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ISSUE 7- The Mass-Observation Edition: 12th Day Survey

Editorial

Mass Observation was started in 1937 by a group of artists, writers and an
anthropologist. It was never quite clear if the title referred to the observation of the masses or a mass of observers, I think it was a bit of both. A team of observers went about the country noting things down and sending them in, they also filled in regular questionnaires and wrote a diary on the twelfth day of every month.

Some of the things they observed included:
Dogs, Dreams, Drinking Habits, Famous Persons, Food, Games, Happiness, Jokes, Leisure Activities, Holidays, Fashion, Wall Chalkings (graffiti), Nature, Shopping, Overheard Conversations, Behaviour on Public Transport, Shouts and Gestures of Motorists.

In 1937 Mass-Observation wanted to gather “the facts” and present them to a people whose personal narratives and everyday activities were unrepresented by the media and politicians. In 2006 how is the situation different? Real life
stories, personal narratives, and reality TV seem all pervasive, but is “the mass”
represented more adequately than when Mass Observation first started? Indeed, if “the facts” were gathered and presented what would we do with them?

For this edition of Leisure Centre I asked the contributors to interpret the idea of a Mass Observation twelfth day diary, in this case all submissions were made on or around the 12th of July 2006. In these autumnal days, remember what you were doing on this sultry day in July. Leaf through Leisure Centre and reminisce with our contributors as they document: sweatiness in Asda, panicked holiday
preparations, sumptuous French lunches, camping trips and meeting Elton John look-a-likes. This edition is also peppered with musings on the nature of observation itself, all conveniently appropriated by Russell Herron himself.

To continue the theme, the observant ones amongst you may have noticed Leisure Centre's rather smart new look, we hope you enjoy.

Rosemary Shirley
Editor