It was the irreverent humour, blasphemy and whiff of mild insanity which immediately appealed to me on my first visit to Speakers' Corner in 1977. Being of a generation whose politically formative years had been framed by opposition to the Vietnam War and by the left libertarian counter-culture of the 1960's, this looked like it might be the much sought after unpolished, uncensored, raw 'voice of the people' in full flow.
It didn't take me long to discover that, sadly, the...
more »It was the irreverent humour, blasphemy and whiff of mild insanity which immediately appealed to me on my first visit to Speakers' Corner in 1977. Being of a generation whose politically formative years had been framed by opposition to the Vietnam War and by the left libertarian counter-culture of the 1960's, this looked like it might be the much sought after unpolished, uncensored, raw 'voice of the people' in full flow.
It didn't take me long to discover that, sadly, the north-east corner of Hyde Park was not the seedbed of a new popular democracy. Nevertheless, although my initial attraction was perhaps misguided, it was not misplaced, and has subsequently survived innumerable Sunday afternoon onslaughts on my atheist, left field sensibilities. For despite the present day marginalisation of public speaking, and the common perception that it plays host to a collection of oddballs, misfits and religious fanatics, week after week Speakers' Corner poses questions about the nature of democracy and the role of public debate which should concern any enthusiast for social and political change.
The photographs on show here, taken between 1977 and the present, are a small selection from my as yet unpublished book 'Speakers Cornered', which also includes edited extracts of speeches, arguments and debates, together with a history of the struggle for free speech in Hyde Park.
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