Ordered society

This photo shows the degree of order around a housing estate; the garages are all in a row; the cars are neatly parked between the lines in the parking area; the houses are all uniform, going either horizontally or vertically along the horizon; and boundary walls stretch as far as the eye can see. Society is structured to such an extent that houses are seldom found in random formations but rather in linear form, and generally situated in areas that are designated specifically for housing areas. Self-contained mini-societies are found within these areas and they form part of the whole but are also removed from the bigger picture to a certain degree; however, they still follow the rules and regulations that have been set in place by the hegemonic societal structure.

Creels

This picture of stacked creels says something of the person that stacked them, and about the society in which they find themselves. The creels are neatly stacked, possibly for the reason of optimising the space, but maybe also in order to be able to count them more effectively. The fact that the creels are stacked so neatly on the ground is unusual because they will still need to be transferred to a vehicle before they can be taken to the place of usage, in which case the neat stacking is irrelevant, since they will be moved once more before they can be utilised. This area of ground obviously belongs to a fisherman/fisherwoman and is a place for storage of items that are not currently in use. The open area suggests that crime is not a problem, because the creels are not fenced off to the general public.

Post box

Normal red letterbox style, either free-standing or set in to a wall, as seen here.



Although this letterbox shape opening in the wall has the words 'posting box' on it, society normally views a small rectangular slit/hole as a place in which to put mail. The fact that this one has the words on it is even more confounding because it is situated on the outside of a post office and has a stamp machine next to it. This could be ordering people to place their items within the post box should they have the correct postage already placed on the item, and thereby encouraging people not to enter the post office unless absolutely essential; or ensuring they do not bring non-essential items in for processing by the staff, thereby also cutting down the workload that the staff need to deal with. It is noted that the letter box area is somewhat larger than the average red letter box which is found either free-standing or sunk flush in to a wall in the streets around neighbourhoods.

Cycle route

These three barriers are normal of areas that are designed to slow people down. This refers to both pedestrians and to cyclists; this could be because the route adjoins a pavement, as seen at front/bottom of photo, however, there is an adjoining section further along the route, but there are no such barriers to be found there; so it could in fact be indicative of a cycle/pedestrian route. One dividing solid white line is all that 'orders' cyclists and pedestrians to remain on their designated side of the route; with the white symbol at either end of the route indicating which side they are in fact supposed to adhere to. This is not like a normal road system where the motorist drives on the left-hand side, because depending on the direction the cyclist takes the cyclist will end up cycling on the right-hand side of the route. Therefore, cyclists must adhere to a different form of 'order' whilst on cycle routes than they would normally adhere to whilst on the road.

Bike spaces

Low-level cycle rack.



Why are lined up, bent metal structures considered to be bike racks? In all areas where there are metal structures similar to the above, whether they are at ground level or of a decent height as in the photo, they are normally considered to be places to store a pushbike. There are no instructions to indicate that these bent metal rods are for the purpose of cycle storage/parking, but it is a commonly accepted thing in society that where metal structures of this nature are found lined up in a row, they are for the sole usage of the cyclist. The cyclist is directed toward placing their cycle by these structures, even though there is no reason that they need to, and in theory no law to make them comply with this unwritten rule, but where there are cycle racks, then generally speaking cyclists will comply by making use of the structures; even though the structures may not be suitable for the cycle in question.

Barriers

Barrier style indicates something specific; in this photo these are temporary barriers, so they are moveable items. The red and white style of broken paint-work is seen on items that suggest danger ahead, and where caution is needed. It may relate to the way in which society is taught to see the colour red as a danger or stop signal, or it may also be for reasons of visibility. The barriers are high enough to indicate that they should not be climbed, however, they are not solid and they do allow for people to get between the top and bottom should they so choose, although this is never deemed proper in society, and people will normally only ever comply by walking around the area; the white arrow on the blue circular background is a road sign but it is directed to the attention of pedestrians, since it is the pedestrian who is being directed to walk around, and not therefore meant for the purpose of instructing a motorist. In a way, it could be argued that the arrow sign is both irrelevant and superfluous, because the barrier makes it obvious that a pedestrian must walk around, in which case authority is being enforced here; and society is being informed as to what to do, even though common sense will dictate that they would have gone around the barriers anyway.

