7/14/01

Around 11:30 p.m. I left an absurd, amazing show at the Empty Bottle to see another absurd, amazing thing - a crowd of 200 plus hassle the newly arrived cast of the Real World.

A word on the first before dishing on the second: The Empty Bottle hosted "Black Celebration/Blue Monday: A Tribute to Depeche Mode and New Order." Members of 15 local bands played covers in styles ranging from punk to funk to polka. It was a benefit for Ladyfest Midwest, an upcoming festival of women artists. The mix of genders and ethnicities onstage testified to: a) an increasing diversity and camaraderie in Chicago's rock scene; and b) many folks love old mopey English dance music. The gleeful, earnest, goofy enthusiasm implied now-handsome and beautiful hipsters spent teen years rocking out alone in their bedrooms. If this is any indication, Ladyfest will kick ass.

After an accordion based version of Just Can't Get Enough, I tore myself away to check out the chaos around the Real World building at the corner of North Ave and Winchester St.

About a week ago the Real World cast and crew arrived in Wicker Park, which displeased some current and former residents.

In the 90's Wicker Park became the most well known hip neighborhood in Chicago. Greed and popularity soon started driving out the people and places that made it interesting.

The gentrification problem is annoying for the artist and hipster class. They may come from middle class backgrounds, but they aren't wealthy now. They are, however, viewed as a sign an area is safe for real estate speculation. They have become the unwilling shock troops of expensive development, dooming any area with cheap rent.

The Real World's presence s an unwelcome escalation of the gentrification problem. So an underground cabal of artists pulled off a little prank.

On Saturday someone distributed fake cards from Mtv, inviting everyone to a party and casting of extras for the show at 11pm. By 11:30 between 200 and 300 people filled the sidewalks and street around the building.

Half the gathering was curious or clueless, and they provided cover for the activist half. The crowd blocked traffic, and more people got into the spirit of fucking with the Real World. Drums were pounded, slogans shouted, and cast members were jeered as they came and left. At one point a huge number were chanting "WE'RE REAL, YOU'RE NOT." Cans and bottles were thrown at the building. One cast member was pelted with paper, and a red paint bomb splattered on the entrance.

In between outbursts people milled around, confused or amused by the excitement. The crowd exhibited a joyful shared animosity towards the show, though the level of commitment varied.

It was surprising how many people were discussing the validity of the protest. Considering how many tipsy clubgoers joined in, the quality of conversation was remarkable. Most eventually expressed some support.

One group said it was disgusting and we should respect Mtv. Why? They couldn't explain.

Mtv's defenders were the sorts with more money than brains who make Wicker Park regret having a nightclub district. They treat the 'hood as if it was an exotic foreign land where they are free to drive drunk, tip badly, and be act as if locals don't understand English. Loud and rude, they bump into people while gabbing on cell phones. It can make the most straightlaced Chicagoan feel French. Even the businesses prefer to do without obnoxious tourism, which seems to be encouraged by the Real World.

The protest seemed to surprise the producers. In a way, the stupidity of their location choice is amazing. In Chicago, Wicker Park is known as the hangout of surly art types, even if rents have pushed them south and west. The Autonomous Zone, the longest lived anarchist/punk collective in Chicago, started in Wicker Park.

In addition, North Avenue is central to the area's business district. The building is less than a block from North/Milwaukee/Damen, the busiest intersection in the neighborhood. It was almost obscenely conspicuous.

Plus, the Real World building has a symbolic past. It was home to Urbis Orbis, a legendary coffee house and theater - a vast friendly space, a crossroads for art communities around the city. After helping to popularize the hood it was one of the first places to fall. It turned a profit, but landlord chased it out, dreaming of wealthier leases like the Real World.

Across the street is the Flat Iron building, which has its own bizarre controversy. Despite gentrification it is still home to many artist studios. Recently landlord Bob Berger announced he is installing cameras in the hallways, storefronts and one aimed at the building from across the street. He plans to broadcast the images 24-7 on the internet and (no joke) a giant TV mounted on the corner overlooking the intersection. It sounds insane and possibly a violation of privacy, but laws are murky on this point. The one person to openly protest the idea, a tenant of 11 years, was immediately evicted.

Berger claims the cameras are part of a larger scheme to fund a comedy/drama. He told the Chicago Reader, "It will actually be filmed on location with local actors. It's based on people I've met in the art world and composite characters of people at the Flat Iron." Some suspect he plans to turn his building into a permanent Real World.

Needless to say, Wicker Park already had a heightened sensitivity to publicity when the Real World turned up.

Days after the cast arrived, things took an unexpected turn. Two suspected drug dealers were shot gangland-style in the parking lot of the Burger King one street over. The driver went for help, and found the off duty cops working security at the Real World building. One guy died while car was parked out front (not unusual; Wicker Park, like any rapidly changing 'hood, has a higher crime rate than poorer, more stable, areas).

When the Sun-Times contacted Mtv for comment, the producers made a mistake. They tried to intimidate the paper into keeping the story and location quiet, threatening to cut off access to the show. It worked wonders. The story made the front page; page two gave the address and a photo of the building, plus a snide column about Mtv's behavior. It was a classic Chicago "No, Fuck YOU."

