On my phone-camera at present...
Near my house in Newbiggin is a little row of garages. One of these garages has a missing door, and a few days ago the council replaced it temporarily with a sheet of plywood. Within hours it had been creatively defaced with messages of bizarre prejudice and hatred. It gives a strange and puzzling insight into the fears and minds of the younger generation in our community. Unless it was done by an old bloke or woman, in which case we expected nothing better from them.
In an unrelated incident, whilst in a bookshop in Sunderland recently (almost deserted it was, and the only other patrons were eying the books suspiciously and wondering how you ate/drank them, or where the 'on' switch was) I noticed the books were categorised as illustrated. What does this tell you about the state of modern society? There's a prize for anyone who can think of a caption for this picture that creatively avoids mention of Uranus.
Kids today, is there no limit to their hatred and lack of feeling.
I expect poor Melvin will have to spend years in therapy and then probably get out just in time to watch life of Brian on dvd.
Posted by: Ian | January 24, 2007 at 10:29 PM
Oh, Im still thinking about the bookshop thing.
Posted by: Ian | January 24, 2007 at 10:29 PM
Oh it says MELVIN! I have just chuckled for ages thinking it said MAVIN and that Jason was the secret grafitti artist!!!!!!!!!!
I could think for hours about the other thing and it still wouldn't be good.
Posted by: christine | January 24, 2007 at 10:50 PM
U want to read and learn?
Read about anything you like!
U can find stars with sex!
No! In the sex category? oh yes!
Unusually u can c sex&stars aside
Sunderland's t'place I believe!
Posted by: Angela | January 24, 2007 at 10:55 PM
2nd attempt:
U want to read and learn?
Read about anything you like!
And you can find stars and sex.
No! In the same category? Oh Yes!
Unusually u can c sex&stars aside
Sunderland's the place, I believe
Posted by: Angela | January 24, 2007 at 11:00 PM
Hilarious snaps, both. Especially that Sunderland bookstore classification! I'm gonna share this post with a few artist acquaintances. (Have you seen the "book sorting" artwork of Nina Katchadourian or Chris Cobb? You might get a kick out of it.) I tried to make their names into links, but alas... you'll have to google them yrslf!
Posted by: mcMüller | January 24, 2007 at 11:17 PM
Ange, that's beautiful. Thanks.
Posted by: Jason | January 25, 2007 at 07:33 AM
Yes, acrostics are my strong point. :)
Posted by: Angela | January 25, 2007 at 07:57 AM
Lust in Space
Posted by: Ian | January 25, 2007 at 08:37 AM
I couldn't help laughing, because one of my ex-employers was called Melvin, and he did, indeed, have a big nose.
So I laughed about him, you see.
I do hope they had the original book of "Barbarella" on that shelf.
Or, perhaps, the sexed up version of The Clangers in pop-up format.
Posted by: AndyC | January 25, 2007 at 08:59 AM
I also was moved, almost to tears, by the dedication of the top graffiti artist, who, unsure of the correct spelling of "Fishly", tried it - and left it with a pleasantly ambiguous "e".
I guess we'll never know.
Then there is our third friend who, when passed the red can of spray paint, could think of nothing and decided to just do a dollar sign.
"I'll just do a dollar sign down here" He said.
But he got it wrong. Even then, he left his error for all to see and showed the onward march of progress by executing a near perfect dollar sign above.
Well done that man, he made up for in dedication what he clearly lacked in outright skill.
After that, I imagine him gazing in wonder at his friend, who had by then successfully pulled off Fishly.
Posted by: AndyC | January 25, 2007 at 09:06 AM
For some reason, I'm picturing the graffiti as the work of a pair of brothers who are laughing the whole time, the older brother boldly spraypainting the first remark about his little brother Fishley, while his younger brother attempts to rise to the challenge and can only come up with "Melvin has a big nose." I find it interesting that both statements have similar handwriting characteristics, like the randomly capitalized E in the middle of each name... Maybe Melvin and Fishley are same person. It's one guy with a lot of self hatred and aspirations of fame. Also, I'm not sure that second red squiggle was supposed to be a dollar sign. It's got a dot on either side and a little arrow at the top of the S pointing down. I wonder what it means. Probably means he's gay and has a big nose.
Posted by: Ruby Riley | January 25, 2007 at 04:35 PM
Photo caption: There are no underwear in space.
Posted by: Ruby Riley | January 25, 2007 at 04:36 PM
I think the comments have been unusually creative and giving for this post Jason. Particularly Ruby's enlightened prose.
Just think yourself lucky, Jason, that we give you of our best.
Posted by: AndyC | January 25, 2007 at 10:09 PM
all I can say is
poor Fishly,
poor Melvin,
but at least their mothers loved them I hope!!
and where in Sunderland did you say that book shop was haha......
Posted by: fave sis michelle | January 25, 2007 at 10:35 PM
Ruby - thanks for your insight - I feel sure that youre right.
Andy - I'm humbled by the quality of responses. There's a lot of love in the room right now...
FSM - the book shop was in the shopping centre. I think it was a Watersones.
Posted by: Jason | January 26, 2007 at 07:57 AM
Ah, but Jason, I can hear your tone of voice...
Posted by: AndyC | January 26, 2007 at 09:06 AM
Christine .... ME TOO! I also suspected some under hand scheme by Jason ... I do have a nose that is disproportionate to the rest of me ... but as the saying goes .... Big Nose; Big .....
Posted by: Mr .Mavin | January 26, 2007 at 10:47 AM
Twit?
Posted by: Jason | January 26, 2007 at 11:15 AM
I thought the saying was big nose...... loadsa snot.......... ermmmmm maybe wrong on that one tho haha
Posted by: fave sis michelle | January 26, 2007 at 11:35 AM