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"Signs of Life" is a book for anyone who has ever wondered whether pulling that lever would really summon the guard or just pour gravy on the driver's sausages, a hilarious compilation portraying one man's crusade against a world of senseless public notices and warnings. Bored with his interminable commute, and frustrated by the mind-numbing tedium of staring at the same pointless signs and official notices from his seat on the 7.34 from Brighton (facing the bin and the emergency fire extinguisher), Dave decided to do something to brighten up his journey/life. What started out as a bit of personal amusement soon became an addiction, with hundreds of spoof road signs, warning stickers, and council order notices being stuck up around the country. 'Click heels three times before pressing button'; 'please give up your seat if frank wants it'; 'to summon the four horsemen of the apocalypse, please pull string provided'. From shops to roadsides and offices to hotels, Dave Askwith's witty and cutting 'art' is his futile but highly amusing gesture of dissatisfaction with the most woeful public transport system in the world and the inane protocols and rules of modern life.
This book investigates the absurdity of modern public signage and official bureaucracy through the lens of a satirical protest against the tedium of daily life. The author, Dave Askwith, utilizes his personal frustration with the repetitive and often nonsensical notices encountered during his daily commute to construct a critique of modern institutional communication. By documenting his own campaign of placing spoof signs in public spaces, he argues that the proliferation of inane rules and warnings serves as a symptom of a disconnected and overly regulated society.
What You Will Find
This work functions as a lighthearted, observational critique of bureaucratic overreach that prioritizes humor over rigorous sociological analysis. The framing suggests an accessible, anecdotal read intended for those who find the minutiae of modern public life both exhausting and ripe for ridicule.
Page Count:
80
Publication Date:
2005-01-01
Publisher:
Harpercollins Entertainment
ISBN-10:
0007216696
ISBN-13:
9780007216697
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