Venue:
Victoria & Albert Museum, South Kensington, London
Date: 30/09/2016
Well not a night out but a free afternoon in the greatest city in the world so why not nerd out over bits of paper, film stock, soundwaves and cloth that represent a tumultuous era in popular culture and history?
A slightly unwieldy titled exhibition in the same space that the record breaking Bowie one took up with a similar large room dominated by video screens. Based mostly on popular culture of the times and how it reflected Vietnam, civil rights, gay liberation, feminism, religion, war, fashion, business, the Cold War, technology and politics.
It could be said to be fairly lightweight in trying to cover so much but it does really summon up a flavour of the times through artifacts, video and most importantly – sound. As is common these days the visitor is provided a listening device and Sennheiser headphones which relays music, speech and soundtracks to video as you move round the exhibition. This can sometimes be a bit glitchy but it really does add to the experience.
Highlights – well, handwritten Beatles lyrics, those psychedelic gig posters in all their glory, iconic images and costumes, the worlds first computer “mouse” which I basically a block of wood. Physically present items that you’ve only previously glimpsed in documentaries. There is plenty to read and examine, vinyl covers the walls and there are even a few racks of shellac to browse like one of those old fashioned record shops you’ve heard about. I also liked the section on the European counterculture and the draft dodgers in the USA.
The last main room with the huge video screens is centred on Woodstock and the other final great gatherings of the era (although Altamont not mentioned). There were beanbags to slouch on and watch. Then it’s on to the giftshop with a lot of overpriced gear/tat but quite a few books that I made a note of to ask for from Santa.
Oh and I can’t recall Donovan being mentioned once – he’ll be livid!
The audience:
I went just after lunch and it wasn’t too busy although when I went back to the start to look at something again found it had filled up. Could be a bit of a slog at weekends with a real mix of ages and a couple of mobility scooters befitting the love generation now.
It made me think..
That I’d recommend this to anyone who wants a sense of the times they probably didn’t live in. Some of it is a little corny but there is so much to see and hear that its a treat for the eyes and ears.
The exhibition runs until the 26th February 2017
dai says
Greatest city in the world? Didn’t know you were in Montreal …
davebigpicture says
Nice review. I’d like to go but it’s quite an expedition unless I’m in The Smoke for something else.
Black Type says
You meant to say DONOVAN, obvs.
DrJ says
Woah, Dave. I’m excited about the Beatles stuff, but they have Doug Englebart’s first ever mouse? Hot damn!
The presentation that Doug Englebart gave in Dec 1968, which became known as “The Mother Of All Demos”, presents to a room full of scientists a view of what the future will be like. When it gets going, it’s incredible: The first mouse, teleconferencing, clickable hypertext… it’s a trip…
Vulpes Vulpes says
Awesome!
Moose the Mooche says
Did the mobility scooters have raccoon tails on the back?
(sorry)
Carl says
A free afternoon, DFB? You may have been lucky enough to have a free afternoon, but it’s £16:00 to the rest of us.
That aside, I really enjoyed it, being of the generation that grew up with so much of this. We spent a couple of hours there on a crowded Sunday afternoon. We could have been there longer.
Big surprise were some of the records. Records sleeves are from the collection of John Peel: seeing albums such as Herman Hermits Live, plus items from the Tom Jones, Cilla Black and Englebert catalogues alongside Hapsash and The Coloured Coat, Sopwith Camel and Kaleidoscope and other obscure bands (to the general public, not denizens of The Afterword) was a big surprise.
DogFacedBoy says
Free in the sense of time off during the week rather than cost – I paid me money n took me choice.
The reason I mentioned going on weekday was that going at weekend might be a different experience which I have heard from others who have attended at weekend that it was pretty cramped and difficult to linger. I know the V&A want to make cash off it and enable as many to see it as possible but the timed ticketing system doesn’t prevent it being uncomfortable.
If you book in advance online the times give an indication of how many tickets have been sold so you can avoid busier times. Even during the week 2pm was nearly sold out so I ensured I got in at 1pm so I could surf before the wave.
Carl says
Aha. I should have twigged the temporal rather than financial aspect. Apologies for that.
We went for 12:30 because as you indicate, more tickets = fewer visitors. But it is all relative on a Sunday.