As is Then

Documents media studies by N.P.James in the collection of Cv/VAR archive. Beginning with split second scans of TV transmissions in 1976, the series progressed to xerox collages and carbon trace drawings. The studies are light and elusive, read slant-wise across images, texts and borders, like blind drawing that produced unpredictable results. From tabloid headlines of UK power shifts in 1977-79 the series moved through the Falklands War 1982, to catch the booming 1980s. Resumed in July 2003 a random trawl of 250 collages scanned fragments of newsprint: arenas of gossip, fashion, sport and celebrities with episodes of accident, loss and tragedy: which form a template for the general culture.