Top: Large, colorful Toynbee tile found in downtown Washington, D.C.; Bottom: Closeup of its bottom tab, apparently mentioning the U.S.S.R., which had been gone for years by the time this photo was taken. ("As media U.S.S.R. and Fronts are against it.")

Toynbee tiles (also called Toynbee plaques) are messages of mysterious origin found embedded in asphalt in several major cities in the United States and three South American capitals. As of 2006, there are approximately 130 tiles, which are generally about the size of an American license plate but are sometimes considerably larger. They all contain some variation on the following inscription: Large and colorful Toynbee tile found in downtown Washington D.C., with closeup of its bottom tab. ... Large and colorful Toynbee tile found in downtown Washington D.C., with closeup of its bottom tab. ... Soviet redirects here. ... Asphalt As shown in this cross-section, many older roadways are smoothed by applying a thin layer of asphalt concrete to the existing portland cement concrete. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... // Introduction A license plate, number plate or registration plate (often referred to simply as a plate, or colloquially tag) is a small metal or plastic plate attached to a motor vehicle for official identification purposes. ...

TOYNBEE IDEA
IN KUBRICK'S 2001
RESURRECT DEAD
ON PLANET JUPITER.

Some of the more elaborate tiles also feature cryptic political statements or exhort readers to create and install similar tiles of their own. The material used for making the tiles was long a mystery, but evidence has emerged that they may be primarily made of layers of linoleum and asphalt crack-filling compound. A linoleum kitchen floor Linoleum is a floor covering made from solidified linseed oil (linoxyn) in combination with wood flour or cork dust over a burlap or canvas backing. ...

Articles about the tiles began appearing in the mid-1990s, though there are some stories that earlier references may have started in the mid-1980s.^[1]

Interpretation

People and things referenced

"Toynbee" likely refers to Arnold J. Toynbee, a famous historian. "Kubrick's 2001" almost certainly refers to 2001: A Space Odyssey, co-written and directed by filmmaker Stanley Kubrick. Arnold Joseph Toynbee (April 14, 1889 - October 22, 1975) was a British historian whose twelve-volume analysis of the rise and fall of civilizations, A Study of History, 1934-1961, was a synthesis of world history, a metahistory based on universal rhythms of rise, flowering and decline. ... “Kubrick” redirects here. ...

Commonly, a city will have a couple of large and colorful tiles along with numerous small and simple tiles like this one, spotted just a block from the White House.

The majority contain text similar to that above, although a second set is often found nearby alluding to a mass conspiracy between the press (including newspaper magnate John S. Knight of Knight-Ridder), the U.S. government, the USSR (even in tiles seemingly made years after the Soviet Union's dissolution), and Jews. In addition the writing is of a similar style and poor quality. Toynbee tile photographed a block or so from the White House by User:Erifnam in 2002. ... For other uses, see White House (disambiguation). ... A conspiracy theory is an attempt by Prole Art Threat to attribute the ultimate cause of an event or chain of events (usually political, social, or historical events), or the concealment of such causes from public knowledge, to a secret, and often deceptive plot by a covert alliance of powerful... John Shively Knight, founder of Knight Newspapers, was considered a visionary of journalism in the sense that he belonged to a breed of publishers, comparable to William Randolph Hearst, who were strong-willed, competitive, and politically conscious. ... The Knight Ridder building in downtown San Jose, California. ... For other uses, see United States (disambiguation) and US (disambiguation). ...

A tile that used to be located in Santiago de Chile references a street address in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ("2624 S. 7th Philadelphia, PA.") The current occupants of the home at this address know nothing about the tiles and are annoyed by people who ask.^[2] Satellite image of Santiago Santiago (full form Santiago de Chile) is the capital of Chile. ... Nickname: Motto: Philadelphia maneto - Let brotherly love continue Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates: , Country Commonwealth County Philadelphia Founded October 27, 1682 Incorporated October 25, 1701 Government  - Mayor John F. Street (D) Area  - City 369. ... Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²)  - Width 280 miles (455 km)  - Length 160 miles (255 km)  - % water 2. ...

Due to the frequency with which tiles appear in Philadelphia, the apparent age of many tiles, the variety of carving styles, and the presence of the "tile creator's screed" (see below), and the Philadelphia address on the Santiago tile, those who have investigated the phenomenon believe a native Philadelphian created the Toynbee tiles.

