Artefakty

Every once in a while the web becomes home to a freak that the whole nation falls in love with. He becomes a star and once he’s famous some company will surely want to take the most of his stardom. Where did Cursor Man come from and how did he help Netia, a telephone company, win the hearts of young clients?

Campaign for the Access to internet service provider. Cursor Man fights for better and cheaper internet. He appears in Cursor’s outfit in various places in Warsaw and makes waves… He tries to surf in the swimming pool, tries to download files on the pavement, gains points in the old town, moves on the screen in the cinema. He publishes all his achievments on YouTube. The freak is then finally detained by police. Soon after the cry to free The Cursor Man can be heard. It becomes clear that the action is supported by …telecom Netia.

Stage 1 of the campaign: Cursor Man starts with his own webside

This stage included the launch of a website, whose disgusting frames and buttons clearly drew on the design of the early 90’s and successfully positioned Cursor as a total freak fighting for freedom on the Internet.

Stage 2 of the campaign: Cursor Man moves to YouTube where he immediately becomes a STAR!

The video “Gra” (The Game), which debuted on YOU TUBE, presented Cursor Man in action and was followed by successive productions of the Internet freak. Each of the 6 videos focused on a different passion which Cursor Man pursued on the web: gaming, downloading, visiting websites, meeting people or surfing.

Stage 3 of the campaign: Cursor Man is kept in detension!

The extraordinary popularity of Cursor Man led to his arrest. A video presenting his arrest during a peace demonstration against the enslavement of the Polish Internet immediately appeared on the web.

Stage 4 of the campaign: Netia comes out and helps to release Cursor Man from detension

When Cursor Man is a real star, Netia (the client) makes its coming-out.

Cursor Man’s free website was replaced by the Uwolnij Kursora (Free Cursor) site. 56 thousand Internet users took part in effort to demolish the walls of Terapeutyczny Pokój Spokojnej Apatii (Therapeutic Room of Calm Apathy), or TPSA, where Cursor Man was held.

Posters have been posted all round the city.

The last, 5th stage of the campaign: Cursor Man is released.

This stage involved a competition where Internet users could create their own Cursor Man by making use of editing tools available at the site.

Every day, Netia offered three Internet access packets free of charge to participants of the contest.

Summary:

The action is performed in public space where happenings with Cursor Man take place, on WWW; the Buzz marketing is used within online communities, the videos are published on YouTube, the posters which call for  Cursor’s release from detention are placed on walls in the city…

Cursor Man became a star in a few days. Series of videos were displayed about 400 thousand times, his movies got to TOP 10 videos recommended by YouTube. The series of Cursor Man’s clips has become the 18th most frequently subscribed channel in Comic Category.

Cursor Man’s channel (on 25th June 2008) becomes no. 1 among the most frequently subscribed channels in comic category on YouTube. On 19th June 2008 Cursor Man becomes the most frequently subscribed comic of the week.

Clear proof of popularity follows.

proof 1:

proof 2:

proof 3:

proof 4:

Last but not least: Cursor Man has been kindly invited to perform in 10 European cities!