The Naked Cowboy, also known as Robert John Burck, has successfully become the iconic figure of Times Square, New York. His naked cowboy act is such a valuable commodity that other potential cowboys (and cowgirls) can licence it from Mr. Burck for a fixed sum, thereby spreading the empire of The Naked Cowboy.
Creating this franchise is an impressive achievement, and in many ways Mr. Burck deserves a great deal of credit for being a successful street performer. He has made it work. But I worry what this means for street performance.
The comparison that springs to mind is the standardised, mass produced, quick fix burger of the major American fast food franchisers. They marketed a model that has been replicated all over the world, reaching millions of consumers, but few people would say that fast food is good food. Have people’s diets improved since 1955 and the invention of the golden arches?
Packaged street performance makes me think of the abundance of statues wearing cheap fancy dress and a MacDonalds or KFC on every street corner – where is the space for the real artists that give the nourishment that our society needs?
Chris
If you want to be a naked cowboy/girl, or be married by the official Naked Cowboy, then you can find out more here.