Examples of Australian planking.
Planking is the action of lying face down, on your stomach, with arms to the sides, in unusual public spaces and photographing it. The photo is then shared in social media.
Planking began as the lying down game in Europe and Japan in the late 2000s. The term "planking" was coined in Australia where it became an internet meme in 2011.
(For more on the parallel origins of the "playing dead" and "lying down" phenomena, click here. ~ credit Media Monarchy.)
Despite the earlier exact nature of the "lying down game" elsewhere in the world, the Australian media has published such fakeoids as this: "Planking was the brainchild of an Aussie electrician named Richard Litonjua."
(For more on the parallel origins of the "playing dead" and "lying down" phenomena, click here. ~ credit Media Monarchy.)
Despite the earlier exact nature of the "lying down game" elsewhere in the world, the Australian media has published such fakeoids as this: "Planking was the brainchild of an Aussie electrician named Richard Litonjua."
Images of the lying down game from the UK, circa 2009.
Australian National Rugby League player David "Wolfman" Williams planked after a try during the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles vs Newcastle Knights game on March 27, 2011. He went on to talk about it on The Footy Show, where Williams described it as "pretty much active lying down."
Rugby player Williams' "manly planking" image has been widely disseminated.
The Planking Australia group on Facebook has announced May 25, 2011 as the inaugural annual Planking Day, to encourage new and group planking.
On May 13, 2011, a 20-year-old male from Gladstone in central Queensland was charged for allegedly planking on a police vehicle, and the world's first known planking fatality occurred just two days later.
On May 15, 2011, Acton Beale, a 20-year-old man, fell to his death after reportedly "planking" on a guard rail on a seventh-floor balcony in Brisbane, Australia. This is the first known casualty of the planking movement. Australia's Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, warned plankers that their "focus has to be on keeping yourself safe first."
Police said Beale, 20, died while attempting a plank on a balcony railing, similar to the man above.
The cry now is to be "creative but not dangerous" while planking. Some photographs shared online demonstrate the touchy situations being achieved in planking.
It remains to be see if the fad will spread to America, but considering the viral and seemingly humorous nature of this "sport," it will leap quickly and easily to the USA and Canada. Planking will be global by the week's end.
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Planking in Maine, May 18, 2011. Photographic evidence.
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Footnote: For more on the possible precursor behavior to be found among Mongolia's Almas, see here. Image below is of an Almas recorded in the unique position they would assume.
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Planking in Maine, May 18, 2011. Photographic evidence.
Caleb Cone-Coleman
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Footnote: For more on the possible precursor behavior to be found among Mongolia's Almas, see here. Image below is of an Almas recorded in the unique position they would assume.
5 comments:
Weeeird!
Well, if it's starts in Mexico, I'll let you know ;)
this is also known as the 'playing dead/lying down' game ... here's a great explanation from last year on the 'know your meme' video series which explains internet pop culture phenomenons. thanks again, loren!
"Planking" used to be very popular in America. Before the Beatles and the British invasion, "planking" was called "making love."
;)
I like it very much!
Really good post!
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