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Mass Observation Humphrey Spender Nigel Henderson the Metropolitan Police Card Inspection Processing Humphrey Spender Funeral Cortege Davenport St. Bolton 1938. Mass Observation Humphrey Spender Nigel Henderson The Metropolitan Police Card Inspection Processing A No 11 Half Moon Photography Workshop 40p/$1.50 Mass Observation was probably the largest investigation These photographs however, together with the detailed into popular culture to be carried out in Britain this century. written observations, do provide a valuable insight into the It took place between 1936 and 1947. late 1930s and show how Mass Observation influenced the Mass Observation was established by a small group of development of documentary realism. upper-middle class intellectuals and artists, but grew to In this issue we look at the origins of Mass Observation, its involve around 1,500 observers from all social classes and aims, its methods of working, its contribution to the docu­ from all over the country. They amassed a wealth of infor­ mentary tradition, its shortcomings and its significance to mation on the minutiae of everyday life of the period. During contemporary culture. In the section below we reproduce World War II the Government took over M.O.’s fact­ parts of the first publication of M.O., the pamphlet ‘Mass collecting organisation for propaganda purposes and to keep Observation’ by Tom Harrisson and Charles Madge. This in touch with public morale. After the War M.O. became a pamphlet, published in 1937, sets out what they were trying limited company and turned to consumer research. to do and gives a clear picture of the ideas which influenced Mass Observation described its observers as ‘the cameras their thinking. with which we are all trying to photograph contemporary life’ Our interest in M.O. stems from our concern with docu­ but photography itself played a small part in the project and mentary photography and the British documentary tradi­ very little film was shot. Humphrey Spender, M.O.’s tion. The founders of M.O. believed that it was possible to ‘official’ photographer, was only able to spend short periods document in an entirely objective manner and that the wide­ of time on the project. The work that he did for M.O. spread collection of data would ‘contribute to an increase in remained virtually unknown for almost forty years until the the general social consciousness’ (M.O. pamphlet 1937). In publication of Britain in the Thirties in 1975 and The Real Thing fact what they started was never completed and never used and Worktown exhibitions. The photographs, observers’ in the way they had anticipated. reports and diaries are now part of the Mass Observation We believe that to document alone is not enough - the pro­ Archive at the University of Sussex. cess must be taken further and used to effect social change. that the scientists have little more to offer than reactions within their own local environment. the reports from our observers, carefully filed, AIMS AND ORIGINS generalisations on method.” (M.O. pamphlet They will be the meteorological stations from will be a reference library accessible to every “How little we know of our next door neigh­ 1937). whose reports a weather-map of popular genuine research worker.” (M.O. pamphlet bour and his habits; how little we know of our­ M.O. was started in 1937 by Charles Madge, feeling can be compiled.” (M.O. pamphlet, 1937) selves. Of conditions of life and thought in poet and journalist and Tom Harrisson, an 1937). another class or another district, our anthropologist. They and others were aware of THE WORKTOWN PROJECT ignorance is complete. The anthropology of the serious gap between what ordinary people, METHOD In 1937 Tom Harrisson chose Bolton as a town ourselves is still only a dream. It is left to the “the mass”, actually thought and what the M.O. set out to give the masses a voice. It did representative of the industrial north to begin intuitions of men of genius to cope with the press, media and political leaders said they this in three ways:- firstly by inviting ordinary M.O.’s research. This became known as the unknown mass. Such intuitions are to a thought. people to report on their everyday lives in diary Worktown project and was extended to include human science of the future what cookery is to “Mass Observation shares the interest of form. Secondly by recruiting a team of the nearby holiday resort of Blackpool. chemistry. The building up of such a science most people in the actual, in what happens observers whose role was to watch, listen and Harrisson was soon joined by a team of is an urgent problem for mankind. from day to day. Every day the social con­ document all aspects of ordinary behaviour. observers and artists including the painters “It was with thoughts like these that a group sciousness is modified