Culture Plaque
Last night I watched 'The Culture Show' on BBC2. This was not an intended choice, I simply couldn't be bothered switching off the TV. However, It was surprisingly interesting, it looked at art, music (all kinds), film & theatre. It's great watching this kind of thing with inncubus as he has very different opinions to myself on the culture that was displayed. As said to him, either he's a barbaric neanderthal and I'm a cultured individual, or he's normal and I've been brainwashed by my art degree - probably somewhere in between.
Anyway, they have begun to award certain places around the UK with cultural plaques. The criteria is that something happened here culturally, but no one knows about it. So far they have awarded the school where 'Gregory's Girl' was filmed, and the remains of Ken Russell's garden shed in the house where he grew up. They are now inviting people to email them with their own suggestions at cultureshow@bbc.co.uk. I have made such a nomination: Middlesbrough. People may argue that Middlesbrough is about as cultural as a flabby backside, but I reason that if Ken Russell's shed can be nominated, so can boro. If you haven't guessed why, I'll tell you now: Middlesbrough was where Ridley Scott grew up and where rumour has it he became inspired to create 'Bladerunner'. I think we'd all be more than a little disappointed if this fine film did not exist.
Also, on a personal note, I think most people know now of my attempts to write a novel. I've got 22 of 28 chapters completed, and then seem to have ground to a halt. The book is roughly a Cthulhu-esk plot and the back drop is Middlesbrough. For the first time I am able write down my experiences of some of the bleak scenes I have seen when I drove through St Hilda's estate and part of Port Clarence. These scenes were too depressing to truly believe - but they are there, and you can see them when ever you choose.
So here's to boro - the industrial wasteland of poverty and depressive's which inspires creativity.
Anyway, they have begun to award certain places around the UK with cultural plaques. The criteria is that something happened here culturally, but no one knows about it. So far they have awarded the school where 'Gregory's Girl' was filmed, and the remains of Ken Russell's garden shed in the house where he grew up. They are now inviting people to email them with their own suggestions at cultureshow@bbc.co.uk. I have made such a nomination: Middlesbrough. People may argue that Middlesbrough is about as cultural as a flabby backside, but I reason that if Ken Russell's shed can be nominated, so can boro. If you haven't guessed why, I'll tell you now: Middlesbrough was where Ridley Scott grew up and where rumour has it he became inspired to create 'Bladerunner'. I think we'd all be more than a little disappointed if this fine film did not exist.
Also, on a personal note, I think most people know now of my attempts to write a novel. I've got 22 of 28 chapters completed, and then seem to have ground to a halt. The book is roughly a Cthulhu-esk plot and the back drop is Middlesbrough. For the first time I am able write down my experiences of some of the bleak scenes I have seen when I drove through St Hilda's estate and part of Port Clarence. These scenes were too depressing to truly believe - but they are there, and you can see them when ever you choose.
So here's to boro - the industrial wasteland of poverty and depressive's which inspires creativity.