Who Graffitis ‘The Watchmen’?
Fans of the epic graphic novel Watchmen who happen in live in NYC might be encountering either some extreme fandom or really illegal movie marketing on the streets of their fair city. As fans of the comics know, the phrase Who Watches the Watchmen? is spray painted on public walls thru out NYC in the story … and this week, real graffiti of that phrase has started showing up on real buildings in NYC … which either means there are some really rabid fans out there who want to promote the movie OR viral movie marketing for the film has taken on an illegal slant. Here are a few examples of some of the graffiti that has been spotted this week:
The familiar “Who Watches The Watchmen?” graffiti from Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons‘ celebrated graphic novel — and Zack Snyder’s upcoming “Watchmen” movie — has been popping up all over lower Manhattan lately. But is it a viral marketing campaign, or fans excited about the film’s looming arrival in theaters? Sure, graffiti is nothing new in New York City, but the fact that this kind of graffiti is showing up around the city has become a common topic of conversation among New York City comics fans — and everywhere else the familiar tag is popping up. From personal blogs to Twitter feeds and Flickr photo sets, “Watchmen” graffiti has found its way online, with photos [being] snapped in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood and … in the SoHo area. If viral marketing was indeed involved, the company would have to go great lengths to get permission from the city to tag a telephone booth near Union Square, while the tag found in Chelsea was on the side of a restaurant. I’d assume it would be difficult to get the restaurant owner to agree to that one. Better yet, is the graffiti a product of something more like the controversial “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” viral marketing campaign that hit Boston back in 2007? One kind of hopes, though, that it’s the work of one — or more — comics fans who just like “Watchmen” that much. While we probably won’t get any answers about the graffiti’s origins, any chance to show off a comics in-joke posted in a public forum is worth mentioning.
On the one hand, I think this is genius … on the other, it’s grossly criminal. Seeing this type of graffiti splashed on buildings all around town, just like in the comics, adds a level of meta-ness that, I think, heightens the movie going experience. But I suspect that owners of storefronts and buildings who may fall victim to this type of marketing might not be too happy about the practice. I agree with the report that we may never find out if this graffiti is actually sanctioned by the movie makers or if it’s merely the work of fanboys. Having seen the film yesterday (review to come later today), I can understand how fans of the original comic might want to express their fandom in this way. The movie, in my estimation, is excellent. While I personally would not go to these lengths to profess my fandom, I can see how some might. It’d be interesting to know if this sort of graffiti has been seen in any other cities.
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March 7th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
hahaha…they didn’t know how to spell “watchmen” in the 2nd picture. couldn’t be the marketers.
March 7th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Yeah Sarah, I noticed that too as I looked at the photos. But I think it’s on purpose. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if the owners of the buildings tagged were paid to participate in a marketing campaign like this. Look at the attention it’s getting! Perhaps that was the original hope and intention. If so, it’s kinda working.
March 7th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Wouldn’t be surprised if Kent is right… Businesses could be getting big $ to not report (or press charges against) this “graffiti”…. it’s a shame to the city, though, because it only eggs on the real graffiti peeps. Other than that aspect, I think it’s a cool ad campaign!
March 7th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
I bet they were paid as well
as for being illegal who caressssss
it adds to the new york charm
March 7th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
That could be true…wasn’t thinking that way! If it was the marketers, it really is getting their point across.
March 7th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
With all the horrible, stupid, and gratuitous graffiti out there today, I think seeing something fun like this is wicked xD
At least it dosent say 4:20, or “For a good time call..”
March 7th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
Looks like the handwriting is the same on all 3.