Summer 2024 Directive
Part One – Everyday Oral Health
The theme for Part.1 is a subject Mass Observation explored in the early 1940’s, dentists and dentistry. This has been a joint commission by Professor Paul Kingston and Professor Andrew Dickenson, (Chief Dental Officer for Wales), University of Chester. They are keen to hear about Mass Observer’s everyday experiences, memories and thoughts on oral health care. This will be a valuable comparative collection for Mass Observations health and NHS related material.
Part Two – The General Election
For Part.2 no one will be surprised by the subject of the General Election. This is an in-house theme as Mass Observation has always captured thoughts and feelings about political events. We are very keen to receive Observer’s submissions to this, whether they participated or abstained from election activities and voting.
Part Two – The General Election
Finally, for Part.3 we have the theme of Singing. Mass Observation has captured people’s experiences and feelings to topics of dancing, music and entertainment since its founding but as yet, very little on the personal habits of singing.
You can read the full Directive here.
Spring 2024 Directive responses
For those interested in the information we received as part of our Spring Directive you may find the below summaries useful.
Part 1. Retirement
Submissions naturally varied depending on whether or not the Observer had retired. Those that were yet to retire were often sceptical about how and when this might be possible, and few had made plans for things such as a retirement party or life beyond retirement.
Across the responses the majority of writers agreed that what retirement looks like has changed significantly between generations, and indeed, that expectations of what retirement could look has also changed.
Many writers suggested that opinions about retired people were unfairly negative, and instead suggested that much vital work, particularly in local communities and charities simply would not be possible without the efforts of retired people and that they did not always receive due credit for this.
Part 2. Mysteries
Opinions on this Directive were mixed! Some writers were more interested in the topic than others, although it seems that many MO writers are big fans of mystery TV shows and novels. Less so are they fans of magicians and magic shows!
Other writers reflected on places they found mysterious with some writers having experienced something mysterious in religious buildings, desolate landscapes or ruins.
Of those Observers that reflected on the mystery of the self, most writers were in agreement that we all have something mysterious in us that is sometimes hard to understand!
The Directive is research ready.