The events last night must have had a bigger impact on me than I thought since today, for the first time in 11 days, I forgot to take my phone with me as I went food shopping with my family for next week. Although I did not notice at first, when I did suddenly realize that I had forgotten my phone I felt strangely annoyed with myself. I wonder what it will feel like when the game is over.

Once back at home, I notice a message. I have arrived at SK8 Park. LYSISTRATA, carrying a fryup, is here. I start a conversation but hear nothing back. There are many wristbands and a drum kit here. Since I am on my own and no one can see me I decide to put on a wristband. I wait a while and then decide to leave. I wish to explore a new destination and head for the bins. I am pleased that at last I too have a wristband though I have no idea as to whether this is a good or a bad thing (I remember Handke’s play again and what it means to encounter objects without knowing what they are).

I remember that I promised to answer Stefanie Kuhn’s comments. I am glad that Stefanie has singled out Andy Crabtree's remarks on documentation. Since I increasingly believe they are very important for our discipline I have decided to give this some prominence when I come back from Germany and I have a chance to re-read some articles I have on his ethnographic work in relation to Blast Theory’s practice.

In the meantime, here are some addenda to what I wrote before the game started on my own processes of documentation.

• I had no idea how much equipment I am having to carry around me most of the time. I feel very self conscious about it all and have to be very organized or I cannot do my job.
• People think that it is strange if every time your phone buzzes you take a photograph. This produces a curious sense of alienation and verfremdung from the environment in which you happen to be. You become a witness (remember your Brecht now and, for those who are less familiar with this great playwright, look up the Street Scene and identify the importance of the role of the bystander in terms of the report of the narration of events of a victim and a driver).
• It is all very well to say that when the phone buzzes you will take a photo. A photo of what? Of what is in front of you? Or behind you? Three steps to the left? There is no neutrality here and I know now, thanks to Andy Crabtree’s work, that I produce the document that I choose (or even need to choose). Documents are charged. I wish that I could have a chat with Michael Shanks about this all.
• When you take all your equipment out in a run down area you feel even more self-conscious. So you start to act suspiciously. This of course makes people suspicious of you. What do you do though? Do you choose not to document because of risk? I wonder, what is the greatest risk – that someone steals the equipment or that the document is inaccurate?
• I got stopped by the police for taking too many photos in the airport. I explained this project to them. They thought it was wonderful! Always disseminate.
• Sometimes the phone rings very often. You decide that one photo should cover all those calls. Why? I wonder, what has made me link these precise photos to these precise movements within the piece?
• Are there, Stefanie Kuhn asks, hidden dramaturgies in my writing? Of course. But I will say no more on this. After all, documentation, we have seen, has directionality ( think of Eisenman’s arrows). Today, because I write about documentation, I choose not to write about where I am. Is this significant? has anyone even noticed? Regarding my choice of not revealing the identity of HASSAN, Stefanie, I suppose, yes, ethics and loyalty. Regarding my own identity as a figurine - why does it matter?
• I talk about what I encounter. Why? Why don’t I talk about what I don’t encounter? This might be even more important, after all. Things that have not happened. Hopes that have not materialized. Why this obsession with presence?

After lunch, I have, for the first time, a quick glimpse at my new book which has come out while I was in Berlin and which, of course, has a large section dedicated to Blast Theory. Looking at it produces a strange, alienating or even uncanny sensation. So much has happened since. I arrive at the bins. There are three upturned crates and a copy of the Secret Agent. SUPERTECH is here. I don’t know why I decided to come to the bins, but there is nothing here so I decide to go back to SK8 Park where, however, I nothing has changed. I hope LYSISTRATA will be able to re-engage shortly since I remember some nice literary dialogue with her on dreams.

Stefanie Kuhn asks me whether my relation to my mobile phone has changed. This is a huge question for me. In truth, I previously did not have a relationship with my mobile phone. Even today, less than 10 people have my number. My phone hardly ever used to ring. I did not carry it with me. It was not part of my life. Now it is everywhere I am. Whether the impact will be long-lasting, I do not know. As far as the specific act of receiving and using SMS messages within this game is concerned, watch out for Steve Benford and his team who are about to bring out an interesting piece on the subject.

I decide to go back to Kath’s Café where most figurines were hanging at the beginning of the game. NIGHT is here among many cups of tea. I wait. I try to talk, I think. Nothing happens. I decide that I must return to the Rec where I last spoke to someone. Apparently, 80s pop is ‘booming’. ANNABELLE and PAUL are here. I hear nothing. It has been one hell of a lonely game today. Where is everyone?

For my game tomorrow go to Day of the Figurines 8/10/2006

Back to Page