Viral Communication 1

 

All Images: Rushey Mead Academy, Northeast Leicester, September 2020

Summer turns the corner into Autumn, and it seems we're sliding deeper once more into the Covid-19 emergency - both at home and abroad.  A couple of months of comparative relaxation (which somewhat passed us by - here in Leicester) are now forgotten, as we all enter a second phase of localised lock-downs and increasingly draconian regulations.

It's also possible to detect a greater sense of unease, and possibly even unrest, brewing around the official responses to what was surely an inevitable result of Summer's ease (this is still a disinterested, impartial virus we're dealing with - after all).  Anger, disillusionment, despair and denial increasingly replace that favourite old British delusion, 'The Spirit of The Blitz', as chosen responses - and a clutching onto increasingly preposterous conspiracy theories takes over from communality or shared responsibility, in many quarters.  Stoicism or reasoned responses begin to fray - giving way to finger-pointing and blame-seeking instead.  Essentially, the novelty has worn off.  The deeper implications of what may yet represent a major paradigm-shift for humanity, feel harder to escape - as shadows lengthen and temperatures drop.  The all-too-familiar fight-or-flight aspects of human behaviour kick-in accordingly.

Thankfully, here in what remains the comparatively insulated and supine (albeit - spectacularly misgoverned) UK, something passing for 'normal', everyday existence still persists on many fronts (for now).  Widespread societal collapse is held in reserve for another day.  And that's not least the case in schools - where I continue to earn my daily bread.  In a new world of 'Bubbles', hand gel dispensers, segregated premises, novel-length Risk Assessments, and online video-lessons, the struggle to provide something resembling a viable educational 'offer' continues, despite numerous obstacles (and not always unsuccessfully - if we are to be even-handed).

One of the inescapable visual clues to all this, is the rash of new signs, graphics, hazard markings and temporary barriers which now adorn our school environment.  As a long-time collector of such deliciously petty H&S-related signifiers, it would be remiss of me to leave this specialised new sub-category undocumented.  In reality, I've been speculating (without much inspiration) about what might constitute an adequate artistic response to our current pickle, for some time.  Maybe this stuff offers some kind of pleasingly emblematic way in - and one that also aligns pretty well with certain pre-existing enthusiasms.  If nothing else, it has the advantage of being right under my nose - whilst also ticking that all-important 'Everyday' box.

Hence - what may well become the first in yet another mini-series of Urban Text-related posts, on a highly topical theme.