Liverpool visit, food history, meet-up
Liverpool: reflections on a short visit. Food: History of British food. Theatre: Jan 3rd, my performance on How We Die.
Liverpool: reflections on a short visit
Food: History of British food
Education: UnConference 24 April save date
Meet-up: Dec 7th party meet-up
Theatre: Jan 3rd, my performance on How We Die
Links (end): Indonesia, writer routines, quotes
I have 3 events coming up: A meet-up Dec 7: If you are reading this and you fancy it, come along.
My theatre show, Thinking Bigly: How We die, Jan 3, London Theatre Deli. Do Come! (More on this next time).
And, The Educating Otherwise UnConference, save the date 24 April. LMK, if you want more info.
I spent some time in Liverpool and found it fascinating. A local joked that when asked which city in the UK is number two, scousers say “London” as Liverpool is obviously number one.
You don’t observe that in the GDP per capita statistics at about GBP33K / capita vs London on £54K.
I observe Liverpool shaped by some current and historic forces which I could see:
Maritime industry / industry
Creative culture (Beatles)
Football
Hillsborough
Transport infrastructure (lacking)
A nightlife centre (over-drinking)
Poverty (uneven wealth)
A short history to understand this would be (GPT influenced):
1. **Maritime and Trading Hub (Late 17th - Early 20th Century)**: Liverpool's economic history is deeply rooted in its role as a major port. By the 19th century, it was one of the world's leading maritime centers, pivotal in global trade, including the transatlantic slave trade, and later the migration of millions of Europeans to the Americas.
2. **Industrial Powerhouse and Decline (Mid-20th Century)**: The city was also an industrial powerhouse, especially in shipping, manufacturing, and dockwork. However, post-WWII, Liverpool experienced severe industrial decline, leading to widespread unemployment and economic challenges.
3. **Cultural Renaissance and The Beatles (1960s)**: Culturally, Liverpool's global influence surged in the 1960s with the Merseybeat movement, epitomized by The Beatles. This era placed Liverpool at the heart of the global music scene, impacting popular culture significantly.
4. **Economic Challenges and Regeneration (Late 20th Century - Early 21st Century)**: The late 20th century saw Liverpool grappling with economic hardships, including the Toxteth riots of 1981. Subsequently, efforts to regenerate the city focused on its cultural assets, leading to developments like the Tate Liverpool.
5. **European Capital of Culture and Modern Era (21st Century)**: Being named the European Capital of Culture in 2008 marked a significant milestone, fueling a resurgence in tourism, investment, and cultural activities.
To this I would add:
The mainstream media (and the rest of the country) treated Liverpool poorly in the wake of the Hillsborough disaster. One root cause was a false police story and these lies took root. This shapes local defiance / solidarity even today.
To sum - for instance with the Sun newspaper (one of the most popular nationally; GPT influenced)
The relationship between The Sun newspaper and the city of Liverpool, is deeply strained an negative. This tension stems primarily from The Sun's coverage of the Hillsborough disaster in 1989, where 97 Liverpool football fans lost their lives. Key points include:
1. **Hillsborough Disaster Coverage (1989)**: The Sun's coverage of the Hillsborough disaster, particularly an article headlined "The Truth," published shortly after the tragedy, falsely blamed Liverpool fans for the disaster. The article caused widespread outrage in Liverpool.
2. **Boycott of The Sun**: In response to this coverage, many people in Liverpool and across Merseyside began boycotting The Sun. This boycott has been largely effective and continues to this day.
3. **Apologies and Continued Distrust**: Although The Sun has issued apologies over the years, including a full-page apology in 2004 and another in 2012 following the independent panel report on the disaster, the apologies did little to mend relations. The damage to the newspaper's reputation in Liverpool was deep and lasting.
4. **Cultural Impact**: The boycott of The Sun has become more than just a reaction to a specific incident; it's ingrained in the cultural fabric of the city. It's a symbol of the city's solidarity and collective stance against what they perceive as injustice and misrepresentation.
Even today, The Sun is notably absent from newsstands in Liverpool, and its journalists are often unwelcome in the city.
I was privileged to listen to a panel reflecting on Hillsborough. The sense of injustice is still palpable.
Liverpool has this identify - reinforced by its local accent and lingo - that it remains proud of. Football is also a great force in the city. You can be blue or red but mostly you can not ignore football and its influence.