Interpretations

The text as a whole does not appear to reference any particular idea. The concept of raising the dead is not a part of any of Toynbee's writings nor Kubrick's. Further, any connection between Toynbee and Kubrick is difficult to find.

A different style of Toynbee tile, found at the corner of 13th & Chestnut Sts. in Philadelphia

A possible interpretation is that the Toynbee reference comes from the science fiction writer Ray Bradbury's short story "The Toynbee Convector", which alludes to Toynbee's idea that in order to survive, humankind must always rush to meet the future, i.e. believe in a better world, and must always aim far beyond what is practically possible, in order to reach something barely within reach. Thus the message might be that humanity ought to strive to colonize Jupiter—as in Kubrick's work—or something greater, to survive. Toynbee Tile, 13th & Chestnut Sts. ... Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ... Ray Douglas Bradbury (born August 22, 1920) is an American literary, fantasy, horror, science fiction, and mystery writer best known for The Martian Chronicles, a 1950 book which has been described both as a short story collection and a novel, and his 1953 dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451. ... This article is in need of attention. ... The Toynbee Convector cover The Toynbee Convector is a science fiction short story by Ray Bradbury. ... Atmospheric characteristics Atmospheric pressure 70 kPa Hydrogen ~86% Helium ~14% Methane 0. ...

Arthur C. Clarke also wrote a short story called Jupiter V, which contains many elements in common with 2001 and references Toynbee several times.^{[citation needed]}

Another explanation may be that the tiles quote a short play by David Mamet, 4 A.M., written in 1983 and first published in the collection Goldberg Street: Short Plays and Monologues in 1985. In the play, a radio host (inspired by Larry King) impatiently listens to a caller who contends that in the movie 2001, based on the writings of Arnold Toynbee, they speak of the plan to reconstitute life on Jupiter. The radio show host quickly points out the factual errors in the caller's assertion and the logical fallacies of his plan. Mamet has spoken of his belief that the tiles are an homage and seems flattered by them.^[3] David Alan Mamet (born November 30, 1947) is an American author, essayist, playwright, screenwriter, and film director. ...

Some evidence may exist that the phenomenon began before Mamet's play. Researchers for the upcoming documentary Resurrect Dead claim to have uncovered several pieces of evidence that predate Mamet's play, including a 1980 call-in by the tiler, to Larry King's radio show.

A complex of four tiles was once located at 16th & Chestnut Streets in Philadelphia. Consisting of four panels of barely-legible italic printing, this work can be interpreted as being a lengthy complaint about the artist's enemies. A possible transcription of its message reads:

John Knight Ridder is the Philadelphia thug hellion Jew who'd hated this movements guts- for years- takes money from the Mafia to make the Mafia look good in his newspapers so he has the Mafia in his back pocket. John Knight sent the Mafia to murder me in May 1991 [illegible] journalists [illegible] then gloated to my face about death and Knight Ridder great power to destroy. In fact John Knight went into hellion since of joy over Knight-Ridder as great power to destroy.

I secured house with blast doors and fled the country in June 1991.

NBC attorneys journalists and security officials at Rockefeller Center fraudulently under the "Freedom of Information Act" all [illegible] orders NBC executives got the U.S. federal district attorney's office who got FBI to get Interpol to establish task force that located me in Dover England.

Which back home Inquirer got union goons from their own employees union to [illegible] down a "sports journalist." Who with ease bashed in lights and windows of neighborhood car- as well as men outside my house. They are stationed there still waiting for me.

NBC CBS group "W" Westinghouse, Time, Time Warner, Fox, Universal all of the "Cult of the Hellion" each one were Much worse than Knight-Ridder ever was mostly hellion Jews.

When K.Y.W. and NBC executives told John Knight the whole town gloated in joyous fits on how their Soviet pals found a way to turn it into a...

