Overview

This book argues that British working-class urban culture was silenced in the period 1900 - 1950 and that the effects of this are still felt. The agencies of this silencing were state education, the BBC Radio and the commercialisation of working class cultural institutions (from 1850). The effects in my own life are picked up from the fifties onwards and some of the fightback against the hegemony of silencing is shown often with graphic pages. The style is a cross between lecture slides and Zine! So a lot of mini posters, and graphic pages. It follows on from previous work but includes new research and new formulations to explore the relation between class oppression and culture. It should be more accessible than previous works. What does it feel like for a whole class to collectively loose its voice? Stefan Szczelkun's Silence! is a careful tracking of the ways in which working class culture has been oppressed and is a call to arms to actively find ways for working class culture to re-find its voice. Through autobiographical storytelling and historical research Silence! is essential reading for those who are interested in challenging the hegemony of middle class cultural institutions and reasserting autonomous working class culture. Jordan McKenzie

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9781870736220

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Reviews

This is a joyous, exuberant book about working class oppression. This may seem like a contradiction in terms but read the rich variety within its covers, and discover how important it is to sing out against the silencing of working class culture. Diane Reay What does it feel like for a whole class to collectively loose its voice? Stefan Szczelkun's Silence! is a careful tracking of the ways in which working class culture has been oppressed and is a call to arms to actively find ways for working class culture to re-find its voice. Through autobiographical storytelling and historical research Silence! is essential reading for those who are interested in challenging the hegemony of middle class cultural institutions and reasserting autonomous working class culture. Jordan McKenzie A passionate and persuasive shout for a re-thinking of cultural oppression in parts of our being we've forgotten are oppressed. If it makes you sing in the street, it's done its job. A fascinating coming together of diverse material, made warm and urgent by the author's own personal story. Jennet Thomas I really enjoyed it! I read every word. JT Szczelkun sings from the heart. With personal insight and the flair of musicality, he illustrates what we all know but have been conditioned to forget. This reawakens our understanding of what it is to be human and why creativity is key to re-engaging together and sharing the songs we have within us all. This book inspires us to sing together and empower ourselves again. Karen Strang When reading this important booklet I was transported back to the moment, as a teenager, when I was taken to listen to an orchestra by the school. Not able to move to the music, I hated the need to sit still, followed by patronising school comments about my family's choice of music. For all of you, who, in one way or another, were denied access to anything remotely 'working class', Stefan's booklet is such a breath of fresh air. Read it now. Valerie Walkerdine 'Stefan has been researching, thinking about and making work engaged with (largely white) working class cultures for several decades. This short text gives us key points along with an invitation to join this important conversation. I have often wondered why I grew up in a house with no music. With immense sadness it now occurs to me that I never saw my parents dance. Thank you Stefan for offering an explanation for this absence, and for showing me how this joy has been systematically repressed. Rachael House I was very moved by your book, thank you for sharing with me . RH

Author Information

Stefan is an artist whose has been using the book form to summarise his thinking since doing the Survival Scrapbook, Shelter, Food and Energy in the seventies. More recently some of his books have been made available through IngramSpark and he has been exploring the medium with new books. (See below) He also keeps a couple of blogs and works with video and photography most of which can be access easily on the web due to my unique name. Chris F. Saunders is a video artist who also makes graphic art works.

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