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THROUGH A GLASS LIGHTLY

Submitted by Editor on

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.

Starting from top-right, we find in Window 1:
  • ‘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:

  • Chimpanzee with heart symbol.
  • 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.