John Shively Knight, founder of Knight Newspapers, was considered a visionary of journalism in the sense that he belonged to a breed of publishers, comparable to William Randolph Hearst, who were strong-willed, competitive, and politically conscious. ... The Mafia (also known as Cosa Nostra), is an Italian criminal secret society which first developed in the mid-19th century in Sicily. ... Partial list of newspapers The following is a partial list of newspapers owned by Knight Ridder: Contra Costa Times Detroit Free Press Kansas City Star The Miami Herald Philadelphia Inquirer Saint Paul Pioneer Press San Jose Mercury News The State External link Knight Ridder corporate website Categories: Companies traded on... The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York Citys Rockefeller Center. ... Lower Plaza at Rockefeller Center. ... Nearly sixty countries around the world have implemented some form of freedom of information legislation, which sets rules on governmental secrecy. ... The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is a federal criminal investigative, intelligence agency, and the primary investigative arm of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... , Dover is a major channel port in the English county of Kent. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem No official anthem specific to England — the anthem of the United Kingdom is God Save the Queen. See also Proposed English National Anthems. ... CBS Broadcasting, Inc. ... Westinghouse logo (designed by Paul Rand) The Westinghouse Electric Company, headquartered in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, is an organization founded by George Westinghouse in 1886. ... (Clockwise from upper left) Time magazine covers from May 7, 1945; July 25, 1969; December 31, 1999; September 14, 2001; and April 21, 2003. ... Time Warner Inc. ... News Corporation (NYSE: NWS) is a media conglomerate that operates world-wide. ... Universal Studios (sometimes called Universal Pictures or Universal City Studios), a subsidiary of NBC Universal, is one of the major American film studios. ... KYW is the callsign of two broadcast stations in Philadelphia: KYW (AM), broadcasting at 1060 kHz on radio. ... Soviet redirects here. ...

The creator

Three tiles recently placed on the Avenue of the Arts section of Broad Street in Philadelphia. While they may appear to be of a substance similar to clay, they are made of linoleum and are small (the paving bricks on which these tiles are cemented are normal-sized bricks.

The tiles, of which about over 130 are known, appear to be the work of a single person. The best theory to date on the tile's creator is that they are the work of one James Morasco, a Philadelphia carpenter^[2] who was trying to interest the Philadelphia area newspapers on an idea similar to what is found on the tiles in the early 1980s; Mr. Morasco would have been in his 70s when most of the tiles were laid. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2592 × 1944 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2592 × 1944 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2592 × 1944 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2592 × 1944 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2592 × 1944 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2592 × 1944 pixel, file size: 1. ... The Avenue of the Arts is a section of Center City, Philadelphia beginning immediately south of the Philadelphia City Hall (Penn Square) on Broad Street and running roughy south till Washington Ave. ... Broad Street is a major street in Philadelphia. ... James Morasco was a social worker in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ... Nickname: Motto: Philadelphia maneto - Let brotherly love continue Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates: , Country Commonwealth County Philadelphia Founded October 27, 1682 Incorporated October 25, 1701 Government  - Mayor John F. Street (D) Area  - City 369. ...

Mr. Morasco died in 2003, but many new tiles have been seen in Philadelphia since his death. In most cases, they are much smaller than the original ones. They also have a very different font and styling than the older tiles and tend to leave out words that were in the originals.

Where the first ones said: TOYNBEE IDEA IN Kubrick's 2001 RESURRECT DEAD ON PLANET JUPITER

The newer ones state: TOYNBEE IDEA MOVIE 2001 RESURRECT (sometimes 'RAISE') DEAD PLANET JUPITER

A number of tiles have been spotted embedded on several major highways, including Interstate 476 in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and Interstate 95. In June 2007, a tile was found on the city square in Noblesville, Indiana. It has been suggested that The North Eastern Extension be merged into this article or section. ... Delaware County (also known colloquially as Delco) is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. ... Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Interstate 95 Interstate 95 (abbreviated I-95) is a well-known, important, and heavily traveled highway in the United States Interstate Highway System. ... Noblesville (IPA: ) is a city in Hamilton County, Indiana, United States. ...

Recently, new tiles have been discovered in Philadelphia that are quite similar to the multi-colored "old school" tiles, leading some to believe that everything has been the work of the same person throughout the life of the tile phenomenon. The font and message are the same as the old ones, and the subtext is a return to some of the older ideas as well. These tiles were glued with a thicker layer of asphalt glue/sealant than previously, but their discovery has been one of the more exciting developments of 2007 as far as the tile story is concerned.

Deployment

Theoretically, the method of laying such a tile is simple. It has been claimed by prominent Toynbee-tile enthusiast Justin Duerr that a newly laid tile was once found and examined. This new tile was wrapped in tar paper and placed on a busy street early in the morning (perhaps only a few minutes before its discovery). The pressure exerted by automobiles driving over the tile for weeks on end pushes it into the road surface. (It can be speculated that the tile maker may have laid his tiles during warm weather.) Eventually the tar paper wears away, exposing the message carried upon the tile. Justin Duerr (b. ... Tar paper is a heavy-duty paper used in construction. ...

