With 1 ⭐ Review Tour, we look at how online rating systems shape the perception and experience of a place. In contemporary data-driven environments, credit scores, social influence rankings and product/service reviews dictate choices regarding, for example, selecting a doctor, shopping or dining out. One of the most widely used evaluation schemes online is the five-star system. Its popularity stems from the ease of judgement it proposes, its implied clarity (five is better than one) and the way it transforms personal opinions into objective values by way of aggregation (individual reasoning doesn’t matter if many people come to the same conclusion).
While the reviews are often nothing more than personal opinions, their cumulative values have become a driving force for the service and tourist industries as well as many other sectors of the economy. For businesses, reviews have become a feared measure of success or bust.
Not all sites, services or products can align with conventional consumer requirements. To obtain the five-star rating, they must be easy to consume, readily available, impressive, fun or “instagrammable”. And while privately owned companies can fight bad online reviews, public spaces can hardly talk back or ask Google to leave them alone.
1 ⭐ Review Tour explores what it means when places we love are scrutinised and publicly rated. It investigates the politics of rating systems, their real world consequences, and the power ratings have to produce real effects. And because it can be emotionally difficult to endure negative opinions on the places we cherish, the work is viewed from the comfort of a massage chair, a five star setting for one star opinions.
1 ⭐ Review Tour
«This is a 16 minute citytour where you get to see and hear ONLY negative reviews. And they are all about public places in the city. Like people come with these exaggerated expectations and then are disappointed when the city is not like Rome or Paris. Or when a place is not as NICE or NOTABLE as they thought. The things people complain about!!! Elsewhere is better!!! Roadworks!!! The weather?!! Too many tourists!! EXACTLY!!! People are so stupid!!!!!
At least you get to sit in an amazing fully automated massage chair while watching this. Make sure to make the most of the free massage by pressing the zero gravity button. Then the rage you are feeling about the art piece gets massaged right out of you. Even better if you remember to bring ear plugs and just close your eyes. That way you don't have to actually see the video and you can REALLY enjoy the massage.»
1 ⭐ Review Tour Secrets
«Just a 4K silent walk through a random city. A popular format on Youtube and would be relaxing to watch if it weren't for the whispering. Talking about the oldest customer complaint and reviews and the Karenina Principle, as if it were a secret. Weird ASMR vibes. They delve into how algorithms shape our experience of places. But all I see is lots of tourists walking in an old town. Also would have been nice to hear more about the scams and how people game rating system. It is not at all pleasant to watch a video sitting in a shiatsu chair. I fell asleep. So inconvenient. 1/5.»
1 ⭐ Review Tour Browser Extension
«This extension sucks!!!! Not even worth reviewing it. This browser based artwork shows only one star reviews on Google Maps. Unless you are trying to find the worst option for everything, this is NOT HELPFUL. Who wants to focus only on the negative reviews? The artists drivel about the poetics of failed expectations and the shift of perspectives. They think this is a good way to understand and challenge the power of rating systems. The browser extension is basically a shadow software-defined tourist agency that gives you a nightmare view of your favorite city. How is that going to help anything??!!
And to experience the 1 ⭐ Review Tour Browser Extension in the exhibition they make you lay on a mat on the floor. And look through a cushion. So awkward and uncomfortable. And you don't even get a massage.»
1 out of 5
«The only piece that makes sense. 1/5»
Photo: Domen Pal / Aksioma.
Photo: Franz Wamhof.