Okay, so precisely because I never usually talk about my creative work here, and precisely because I worry that I am flagging somewhat in terms of creativity and motivation and drive, and precisely because I have also felt a lack in terms of interesting things to tell the ole blog-o about, I am going to do a series this week, fingers crossed, where I tell you about the piece that I’m making for Rules and Regs, as and when I’m making it.
You might have noticed a wee (adorable? Really? You think so? Thanks!) picture of me at the top of this post holding a backwards “Protect and Survive” booklet ponderously. Don’t worry. The booklet isn’t actually backwards. That’s just the fun and friendly mirror effect of photobooth on Morgan’s apple. I am holding this booklet because, believe it or not, this booklet would have been the actual Civil defense program for your average Joe in the likely case of nuclear disaster in the UK in the 80s. They also made some Protect and Survive videos, and I’ll post one here. I would find the animation in these videos highly adorable/hilarious, if it weren’t so awfully terrifying.
Our Rules for Rules and Regs are
1. Think of England
2. Don’t be yourself
3. Be Straight with us
4. Panic
So for some reason the combination of these rules and the kind of incredibly awkward spaces I was given at BAC (a tiny room at the top of the building, and a very scary room in the basement where I constantly hear footsteps when Nobody’s There!) just called to mind a Nuclear bunker, and the BNP’s odd idea of “ethnically British”, whatever that means. More on this as more comes up. But for now, here’s a promise that you’ll learn more as the week goes on, I will actually post something every day til performance, and I’ll play you out with a bit of Protect and Survive, everyone’s favourite guide to surviving Nuclear disaster…
1 comment:
This is really interesting. Good luck with the piece. Maybe you know, the voice in the public (dis)information films was that of Patrick Allen, who quite daringly I think reprised the role in one of the punchiest pop culture responses to the madness of (O how apt) 1984:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_Tribes
I kept barely any of the records I bought when I was a teenager, but I still have the 7 and 12-inch versions of Two Tribes, they were and are something else. Towards the end of the B-side of the 12-inch, Patrick Allen is heard in some low-key out-takes. Then he says, clearly and deliberately: "Mine is the last voice that you will ever hear." What's truly chilling is that when he recorded those words for this cheeky Liverpool pop group, he couldn't be sure they wouldn't become true for millions of people. You can hear Allen briefly on the video for the track, on YouTube. Much best!
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