A reader of one Toynbee-tile enthusiast Web site reported a tile found in Pittsburgh that included deployment instructions, which the reader transcribed thus: lenoleum, asphalt glue (?) in several layers, then placing tar paper over it so that car wheels won't mess it up, and apparently the heat of the sun on the tar paper will bake it into the street. This tile was located near the Pittsburgh Hilton, and has since been paved over.

Destruction and conservation

The messages on most of the Toynbee tiles are generally not thought to be offensive. Hundreds of tiles have been destroyed during the course of regular road maintenance. The city of Chicago has declared the tiles "vandalism" and vowed to rid the city of any tiles they may find (as of fall 2006, they've missed two.) Some theorize that the rapid disappearance of the New York City tiles can be attributed to a deliberate attempt to destroy the 'Toynbee Idea' movement. Philadelphia, the city with the most tiles in the world, has no known comment on the tiles. Nickname: Motto: Urbs in Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in the Chicago metro area and Illinois Coordinates: , Country State Counties Cook, DuPage Settled 1770s Incorporated March 4, 1837 Government  - Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area  - City  234. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... Nickname: Motto: Philadelphia maneto - Let brotherly love continue Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates: , Country Commonwealth County Philadelphia Founded October 27, 1682 Incorporated October 25, 1701 Government  - Mayor John F. Street (D) Area  - City 369. ...

A large tile complex, apparently the tile maker's rant against his enemies, was destroyed when Chestnut Street in Philadelphia was being repaved. One tile located since at least the year 1996 at the corners of Talcahuano and Santa Fé streets in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is now badly damaged and basically unreadable, apparently broken up by traffic-induced surface distortion of the asphalt on which it was laid, which softens during the hot summer. Time may erode tiles, but the only way to destroy them properly is to repave the street they're found in, or to dump tar on them.

At the present time, there is no public or private agency dedicated to conserving Toynbee tiles. Many tiles now exist only as photographs taken before their destruction.

Tiles that are located in the middle of busy streets and highway on- and off-ramps tend to wear away quickly and also can become victims of resurfacing; smaller tiles and those located close to pedestrian crosswalks tend to be in better condition.

See also

• Jupiter Brain
• Culture jamming
• Graffiti
• Sticker art

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Toynbee

A Jupiter Brain is a theoretical computing megastructure the size of a planet. ... Culture jamming is the act of transforming existing mass media to produce commentary about itself, using the original mediums communication method. ... Graffiti (singular: graffito, although the plural is more common) is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, or more usually spray-painted on property that does not belong to the artist, and which is often regarded by others as unsightly damage or unwanted vandalism. ... Sticker art is a form of street art in which the message is conveyed by stickers. ... Image File history File links Commons-logo. ...

External links

• Toynbee.info, includes all known images of tiles and a map of locations
• Resurrect Dead web site
• Steve Weinik's page
• Flickr: Photos tagged with "toynbee"
• "Odd Street Notes Point Toward Jupiter, Kubrick's '2001: A Space Odyssey'" (AP via Space.com)
• Complete text of 4 A.M. by David Mamet

Flickr is a photo sharing website and web services suite, and an online community platform, which is generally considered an early example of a Web 2. ...

References

1. ^ Stoehr, John. "Out of This World", Cincinnati City Beat, 2001-08-02. Retrieved on 2006-12-29. 
2. ^ ^{a b} O'Donnell, Matt. "Special Report: Matt Investigates the Mystery of Philadelphia's "Toynbee Tiles"", WPVI-TV/DT Action News, 2006-07-17. Retrieved on 2006-12-29. 
3. ^ Epstein, Daniel Robert. "David Mamet", SuicideGirls.com, 2007-12-02. Retrieved on 2007-2-13. 

• Master site for Toynbee tiles, includes list of all known tiles, by city, as of 2003
• Archived copy of the site about the Brazilian tiles
• "An Asphalt Mystery Examined", April 25, 1999, The New York Times
• "Mysterious plaques in St. Louis Raise Bizarre Theories", May 10, 2006, Channel 5 KSDK
• 'Toynbee Tiles' Mystery Resurrected in Philly, September 23, 2006, NPR Weekend Edition
• "Mysterious message appears", June 6, 2007, Noblesville Daily Times