both brands and people involved in media making. So, in sum, we track people’s fame to convey our cultural climate with greater transparency. In hope of renewal. That’s what we call Optimism!
What’s with the typos and misspellings?
As an open prototype, the site will likely be messy and contradictory for a while. We are collecting data from different sources to build a meaningfully-curated, collaboratively-edited database of cross-linked profiles. Its a big job and we’re just getting started.
As you may have noticed, there are some profile pages on the site that don’t belong. Because these pages are auto-generated, we tend to pick up a fair amount of unwanted information. We’ve got multiple names for the same person, profiles for cartoon characters, and even some dogs in there! We’re trying to put everything in the right place. We just wanted to get the ball rolling.
Web 2.0? or….3.0(gasp)?
God, can’t we call it something else? Like “The Matrix” for example? And enough with the pastel bubbly logos already!
Interventionism?
Yes.
What about Tactical Media?
Here is a good summary of THAT situation.
Profit?
Currently, yes. We began this as a cultural investigation but quickly learned that there was a service to provide for the advertising/pr/promotional and cultural industries in New York. We have accepted investment capital in order to stay competitive, as well as cooperative, and though we do host adverising we’re not out for blood. We aim to bring returns for both our economic and cultural stakeholders.
Business Model?
We are attempting to bring NY’s Warhol Economy online. The hope is that we can create the right environment for creative producers, influential social figures, and luxury brand managers to play together, dramatically improving their ability to execute visionary projects.
Concretely, this means that we are exploring a business model based on transferring to members the economic benefits of their profile pages and content. In essence, any profits would be shared with the community.
Are you guys crazy?
You ask that like its a bad thing.
I’m Greedy.
That’s not a question.
21 Responses to “FAQs”
From Heatherfascinating. how does one get listed. oh, not for myself or anything, i'm just wondering who your tastemakers are.
From Ron Mwangaguhunga
Oddly compelling, this.
From Jean Anderson
The pictures of Oksana Baiul are gorgeous! Is it possible to get copies? Thanks.
From Colin Burke
DIY will never die "Kids, they'll find some other club," Ms. Smith insisted during her set. "You just got a place, just some crappy place, that nobody wants, and you got one guy who believes in you, and you just do your thing. And anybody can do that, anywhere in the world, any time." --Patti Smith, 10/15/06, New York Times, re:CBGBs closing and program for the future It's pretty simple for people on the fringe to describe and criticize negative aspects of popular mainstream culture as it has been socially constructed; to expose the objectification and dehumanization of artists; to denounce any exploitation that may take place. It has been a far more difficult task for artists to envision new paradigms, to change the norms of how, or where art is shown. --after bell hooks, Colin Burke, 10/16/06 DIY, do-it-yourself ethic was fine for the 20th Century. I want more. I want to have it both ways, all ways. And why can't I? DIM, do-it-myself AND thrive. I am pro-consumerism, smart consumerism--fewer, better, aesthetic choices. I am pro-production, smart, interesting production. There's no reason why artists can't create and live comfortable, happy, productive lives. --Colin Burke, 10/16/06 re: DIY+ / DIM+
From Nene Men
Hi how do I become a member? Or is it invites only? Take care bye.
From Filomina Pawar
Wanted to submit this painting "90 days from B to C", to become famous in New York, (NY being the top most in the art market, or is it London now?) let me see, how and if it works. Do check out the fragments of this painting ( there are 32 of them, but we have completed just few at the moment) This painting is not composed, it has no moral, no definite subject, no message whatsoever, but what it is, is study of the subconscious, if anybody is willing to take time out and see. It truly is one of the masterpieces of the 21st century.
From Shop Femina
I saw a photo of gorgeous Toneya Nowikovsky in the March 2008 issue of Town & Country magazine, and Googled to see who she was. To my surprise, your website was listed on top. What a wild, creative and interesting site! I'm sure that you will be very successful with Fame Game and wish you the best. I will add a link to you on my website.
From Tom Byrne
Hi Great site and I really like the idea behind it. Yes, go for it. someone should have done this a long time ago. Now how about a version for artists? Can I list art exhibitions here? Thanks Tom
From Colleen D'Alessandro
This is a great way to see who's who and what is important in the world. War doesn't matter! Just good times and fast women.
From Robert Patrik Winston
Congratulations on an awesome site! peace and love, Robert Patrik Winston
From Raul E. Rojas
I have taken a liking to your site. It is very interesting. I've seen myself on a few pictures with ex's and friends. I'm surprised I am not listed. Ciao, Raul E. Rojas
From John J. Johnson
Wow. I am so thrilled that the self-important children of the wealthy get to play like they are still in junior high school, while the rest of us do honest work!
From Carmel Kitzman
Your content and creativity is SUPERB!!! The execution BRAVO!!! Keep up the interesting in the know, work!!!
From ayesha adamo
Hi! How do I let you know if I've found a misspelling of someone's name?
From Kristin Marquet
Oddly enough, I was surfing the Internet for stories that may of interest to my media contacts, hair designers and day spas in New York and general news and art events in New York. Then, I came across this website. Very informative and a great idea.
From Yvette
Excellent! Any thoughts on expanding Nationally. Perhaps on the domestic and international playgrounds? www.shesaidhe.com Yvette in Dallas
From Siri Khandavilli
interesting!
From May Ling
This is a very interesting idea, although I am still not totally sure how exactly this algorithm matched me.
From T Code
I find this site so insulting that I think I will continue coming here. P.H. snatched my champagne glass at your last party and T.M. lifted my girlfirend's purse (but she keeps a Rat Trap in there just for that purpose, and so T.M. came back all blistered and smarting---Ha-ha). And why are all the guys gay on this site? Must you be gay? I can act "enthusiastic" if that's the criteria.....? But oh well I digress. And tell the F.G. Intern to stop with the Harssing Telephone calls! It seems that he mixed me up with someone named "Alphie the Leather Guy" at your last shindig, and wants some sort of action I cannot even fathom. Bad form. So let me just say that you're all going to be famous on this site!---FAMOUS I tell you!! There is ROOM for everyone in Battlecab of the Big Round (but you'll probably have to be arrested a few times first though). And so let me just take this opportunity to say: "Congratulations as you read about yourself in Page Six in Jail!!" Don't drop the soap. Damn I love this fame stuff........
From flotson
I object to your premise that, for example, luxury brand managers have visionary projects to execute. Or that luxury brands make a contribution to culture. Or that luxury does. But then I note that you have not offered a definition of culture or a description of its purpose. What you imply, however, is empty and cold.
From Joris
Excellent! Great visibility for the more outre cultural tete-a-tetes like the Watermill benefit and the Muchado launch party for Stallion Portable (wherein I found myself and many friends pictured--Christine Cachot's dress was to die for BTW). Keep that culture coming!
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