Mapping the Cultural 'Buzz'

The research locates hot spots based on frequency and the draw of crowds to different events, such as music, film & television, fashion and art. The experiment shows that the most movement in NYC occurs around Lincoln & Rockefeller Centers, and down Broadway from Times Square. In Los Angeles, Beverly Hills and Hollywood along the Sunset Strip are the busiest. The point of the study, called "The Geography of Buzz," from one its authors, was “to be able to quantify and understand, visually and spatially, how this creative cultural scene really worked.” It helps to understand the makeup of a city, and what makes certain events so popular.