Chicago is very Midwestern, with the stereotypical middle class banality and media worship of the Real World demographic. It's also a vast urban area, more diverse and strange than most Chicagoans comprehend. It's home to Operation Push and The Nation of Islam and huge ethnic populations of all sorts. Its history is full of anarchists, labor activists and mobsters, and some famous riots. It's home to such quixotic rock icons as Steve Albini, who denounces the record industry while recording million dollar acts. The 2nd city reputation makes us pretentious about being unpretentious.

In short, Chicago may not be sophisticated, but it's smart and will mess with you. Cops has never taped in Chicago, and it's clear why.

Saturday was the cast's first big night at out the clubs around the intersection. At least two cast members and crews milled uncertainly around the Borderline. It was clear the crowd wasn't interested in hunting down the cast, but the boys looked anxious and trapped.

One, the token black guy, went around the corner to a dance club. A smart move. Another, a clean-cut, handsomely chisled dude, stared pensively as the crew discussed what to do.

The sleek production types were exasperated. Real World crews vary from three to six people. They are agressive, sticking lights and mics in faces and pushing release forms (business get asked in advance, most induviduals do not). Crews get their way through a combination of charm and attitude. They grumbled, veiwing the protesters as yokels trespassing on an exclusive closed set.

"Welcome to Chicago." I said to the clean-cut guy.

He turned. "Thanks," he said, "you're one of the few to say that since I got here," he frowned, "if you meant it sincerely, that is."

"No," I replied, "I didn't."

He sighed, looking aged, weary and resigned to being surrounded by people who despised him just for existing.

I almost felt sorry for him. He signed on seeking celebrity status, but didn't consider what celebrity. The cast arrived not caring if neighbors might be annoyed or upset by cameras. They assumed cash and clout would command respect and love - until now.

Among the Saturday night throngs were Wicker Park's panhandlers. Many homeless spend the summer in the Park. At night they gather where the money is.

Some worked the protesters. A friendly guy with his possessions in a shopping cart got a lot of change. His pitch was that we couldn't ignore the homeless and protest an excess of money at the same time.

In contrast, the Real World crew was as callous as the upscale bar patrons. Every time an indigent came into shot, they turned the camera off and chased them away.

"Do you think they'll show any of the area homeless?" I asked the clean cut guy.

"I don't know. I hope so." He said. He looked a bit uncertain over how little control he had.

Perhaps this is the new Real World premise. Chicago is not the first city to hassle the show. I've heard tales of violence and threats in New Orleans. If I had been making the show for ten years, the events of Saturday would be the most interesting part.

Reality tv promises thrills of authenticity and voyeurism, but real dramatic situations are difficult to predict and capture. Outside of Cops, the shows start contrived, and get more so as cast and crew become more self-conscious. The unspoken plot is always the same: people do weird, unnatural shit just to get on-camera.

I'd like to see the Real World, which tries hardest to appear truthful, examine the artifice. Instead of faking stories with editing, why not show real reactions to the artificial intruders, and how the cast feels about the unreal setup?

If this is their goal, Real World Chicago is off to a rousing start. Eventually 15 police cars gathered around the building, sealing off the street.

Both sides were peaceful, except for one cop who tried to knock a girl off her bike with his car (an odd attempt to start a fight). The other cops saw it was not a crisis but a joke.

Having made their point, people began to disperse. Had the pranksters wanted a riot, they would have spread invites through nearby Hispanic and ethnic neighborhoods. Then the cops would have come out swinging. But the Real World is not an issue worth a real violent tragedy.

The protest came at exactly the right time. A prolonged anti-Real World movement would be pointless, but the initial display of contempt was needed. I hope it might inspire serious activism on related topics, as the Real World becomes boring even as I write about it. Maybe there will be more pranks, maybe the crew will be a little more polite. The protest was worthwhile to see the many people are tired of such things. If nothing else, Chicagoans will feel less obligated to coddle our video tourists.

I could be wrong. Chicago may be the first to city chase away Mtv. I can't pretend I wouldn't enjoy it.

Before I bicycled back to the more joyful Empty Bottle, I saw a perfect moment. One cast member returned to the building. He stared at the door splattered with red and then hung his head, acting genuinely upset. Then, as the crowd jeered, he held the pose so the camera could get his "reaction" from several angles. He went inside, we played our role as the angry mob, and I left. I got to the Bottle in time to see a kosher rap/funk band play Policy of Truth.

ADDENDUM: The final revision of this article was on 7/17/01. Many thanks to sources for additional information. First, the crowd might have reached 400 to 500 people (ABC News claims 600 to 700). Second, Real World Chicago seems destined for more unwelcome attention. Posters mocking the project have been put up, business are being encouraged not to sign releases and many groups want to engage the cast to discuss local issues. Thanks to Chicago's draconian anti-rave laws, there's a lot of smart, pissed off kids with nothing better to do. Is this a good thing? The debate goes on.

Thanks also to those who pointed out grammatical errors - the first essay was written in haste.

For more about Chicago's affordable housing problems, check out The Chicago Coalition for the Homeless at http://www.chicagohomeless.org/ and the National Center on Poverty Law at http://www.povertylaw.org/.

For more writing about how much the Real World sucks, see www.realworldblows.com. And as someone pointed out, this fracas took place on the eve of Bastille Day.

ALSO: Some readers seem to not understand links. Realworldblows, and all sites linked to this essay, are not part of fengi. Nor is this site part of other sites linked to us. No site mentioned, including this one, were involved in organizing the protest. Letter in response to this essay can be found here.

All material copyright the authors, printed with permission.