Can you open the doors to freedom without the keys?
The storming of the Bastille prison, in Paris, on 14 July 1789, was the spark that fired the prolonged French revolution. The Bastille housed only a few prisoners at that time, but included the infamous Marquis de Sade. The freeing of the prisoners was a symbolic act rather than significant in terms of numbers.
To attack establishment carceral institutions was not something new. In London only 9 years earlier, on 6 June 1870, the Gordon Riots rioters ransacked the notorious Newgate Gaol and freed 300 prisoners, before heading to the Fleet prison. The discontent evident in the Gordon Riots was led by the anti catholic popularist Lord Gordon, who had stirred up his crowd of supporters to riot. But were the frenzied activities of the mob essentially anti-establishment? The Newgate Gaol was later rebuilt with its notoriety intact.
The physical destruction of the Bastille was as significant as the freeing of prisoners. It was a blow to the ruling establishment of the ancient regime. A sign that the times were changing and a new order would be put in place, by setting fire to the prisons in defiance of the ruling order. These places of punishment and houses of correction where the laws of the land were implemented were destroyed, as the mob rejected the Law.
The nine day disruption of the Gordon Riots only temporarily threatened London. However, the destruction of the Bastille prison was the beginning of the end for royal and religious rule in France. The Bastille prison destroyed and flattened, the emptied space where it once stood, now has a monument that commemorates the French Revolution.
Mutant Monster Matrix
‘I choose to change as I choose’, said the chameleon. Mutant Monster Matrix is all about changes and the Change.
‘I am Mutant’, I said. ‘I cannot alter who I am willingly. I change then change again to avoid detection. I cannot be found out. I should not exist. I am a maverick. I cannot contain myself. I merge with my surroundings. I change again and stand out in the crowd. I am ready for the change’.
‘I choose to change as I choose’, said the chameleon.
‘I have no control over the changes’, I said. ‘I must assimilate, but my mind wanders and I show my true colours’.
‘Have you tried to merge and then unmerge?’ said the chameleon.
‘I merge’, I said. ‘Then swerve. Nudge. Then fidget.
‘You must decide which fashions to follow’, said the chameleon.
‘ I have no uniform to call my own’, I said. ‘I must always jump before I am pushed to reveal myself’’.
The Hysterixx are not Laughing
She performed her role of the Hysterixx day in and day out. The lab masters called her the Beast. She was named Cow. She was named Pussy. She was named Bitch. She was named Dog. She was named Rat. Her name was Blanche.
Slowslowzo 