Rebecca Harris

The collaboration between University of Bolton, local arts group ‘Live From Worktown’, University of Sussex, and the Mass Observation Archive represents a significant revival of the original Mass Observation (MO) initiative, tailored to the contemporary context of Bolton, historically known as ‘Worktown’. This partnership, anchored in the spirit of the 1937 MO project, aimed to bridge the gap between past and present by engaging the local community in the meticulous documentation of daily life on the 12th of May, 2024, exactly 85 years after the original Mass Observation Day.

Drawing inspiration from the eclectic and democratic ethos of the original MO founders, this project invited participants to record every detail of their day, from waking to retiring at night, much like the original volunteers who provided a window into the quotidian experiences of 1937 Britain. The revival effort, spearheaded by the University of Sussex since 2010, has already amassed a substantial archive of May Day diaries, offering a rich tapestry of everyday life across the UK. The ‘Worktown Revisited’ project revived and reinterpreted the methodological framework of the 1937 MO initiative, a pioneering endeavour that sought to provide an intricate portrayal of everyday British life. The MO project of the 1930’s was notable for its attempt to blend art and science, a tension that remains central to understanding its legacy. The original project was characterised by its dual nature: it aimed to be both an artistic endeavour capturing the subtleties of human experience, and a scientific study of human phenomena. The revival effort mirrors these dual aspirations. The method employed mirrors the original MO’s approach, emphasising inclusivity and the value of diverse forms of expression. Participants were encouraged to submit diaries that not only chronicled their activities, but also include creative elements such as poetry, drawings, voice recordings, and photographs. This echoed the surrealist and interdisciplinary methods that characterised MO’s early work, which combined elements of anthropology, psychoanalysis, and literary criticism to capture the multifaceted nature of British life.

The ‘Worktown Revisited’ project exemplifies the enduring tension between art and science that was fundamental to the original MO initiative. This revival project actively engages with this dichotomy through its incorporation of diverse documentation methods and expressive forms. The project's engagement was diverse in both methodology and participant demographics.

The project's dataset includes 29 consultation responses, reflecting a rich spectrum of participant engagement and demographic diversity. This diversity underscores the integration of artistic and empirical approaches. Specifically, 34% of consultation responses were received online, 48% on paper, and 17% submitted via email.