by the news reported in Thirdly by involving poets, writers and artists Julian Trevelyan and Sir William Coldstream of people started Mass Observation, which the newspapers and on the wireless. The more in a subjective role to complement the docu­ and the photographer Humphrey Spender. The aims to be a scientific study of human social exciting the news, the more unified does the mentary bias of the observers. project lasted for two years. behaviour, beginning at home. Such a study social consciousness become in its absorption The observers simply collected information - The photographs by Humphrey Spender has already been begun by anthropologists in with a single theme. The abdication of King “On this data science will one day build new reproduced in this issue of Camerawork were the case of primitive peoples, and tentatively Edward VIII was a focussing point of this hypotheses and theories. In the meantime, we all taken during this period. They were first by psychologists and sociologists in civilised kind. The coronation of King George VI is must patiently amass material, without unduly shown in 1977 as the Worktown exhibition countries. But in the latter case, the field to be providing another. At such times, our prejudging or pre-selecting from the total initiated by Derek Smith, then photographer in covered is so vast and so apparently nebulous observers will each be watching the social number of available facts. All this material, all residence at Sussex University. This issue of CAMERAWORK, September, 1978, was produced by the Publishing Project, Half Moon Photography Workshop, 119/121 Roman Road, London E2. 01-980 8798. The people who worked on this issue were Ed Barber, Harry Chambers, Prodepta Das, Mike is designed to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas, views and information on photo­ Goldwater, Nicky Hughes, Peter Marlow, Sue Marie, Jenny Matthews, Richard Platt,Shirley graphy and other forms of communication. By exploring the application, scope and content Read,Siddhiratna, Trev Sparrow, Paul Trevor. Printed by Expression Printers Ltd, London N 1. of photography, we intend to demystify the process. We see this as part of the struggle to If you have any comments to make or articles, letters or prints you would like to contribute we learn, to describe and to share experiences and so contribute to the process by which we would be glad to hear from your. Please make sure it reaches us as soon as possible. grow in capacity and power to control our lives. (ISSN 0308 1676) CAMERAWORK Avery public espionage ‘I am a camera with the shutter open, quite William Stott has suggested that the camera was sort of home front espionage.’ He did not want plugs.) ‘I arrived at the Victory Hotel at 7.55pm passive, recording, not thinking. Recording the a prime symbol of the thirties mind. This was to be a spy. and was surprised to find only one person in the man shaving at the window opposite and the not because the mind was endlessly fragmented vault, as a rule there are nearly always four in at Mass Observation did not want to change the woman in the kimono washing her hair. Some but ‘because the mind aspired to the quality of that time. Up to 8.30pm five people had entered world, they were reformist. They did not day, all this will have to be developed, carefully authenticity, of direct and immediate and three matches had been struck. A conversa­ examine unemployment in Bolton, infant printed, fixed.’ experience, that the camera captures in all its tion developed between three males making mortality, malnutrition, housing, health, or any Christopher Isherwood in Berlin Stories 1938 photographs.’ Mass Observation reports were munitions. Male One was on holiday from of the parameters of poverty. Their approach verbal snapshots. London and was working for a firm there was as fatalistic as a photograph. Consider this ‘The ideal instrument for the job is an ear­ making conveyors for the Government. He said: Before working with Mass Observation, report from Bolton (November 22, 1938) from plug,’ Tom Harrisson, one of the founders of “They’re not making all this bloody stuff for Humphrey Spender took photographs in the open market: ‘Woman 36. Middle class. Mass Observation, once said. ‘See what people nothing, it’s only a matter of time before the Whitechapel to arouse fury at the overcrowding, Dressed in grey hat, coat, brown shoes, low are doing. Afterwards, ask them what they think bubble bursts.” poverty and squalor. His pictures in Bolton heels, sour face. Small dog in car. Left car. they are doing, if you like.’ ‘Male Two: “Well, I don’t think another war could have been examining the quaint customs Entered fish market. Bought fish after some Mass Observation was started in 1937 by an will start, now that they’re getting friendly with of the Dayaks.
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