Much has been written lately about how the referendum debate energised political culture in Scotland, particularly among the young.
Some evidence for this appears in two second-floor Leith Street windows, where a very public display of conviction, curiosity and creativity has been intriguing passers-by and those idly staring into space whilst waiting at the bus stop.
Responding to an enquiry from a baffled overseas vistior staying at the King James Hotel opposite, Spurtle’s Youth Correspondent decided to look more closely.
- ‘quan kun’: the Chinese pinyin combining ‘heaven and earth; cosmos; universe’ and ‘male and female; positive and negative’.
- A red cushion?
- Possibly the Bhudda seated beneath the Bodhi Tree prior to enlightenment.
- The Beatles arriving at JFK Airport, February 1964.
- Drawing of a face.
- Smiley face with paper stuck-on mouth.
- The Clash’s 1980 album cover for London Calling.
Window 2 is more overtly political. Working clockwise from top-left:
- Scottish saltire.
- ‘HAMELESS HUVNI GOAT A HAME DAVEY BOY’: Perhaps a message to David Cameron inspired by the Access Point (TAP) at Nos 17–23.
- ‘NICITY KNAKITY NOO, NOO, NOO’: possibly the chorus to a popular folk song, or possibly not.
- ‘Education Tought ME TO say YES AND NOT NAW: 10/10 for irony.
- ‘YES’: It’s now fairly clear which way this resident was leaning.
- ‘ONE CANT HIDE 1.6 miLLiON’: 1.6 million being the number of people who voted Yes in favour of Scottish independence.
- ‘AND for THE RECORD ONLY a WUMUN HaS THaT CHOICE’: presumably, a non-sequitur in favour of women’s right to choose abortion.
- Sunday Herald Life cover (28.9.14), featuring Andrew Dhesi and Victoria Eve: ‘THE FASHION ISSUE. Girls who are boys who like boys to be girls. THE NEW ANDROGYNY’.
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@theSpurtle London Calling was, arguably, a 1979 album...
@NewTownFlaneur indeed, 1979.The Clash, in Death or Glory, argued that just people with bizarre tendencies would join the church.
@apotropaicatom @NewTownFlaneur Well, didn't reach Youth Correspondent's faraway town till year later. Shortly after hot & cold electricity.