For this exercise I selected the lyrics to the Simon and Garfunkel song The Sound of Silence.  I have always been a fan of Simon and Garfunkel’s music, especially the lyrics, and more recently was amazed at the cover version recorded by Disturbed, a heavy metal rock band. The lead singer, David Draiman, shows a different side to his voice and personality, producing a beautiful sound.  I my view it is better than the original Simon and Garfunkel version. I created a story board and planned to visit London to create a set of images. Then came the news that all unnecessary travel should be avoided, closely followed by a full lockdown due to Covid-19.  So my plans were scuppered!  I decided, rather than try to change my plans, I would upload my story board instead.  I felt that this would be preferable to trying to find another poem and recreate a new story board. Fortunately I was able to use a few images from a previous trip to London when I took a series of night time photographs around Southwark, and I have embedded these into the storyboard where appropriate.

The Sound of Silence

Simon and Garfunkel

Hello, darkness, my old friend
I’ve come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence

In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone
‘Neath the halo of a streetlamp
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence

And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more
People talking without speaking
People hearing without listening
People writing songs that voices never share
No one dared
Disturb the sound of silence

“Fools,” said I, “You do not know
Silence like a cancer grows
Hear my words that I might teach you
Take my arms that I might reach you.”
But my words like silent raindrops fell
And echoed
In the wells of silence

And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made
And the sign flashed out its warning
In the words that it was forming
And the sign said, “The words of the prophets
Are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls
And whispered in the sounds of silence.”

Lyrics written by Paul Simon

Paul Simon said these words were written to show how he felt about society and his view that we no longer communicate effectively.  However, I feel these words are just as relevant today and can be applied to the plight of the homeless, the invisible members of our modern society who are consigned to sleeping in the cold and dark streets in many cities across the world.  I wanted to include images of people during rush hour on escalators in the London Underground.  The words in verse three sum up my impressions of a busy Underground station.

People talking without speaking, people hearing without listening

This story board consists of some sketches of the final images, and some actual photographs I was able to take before the lockdown.    I hope to be able to visit London to create the additional images of homeless people, and of a typical scene on the underground at rush hour before submitting for assessment, but that depends on the extent of the Covid-19 virus lock down.

For this exercise I selected photogaphs taking during the period of social isolation due to the spread of the Covid-19 virus, and then using the two concepts Anchorage and Relay, applied different captions to the images, changing the context.  Barthes suggests that any text linked or incorporated into an image either serves to control the meaning of the image (Anchorage) or implies meaning and ambiguity (Relay).  I have added captions to reflect these two concepts.

Image 1

In this image three youths are being asked to move on by police, in accordance with the social isolation guidelines.

Alternative Captions:

1. Police question a group of youths in relation to drug related offences (Anchorage)
2. Police are searching for a missing person and ask a group of youths if they have seen that person (Anchorage)
3. Three youths asking police for directions (Relay)
4. Three youths chatting to the local beat coppers (Relay).

The captions in images 1 and 2 give different meanings to the image: one shows the police questioning and possibly arresting the youths, whereas the other caption shows the police asking for the youths’ help.

Captions 3 and 4 both imply ambiguity:

• where are the youths going?
• What are they chatting about?
• Are they giving police some information?

Image 2

In this image crowds are enjoying the sunshine in the Brecon Beacons, defying the social isolation guidlines.

Alternative Captions:

1. Despite being advised to keep to the social isolation guidelines, visitors flocked to the Brecon Beacons. (Anchorage).
2. A wonderful day out in the winter sunshine (Relay).
3. You will always be warm and comfortable in Explore Clothing (Relay).

Caption 1 is describing exactly what happened on the first day of social isolation, visitors defied the guidelines and went out into the countryside en masse.  As a result of this the Prime Minister imposed stronger sanctions and gave police the powers to break up large groups.

Captions 2 and 3 recontextualise the image as a pleasant family day out.  Caption 3 is an advertisement for Explore Clothing.

Image 3

Alternative Captions:

1. The benefits of working on an allotment can be twofold, a healthy lifestyle and the nutritional benefits of fresh produce. (Anchorage).
2. Working on a allotment means you can keep in touch with fellow enthusiasts whilst keeping to the 2 metre distance rule. (Anchorage).
3. Older people reminisce about the “dig for victory” campaign during the second world war.  (Relay).

Captions 1 and 2 define the benefits and why it is a positive activity.  Caption recontexualises the image as it is not about the actual image, but of events which happened in the past.

---