Eva & Franco Mattes

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This Man (2009)

In collaboration with sociologist Andrea Natella, who initiated the project, we helped launch the experimental media campaign “Ever Dream This Man?”. As part of the campaign, we posted hundreds of flyers across the United States, including in cities such as New York, Memphis, Nashville, Austin, New Orleans, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and many others we passed through. The flyers directed people to the website www.thisman.org.

 

 

Eva & Franco Mattes, This Man

 

 

 

Eva & Franco Mattes, This Man

San Francisco

 

 

Eva & Franco Mattes, This Man

Los Angeles

 

 

Eva & Franco Mattes, This Man

Washington, Virginia

 

 

Eva & Franco Mattes, This Man

 

 

 

Eva & Franco Mattes, This Man

Austin

 

 

From that point on, This Man grew exponentially, going viral and evolving into a modern myth. This Man appeared in countless media around the world, including music videos (e.g., Akatsuki Records’ “Good Nightmare,” K-pop bands Dreamcatcher and SEVENTEEN), podcasts, and video games (e.g., the MMORPG Rift and AI: The Somnium Files, 2019). It inspired comics (e.g., Dylan Dog No. 355, 2016; Weekly Shōnen Magazine, 2018) and appeared in movies and TV series (e.g., the South Korean film Lucid Dream, 2017; The X-Files, episode “Plus One,” 2018; Stories to Stay Awake, 2021; the Canadian series Stat, 2024). It also became the subject of countless parodies (e.g., on Comedy Central) and inspired the 2023 film Dream Scenario, starring Nicolas Cage.

 

 

Eva & Franco Mattes, This Man

New Orleans

 

 

Eva & Franco Mattes, This Man

Memphis

 

 

Eva & Franco Mattes, This Man

Los Angeles

 

 

Eva & Franco Mattes, This Man

San Francisco