As Liverpool has pivoted away from the maritime industry, it has placed emphasis on “creative capital” building on the legacy of the Beatles, there are a range of museums, theatre and art.
Tate Liverpool is here (and going through another renovation and extension).
I went to visit Shakespeare North. This is a remarkable new theatre building in Prescot, near Liverpool. Prescot used to be an important stopping town in the North between Liverpool and Manchester. Important enough that historically it has its own theatre playhouse in the 1600s showing Elizabethan theatre culture had come up North.
Prescot is now one of the poorest areas in the wider Liverpool metropolitan area.
So, Shakespeare North is an experiment in place based creative capital as a catalyst for regeneration.
The building is based on plans from Inigo Jones (perhaps recorded by his pupil, Webb).
Inigo Jones was a revolutionary figure in the field of theatre design, particularly through his introduction of innovative stage sets and designs to the English stage. He collobarated with poet Ben Jonson on masques. His use of space, perspective, and innovative machinery had a lasting impact on the development of English theatre.
The original plans were re-discovered recently falling out of a book in a library. The plans were for the conversion of a cockerel animal fighting pit (cock pit) of the old King to a theatre space of the new King so it’s a pretty faithful rendition of what an Elizabethan theatre was.
Talking to staff, it is clear that transport infrastructure is a problem. There is no easy route to Manchester which is close as the bird flies but not by bus/train. The route to Liverpool, again very close, is not super easy either. This is a theatre that is hard to reach.
The other challenge is involving the local community - which is poor and has multiple challenges of poverty - that can catalyse improvements for the area. But it seems to be happening.
I’m leaning into the importance of regional transport for bringing wealth and opportunities to communities.
I visited RIBA north and skimmed architecture projects. Lowering the carbon intensity of new and existing building is a major challenge for design currently. This intersects with the challenges of heritage and the challenges of bringing opportunity and growth.
One recent example in a poor area is Jaywick Sands. My friend Hana Loftus was heavility involved via HAT projects. See the Guardian review. Places, design and buildings have unique capabilities to bring opportunities to poor areas.
There are examples dotted around Liverpool as well.
Rejuvenation can bring it’s own problems. I stayed in the centre of Liverpool which has had a reinvigorated night life. But I can see how many people would not view the music and vast quantities of alcohol consumed in the area, now, as net positive.
Lastly on Liverpool and the Chinese diaspora. Liverpool via its maritime trade was one of the first places to grow a substantial China town and Chinese community in Europe. Chinese diaspora sailors were part of British world war efforts. Quite a few signs around the centre / China town are also in Chinese. There is a fairly spectacular Chinese arch (given by Shanghai a few years ago; it’s a twinned city) at the centre of the “China Town”.
But I have to admit the small China town area is disappointing. Very unloved and decrepit-feeling. I wouldn’t recommend unless to apprecaite how far Liverpool still has to go in certain aspects of its regeneration.
(The summary blurb) Pen Vogler is a food historian. Her latest book is Stuffed: A History of Good Food and Hard Times in Britain.
In the podcast, Ben and Pen discuss various aspects of British culture and history we can learn from the British relationship with food. The discussion delves into several fascinating topics surrounding the transition from hunting-gathering societies to agricultural ones, the phenomenon of the commons and enclosures, the historical regulation of bread prices, and the impact of government intervention in food systems. The podcast also touches on the personal experiences of Pen in Czechoslovakia.
Throughout the conversation, the overarching theme was how food, from its production to its consumption, is deeply entwined with historical, cultural, and social factors, and how understanding these dynamics can offer insights into present-day food-related challenges and culture.
Here are some highlights:
Transition to Agriculture: The transition from hunting-gathering to agriculture, known as the Neolithic Revolution around 4200 BC, was gradual. Although humans began farming, hunting aided by dogs continued. Interestingly, there seemed to be a decrease in fish consumption even among communities near water, which may be tied to a new identity as agriculturalists.
Strawberries: are they feminine and how have supermarkets made the strawberry market. The notion of strawberries being considered feminine was discussed, with a historical perspective of fruit consumption differing between genders. Supermarkets have popularized strawberries, making them a significant seasonal item.
Queuing and Supermarkets: The change from traditional queuing at shops to self-service in supermarkets was discussed. This shift was initially due to labor shortages post-World War and was supported by the government.
Sugar's Historical Significance: The historical transformation of sugar from a flavor enhancer to a replacement food was discussed. The early introduction of sugar into children’s diets, driven in part by companies like Nestle, and its long-term health implications were also highlighted.
