Stealth disco
Encyclopedia
Stealth disco refers to the act of being videotape
d dancing
or rocking out behind or near someone who is doing something serious and does not notice. This is sometimes referred to as stealthing (or SD-ing) that person, a process which often concludes with emailing them the footage. The term, if not the activity, was invented by employees at Chicago
advertising agency Cramer-Krasselt
, circa 2003.
After becoming the subject of its own website at stealthdisco.com in September 2003, the concept became an Internet phenomenon.
Creating and sharing these videos began as a form of humour and a way to lighten up an office. It usually connotes a sense of bonding between stealther and stealthee. From the original Stealth Disco site:
However, stealthing is occasionally a means of covert revenge and provocation. The younger age-bracket of stealthers' primary targets are usually universally known childhood enemies: teachers and peers outside of the stealthers' clique. In these cases, stealthing is certainly not friendly initiation, but cruel fun at the expense of the stealthee.
In December 2003, the original site was taken down after Cramer-Krasselt received a letter from Leo Stoller
suggesting that their use of the word "stealth" infringed his trademark. The office manager said that Stoller's claim was without merit, but chose to forego an expensive legal battle.
As of 2005, the original video (and many that followed) can still be found online. As of 2010, it was only available via public archives.
Videotape
A videotape is a recording of images and sounds on to magnetic tape as opposed to film stock or random access digital media. Videotapes are also used for storing scientific or medical data, such as the data produced by an electrocardiogram...
d dancing
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
or rocking out behind or near someone who is doing something serious and does not notice. This is sometimes referred to as stealthing (or SD-ing) that person, a process which often concludes with emailing them the footage. The term, if not the activity, was invented by employees at Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
advertising agency Cramer-Krasselt
Cramer-Krasselt
Cramer-Krasselt is an American integrated marketing and communications agency. It is the second-largest independent agency in the U.S. according to Advertising Age in terms of revenue and is probably best known for its ads for Corona Beer....
, circa 2003.
After becoming the subject of its own website at stealthdisco.com in September 2003, the concept became an Internet phenomenon.
History
The original stealth disco page was created by employees of the Cramer-Krasselt ad agency in Chicago. Stealth disco, particularly the subgenre which involves posting the resulting videos online, was promoted by enthusiastic bloggers and other web surfers.Creating and sharing these videos began as a form of humour and a way to lighten up an office. It usually connotes a sense of bonding between stealther and stealthee. From the original Stealth Disco site:
- Working in advertising means plenty of long hours so you've got to find ways to have a little fun while you're here. A sort of point of initiation to the agency, you know you've been accepted once you've been "stealthed."
However, stealthing is occasionally a means of covert revenge and provocation. The younger age-bracket of stealthers' primary targets are usually universally known childhood enemies: teachers and peers outside of the stealthers' clique. In these cases, stealthing is certainly not friendly initiation, but cruel fun at the expense of the stealthee.
In December 2003, the original site was taken down after Cramer-Krasselt received a letter from Leo Stoller
Leo Stoller
Leo D. Stoller is an American self-styled "intellectual property entrepreneur" based in suburban Chicago, Illinois. Stoller controversially claimed rights to a large inventory of "famous" trademarks and engaged in the assertive enforcement of those alleged trademark rights, threatening...
suggesting that their use of the word "stealth" infringed his trademark. The office manager said that Stoller's claim was without merit, but chose to forego an expensive legal battle.
As of 2005, the original video (and many that followed) can still be found online. As of 2010, it was only available via public archives.
External links
- Original web site, circa October 2003, courtesy of the Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
- Original Stealth Disco video: Windows Media Player format, Quicktime format