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One of the best things about moving to America was that we were able to bring most of the stuff we had in storage around the World back to one place for the first time in over 15 years.
While opening boxes upon boxes of DVD documentaries was a bit heartbreaking given they are now all available online for free, there was some delight and one of those was getting my hands back on this …
Sign of the Times is a brilliant book by photographer Martin Parr.
Martin Parr is one of Britain’s most significant photographers, best known for his sharp eye and cheeky sense of humour.
Over his 30+ career, he has focused on capturing ordinary people doing ordinary things and because of this, he has become known as a social commentator and recorder of Britain’s finely nuanced class system.
In the 90’s, the BBC aired a documentary called Signs of the Times.
In some respects it was an early version of reality television … a fly-on-the-wall documentary that aimed to document the personal tastes of people in their British homes.
50 people were chosen from 2000 applicants with a real focus on capturing a diverse range of ages, races, genders and social backgrounds.
Anyway, from that show came the book and anyone who grew up in the 90’s in the UK who sees it will resonate with so much of it.
Not just in terms of the aesthetic, but the energy, values and priorities of the times.
I’ve long been fascinated with this approach – we even did a similar type of project at Wieden in Shanghai – because for me, it not only helps communicate who we’re talking to in ways others can truly connect to but – because of the contextual lens – it provides additional insight into how the audience lives and what they value.
It’s why it was so important for me to make a coffee table book of photographs from our recent America In The Raw study, because while some probably saw it as an indulgence – especially given you needed to see the accompanying presentation to truly understand what we found and what we think brands can/should do – my view is that without it, you can’t truly connect to the stories that shaped our thinking and then all we’ll end up with is a deck rather than the influence for change.
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finally a bit of class on this shithole blog. of course the reason you like that particular book of parrs work is because it features people who are fashion fucking role models for you.
Comment by andy@cynic April 6, 2018 @ 6:24 amIsn’t that book too new for Rob’s fashion tastes? I always thought his book of choice was a Kay’s catalogue from 1982.
Comment by DH April 6, 2018 @ 6:49 amKay’s catalogue. I haven’t heard that name in years. I used to love looking at the neighbours copy that and check out all the tech … which tended to be new calculators than anything actually tech, ha.
Comment by Rob April 6, 2018 @ 8:08 amalso heard from florence you are trying to connect him to metallica. what the fuck are you thinking. what the fuck are they thinking. if this happens i may kill myself.
Comment by andy@cynic April 6, 2018 @ 6:25 amIf he meets Martin Parr I will hate Rob forever. How does one person get so lucky? Or in Parr’s case, unlucky.
Comment by DH April 6, 2018 @ 6:48 amI told you Robert wanted to explore the possibility of working with Mr Parr, not that he is. You can all put your suicide weapons down.
Comment by George April 6, 2018 @ 7:18 amYes, it’s hope, not a plan.
Comment by Rob April 6, 2018 @ 8:09 amYou get paid for this. You should be paying everyone else. Not because it isn’t a worthy approach, it’s just wrong you get so much fun.
Comment by DH April 6, 2018 @ 6:51 amwhen will you fucking get it. he sold his soul to satan.
Comment by andy@cynic April 6, 2018 @ 6:59 amOnly answer that makes any sense.
Comment by DH April 6, 2018 @ 7:08 amI received a copy of your America In The Raw book and loved it. I am sure I would have enjoyed it as a pdf but in physical form, it elevates the power of the photographs and the overall story.
Comment by George April 6, 2018 @ 7:21 am“One of the best things about moving to America was that we were able to bring most of the stuff we had in storage around the World back to one place for the first time in over 15 years.”
I genuinely thought this was a reference to marketing ideas.
Comment by John April 6, 2018 @ 7:22 amor his fashion and music tastes.
Comment by andy@cynic April 6, 2018 @ 7:45 amWell over 15 years in those cases.
Comment by John April 6, 2018 @ 7:50 amHahahahaha … though you do have a point. The amount of things that are happening here that have a connection to stuff I saw in the past is amazing. Especially in terms of online behaviour in relation to China.
It’s not recycling, it’s sustainability. Ahem.
Comment by Rob April 6, 2018 @ 8:11 amMartin Parr is one of my favourite photographers. I recently saw his Great British Seaside exhibition in London and it was as enchanting as all his other work. I think it is still on if you are planning on being in town at any point soon.
Comment by Lee Hill April 6, 2018 @ 7:52 amThanks for the tip Lee.
Comment by John April 6, 2018 @ 7:59 amYou’ll regret telling me that Lee as I’m in London a week on Monday. Sadly just for a day but if I can make it, I’d love to go. Will check out where it is/times. Thank you.
Comment by Rob April 6, 2018 @ 8:12 amWill we have time to catch up?
Comment by Lee Hill April 6, 2018 @ 8:35 amI would love to. Will check out what the schedule is.
Comment by Rob April 6, 2018 @ 9:48 amas if london doesnt have enough shit to deal with.
https://tinyurl.com/y9h83k37
Comment by andy@cynic April 6, 2018 @ 10:52 amI understand why you removed comments from your female leaders post, but I wish you hadn’t. An excellent read with a new and important argument for pushing it. I am proud of you Robert.
Comment by Lee Hill April 9, 2018 @ 6:37 am+1
Comment by George April 9, 2018 @ 8:53 amnot bad campbell. but i know youre only doing this so you can have an excuse why you will never be hired in the future. though you will be. somehow. fucker.
Comment by andy@cynic April 11, 2018 @ 7:32 amExcellent work Rob, bloody brilliant
Comment by Northern April 11, 2018 @ 8:32 amHowever, the holiday situation is just ridiculous
Comment by Northern April 11, 2018 @ 8:35 amYou mentioned a few times in various blogs, interviews, posts that you love documentaries – what are your top 5 (or 10) and can you please give a sentence on each as to why?
Comment by Matt April 14, 2018 @ 7:26 amLiterally the worst question you could ask him. You’ll be here for years.
Comment by DH April 15, 2018 @ 2:27 pmNope, worst question would be do you like Queen?
Comment by Northern April 16, 2018 @ 3:00 amI can beat that. Why do you like queen.
Comment by DH April 16, 2018 @ 8:31 amFair play
Comment by Northern April 16, 2018 @ 8:48 amfuck me campbell, how long can one freebie holiday last?
Comment by andy@cynic April 20, 2018 @ 7:46 amImpressive even by Rob’s standards
Comment by Northern April 20, 2018 @ 8:13 am[…] have talked about my love of Martin Parr before, which is why you can imagine my excitement when I thought I was going to pull off the ultimate […]
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