Yorkshire Pudding and Meat Consumption: The tradition of Yorkshire pudding being used to fill up family members so the male head could consume more meat was discussed. This tradition reflects the historical gender and age hierarchies in food distribution within a family.
Fish and Class Distinction: The class distinction between consuming different types of fish, such as salmon being associated with aristocracy while carp being considered a working-class fish, was discussed. The historical roots of these distinctions date back hundreds of years, and are intertwined with the broader themes of commons, enclosure, and social status. The discussion explores how fishing evolved with societal changes, particularly during the industrial era.
Food Security and Import Dependency: The discussion touched on the UK's food security and its dependency on imports, which has fluctuated over centuries based on various social, economic, and political factors.
Industrialization and Food: The transition from a farming to an industrial nation impacted the UK's food self-sufficiency, and the conversation touched on how industrialization shaped food consumption and distribution.
Commons and Enclosures: The commons, shared land resources, were crucial for the livelihood of many. The enclosures, which involved fencing off common lands for private use, disrupted this system and forced many people into cities, contributing to the industrial revolution. This transition to urban living and the loss of common land rights had profound societal effects.
Historical Bread Regulation: The Assize of Bread, established around 1256, was a piece of legislation that controlled bread prices by adjusting loaf sizes based on grain prices, lasting nearly 600 years. It reflects an early form of government intervention in food pricing to ensure affordability, a topic that resurfaces in modern discussions, particularly post-pandemic.
Government Intervention in Food Systems: Reflecting on her time in Czechoslovakia, Pen notes the balance required between government intervention and market freedom in ensuring food security and diversity. Over-regulation can lead to limited dietary variety, as seen in Czechoslovakia, compared to neighboring Poland.
Historical Eating Habits: Pen sheds light on the eating habits of historical figures and mentions records from a reeve in the 11th century that detail the distribution of food items like cheese and beans to shepherds and slaves respectively. They discuss the perception of foraged food in history and how it was often seen as a last resort for those who couldn’t afford to buy food. The conversation transitions to how foods like nettles, which were once seen as food for the desperate, are now romanticized. The discussion around what Shakespeare and his crew might have eaten highlights how the lack of references to vegetables in historical texts leaves room for speculation.
Pen's Writing Process: Pen, working part-time at Penguin Books, allocates weekends and her sabbatical time for writing. Her process involves extensive research, particularly at the British Library, followed by drafting, editing, and structuring her findings into coherent chapters.
Food Etiquette: touch on traditional etiquette like the "posh" way of eating peas with a fork and how certain eating habits signify a person's social status.
Overrated/Underrated Foods: Pen and Ben briefly discuss the perceived value of certain foods like tripe, gin, goose, and herring, and how these perceptions have evolved over time.
Current and Future Projects: Pen mentions a potential project exploring religious festivals, fasting, and feasting, and how they tie into communal and physical health.
Advice for Aspiring Writers: Pen advises exploring non-fiction writing as a viable and fulfilling avenue, sharing how her accidental discovery of food history transformed her writing career.
Their conversation offers a rich tapestry of insights on how food, history, and culture are intricately woven together, and how exploring these connections can yield engaging narratives and a deeper understanding of societal norms and practices.
Links:
Quotes:
“I think about the precious treasures that I have returned…When I pay with a credit or debit card, I run my finger over the raised numbers and remember all the times that one of the only things we could return was a bank card, the Mastercard or Visa logo still there” @LucyGoBag
“We are obligated to make our best attempts to become the thing we wish to be, otherwise we forever remain the sorry consorts of our own defeat.” Nick Cave and “If your intention is to become a singer…then you need to sing and sing and sing some more.”
“…But remember: half of speaking is silence. Don’t forget? Also, that in order to say something, you have to say it through something else” Lee Seong-bok trans. Anton Hur
Worth reading this thread from this week’s Liverpool Echo. What you don’t see around the regenerated and tourist attracting docks area is the vast extent of poverty in and around the city, particularly as you get out of the centre. Its latest manifestation is homelessness but deep poverty has lasted through two generations in communities that get by on minimum wage and now gig economy earnings and whose homelessness is disguised by multi generational living and overcrowding.
https://x.com/liamthorpecho/status/1725784813871718848?s=46&t=rs6cM6ejG7HtLHBzGhSsgg