Citizen Survey

Citizen Survey consists of two distinct parts: the survey, and the conducting of the survey. While the Citizen Survey form loosely mimics the US Census in its attempt to extract pertinent information from the populace, it departs from its federal counterpart in its desire to ask the right questions. Survey takers are asked to rank their level of agreement on thirty statements addressing responsible citizenship of corporations, government, police, mass, media, and other institutions. By employing the same formal recipes used by the targeted institutions, the survey conductor is able to more successfully navigate the public sphere in a manner which presents issues without forcing an agenda. Citizen Survey achieves its goal by providing a physical space (table and benches) which becomes an island of public discourse allowing the free exchange of opinion across borders of age, gender, race, and class. Relying on both performative (the survey conductor) and interactive (the survey taker) strategies, the Survey not only reveals public opinion, but also provokes individual and communal dialogues on issues often ignored or suppressed. In the most expanded view, Citizen Survey attempts to infiltrate multiple spheres of influence - social, political, cultural - with notions of responsible citizenship through creative action.