This project was part of a collaboration studio class called NFT (Not For Tourists) Urban Narratives. The class focused on creating narratives through mapping and locative tools.
Rediscovering Prohibition uses beer to illuminate the characters and places of prohibition era New York - specifically the Village and Lower East Side - then a haven for low lifes, scoundrels, gangs, and women of questionable demeanor.
Since alcohol is often a major player in prohibition era events, home brewed and hand labeled beer seems an appropriate interface for telling these stories.
Each bottle of beer comes with a label, printed with New York Times headlines from the period of prohibition. A QR code tag is also found on the label. With a QR enabled cell phone the participant-drinker can scan the label, which then directs the phones internet browser to an MP3 file. The MP3 file contains short passages from prohibition era books with colorful descriptions of the people and events that were the product of prohibition era New York.
Rediscovering Prohibition uses beer to illuminate the characters and places of prohibition era New York - specifically the Village and Lower East Side - then a haven for low lifes, scoundrels, gangs, and women of questionable demeanor.
Since alcohol is often a major player in prohibition era events, home brewed and hand labeled beer seems an appropriate interface for telling these stories.
Each bottle of beer comes with a label, printed with New York Times headlines from the period of prohibition. A QR code tag is also found on the label. With a QR enabled cell phone the participant-drinker can scan the label, which then directs the phones internet browser to an MP3 file. The MP3 file contains short passages from prohibition era books with colorful descriptions of the people and events that were the product of prohibition era New York.
Below are several examples of the audio you would here after scanning a beer's QR code.
