|
MATT HARVEY - resident of Totnes, writer of sharply witty poetry and prose, performer on the alternative circuit, radio 4 broadcaster, co-author of the captions in Stone's Glastonbury book... and new Connect columnist. Here's Matt's....
NUDE SPELLING
ANDREW Motion spoke recently of the need to 'perform acts of imagination in the face of barbarism'. Recent months saw many such acts. One image that has stayed with me is the word 'Peace' spelt out in capitals on a hill in East Sussex by an intrepid group of 30 or so nudists. Or, rather, nude people. A subtle distinction. Their nudity was, clearly, the key attention-grabber, but so it wouldn't then distract from the message they were spelling out, they chastely covered their privates with their hands. Not out of modesty I imagine, but concern that overt genitalia might distract from the message. They may have been aware of the possible irony that, while protesting the obscenity of war, they risked prosecution for public indecency.
I found their gesture poignant and funny. It was effective, too, in getting the message out, making the front page of the Guardian, and page three of the Sun. Well, I made up the second bit.
For me, their display served to highlight the fragility, vulnerability and downright creatureliness of human beings. (My spellchecker doesn't accept the word creatureliness. It has four settings: Casual, Standard, Formal and Technical. I'm going to have to upgrade it to Slightly Pretentious.).
Protests aside, I think Nude Spelling has a lot to offer today's society. It would make an excellent TV game-show. Nude Adult Spelling, presented by Kirsty Wark and, say, me. I see groups of people of all backgrounds, ages and body-types, in all weathers, huddled on hillsides around the countryside 'til the word is given. Then - no conferring - they begin to move. Cameras would be far enough away to delineate gender, but not dwell on genitalia. Far enough to see the organic process by which the collective amorphous throng gropes for shape and form and achieves language. Amusing, titillating and educational.
You think I'm joking - at least I hope you think I'm joking - but it could have a scientific research aspect. Groups would act as a single organism, each individual a stem cell, following inner promptings to find, by feel and intuition, which letter to contribute to, and how. We'd see whether men or women are more drawn to being vowels or consonants. We'd see which individuals emerged as leaders, or punctuation.
It'd also be a chance to test my theory that no matter the qualities of the individuals comprising it, a group's overall intelligence and good humour diminishes in proportion to its size. Thus, the larger the crowd the less complex its responses and the closer it is to becoming a single-celled organism. This might shed light on the phenomenon whereby countries of apparently responsible, compassionate citizens behave in irresponsible, inhumane ways. Or it might not.
Either way, if you're intrigued by the personal growth potential of nude spelling, I shall be running workshops on south-facing slopes around the South Hams this Summer. Bring loose clothing, plus gloves and boots - for experimenting with fonts. I'll bring the dictionary.
Matt Harvey
|
|
|
