Bradford Square Screens

27.6.07

One by one the writers scupper my introduction. It had started ‘In this square there is no big screen.’ River and Gav have mentioned the big screen already, I went on, ‘there is no sand sculpture.’ River mentions the sand sculpture. I drafted the intro sitting in Centenary Square waiting to meet her to take her photograph, so perhaps I should not be surprised.

So, the big screen will have to go. A shame. I was hoping to have a shot at one of my bug bears. My mum used to regard other mums who allowed the TV to be on if no one was watching, or if no one was in the room, as the worst kind of abusers and delinquents. I am afraid I feel the same about cities who have big screens. I have nothing against big screens per se, it just strikes me as odd that cities apparently so into creating and improving urban space should allow this constant visual and aural pollution. Why, sitting smoking a shisha with Yunis the sun streaming in through the wide open windows of Markez, should I have to put up with a crimpolene Canterbury couple creaming themselves on Antiques Roadshow because grandpa’s teapot is worth £450?

		27.6.07 One by one the writers scupper my introduction. It had started ‘In this square there is no big screen.’ River and Gav have mentioned the big screen already, I went on, ‘there is no sand sculpture.’ River mentions the sand sculpture. I drafted the intro sitting in Centenary Square waiting to meet her to take her photograph, so perhaps I should not be surprised. So, the big screen will have to go. A shame. I was hoping to have a shot at one of my bug bears. My mum used to regard other mums who allowed the TV to be on if no one was watching, or if no one was in the room, as the worst kind of abusers and delinquents. I am afraid I feel the same about cities who have big screens. I have nothing against big screens per se, it just strikes me as odd that cities apparently so into creating and improving urban space should allow this constant visual and aural pollution. Why, sitting smoking a shisha with Yunis the sun streaming in through the wide open windows of Markez, should I have to put up with a crimpolene Canterbury couple creaming themselves on Antiques Roadshow because grandpa’s teapot is worth £450?