The WIP #11: Cultural Forces
The Week in Photos (9-15 March 2024)
After years of tireless campaigning, Get Glasgow Moving and other activists finally got SPT to agree to re-regulate the buses. Here is Ellie delivering a rousing speech to the demonstrators who turned up on a wet Friday morning.1
Political change is hard, especially when there are techno-ideological forces at work. Such forces are the subject of this week’s blog on Chris Killip.
The year I moved to Glasgow it was named as the murder capital of Europe. Since then, violence has dropped and, thankfully, I have never felt unsafe. The bogeyman of the period was the Ned, hyped up teenagers in trackies and caps who listened to happy hardcore. On Tuesday, I heard Gavin Brewis talk about his fascinating research on Neds, seeing them as a subculture, like punks or mods.
Later, I nipped across to Civic House to hear Justin O’Connor talk about how culture is not a luxury and should be funded like health.
I have been dismayed at how few people have been willing to defend Leonie Rae Gasson’s funding for her film … even the contrarians have kept quiet. There is a lot to discuss but so far there’s been only criticism.
Once art has to conform to public taste you’ll end up with something like Avril Paton’s bestselling painting of a tenement: sentimental realism. I saw and enjoyed hearing Paton speak at GCHT on Thursday. Her work is sentimental because she has a love for Glasgow.
As do I. This week I’ve enjoyed seeing:
France-Lise McGurn at The Modern Institute (if you go, check out the superb exhibition text by John Douglas Millar).
And Instant Whip, the expansive and accomplished new show at the Reid Gallery. Here are a couple of influencers capturing the vibe.
Check out STV’s report, which opens with my footage.
Great pictures Neil!