Traffic circle

Why do the cars go around a flat circle in the road? This vehicle can be clearly seen to have just gone around the traffic circle because the front tyres are still in the cornering mode. Vehicles will go to great lengths to miss crossing the circle even with their back tyres, this also includes large trucks. Trucks will approach very close to the pavement in order to 'go around' the white, very slightly raised circle, even when there are no other vehicles anywhere in sight. This could have been a reaction to having someone crouched, taking a photograph, as the vehicles went by, but this is an unlikely scenario. It is more likely that the larger roundabouts that exist elsewhere, have conditioned motorists to go around the item above; although this would not apply to people that have never driven anywhere but on the Orkney Mainland, so it can only be assumed that it is considered bad manners, or bad driving, if a driver in fact does refuse to go around the circle and instead decides to drive straight over it. This is a point of authoritarian control, where the rules of the Highway Code are adhered to by all motorists; the code is adhered to even when no other traffic is present, much in the same way as using an indicator when there is no other person/vehicle around to inform of a driver's intended action. The rules are so deeply ingrained in to the subconscious of the road user, that they are followed automatically and without necessary forethought.

Crossing point

The zebra crossing. The dotted white lines on the road indicate to the motorist exactly how close they may be permitted to stop in relation to the crossing itself. A safer place to cross the road, and a place where pedestrians are expected to be crossing the road. This also functions at another level; a crossing is the one place on a road where pedestrians know that they will be given right of way, and that traffic will stop if a pedestrian is seen stood at the side of the road. Although this may seem a reasonable and obvious statement, if a pedestrian stands at the side of a road, anywhere else, where there is no crossing point, they may stand there all day and still never be given the opportunity to cross the road. So, a pedestrian crossing serves as instructing politeness in to society, where politeness might not otherwise exist; it is also considered bad manners to not stop and give way to a waiting pedestrian, so there is also a certain degree of behavioural patterning being instilled in to society by the very use of areas that order society to behave in a certain manner, and to 'willingly' comply with the status quo. This is an unusual behaviour pattern, because it is up to both parties involved, both motorist and pedestrian, to stop at this point; a pedestrian will stop here and wait until a driver stops, only then will the pedestrian attempt to cross, even if the road is not overly busy or dangerous. Both parties are showing polite behavioural patterning that allows for society to run smoothly in much the same way that the crossing will run smoothly if these patterns of behaviour continue to exist and be adhered to by all people involved.

Safety barriers

This barrier is not there in order to keep the cars away from the pedestrians, neither is it there in order to slow the pedestrian down as they approach the kerb and the road. The barrier is solid and extends around the corner; it is also of a decent height and structure that does not permit for it to be climbed over or crawled under. Unlike such solid structures that are found at the ends of cycle routes which ensure that pedestrians/cyclists slow down in order to navigate them before coming the road which is on the other side of the deliberately placed barriers, normally 3, this barrier continues a good distance around the corner on either side, indicating that pedestrians have to walk to the end of the barrier in order to cross the road, even when there is no traffic. This is a safety issue, but is not planned just to prevent a pedestrian that is in a hurry; it is planned to effectively determine where the Council, of the area, designates that a pedestrian may be permitted to cross the road; and in effect is also for the benefit of the driver, not just the pedestrian as would initially be thought. The barrier ensures the pedestrian cannot cross at any point that the barrier cuts off, and ensures that drivers have a decent distance for breaking should the need arise.

Pay here

A payment machine in a car park. This is not necessarily an instruction to pay for the privilege of parking within the car park, although at the same time it is exactly that. There is no-one to monitor whether a motorist is paying once they have parked their vehicle. Payment is very much left at the discretion of the motorist; this is instilling a form of compulsory honesty in to society, in order that society can actually exist. It is true that traffic wardens patrol the areas, but it is impossible for them to be in all car parks at the same time, and leaving the 'choice' of whether to pay for a ticket, to the driver, is at a base level ordering society to act and behave in an honest and responsible manner; but at the same time they are not being forced to act in a certain manner, since there is no-one around to ensure that they do so. Neither is this ticket machine situated at the entrance of the car park, in fact it is partially obscured by the plant growth around it, which means that honest citizens have to go and search the machine out in order to pay for their stay; this is also interesting, because motorists do go and find the machine and pay for their stay, which means they partially go out of their way in order to comply with this unenforced concept of paying for their stay.

Parking spaces

Allotting a delineated space for each vehicle. Wherever there exist rectangular lined forms on the ground, whether they are solid white lines, or broken white lines as above, they are deemed by society as places to park vehicles. Where these spaces are also seen on the side of roads, this is also the case. Each vehicle is parked in one designated area, and generally parked very centrally within that space. This instructs society that the space outside of their box is not for them to infringe on with their vehicle; in the photo above it can be clearly seen that motorists cannot, or should not, use the tarmac area outside of the lighter coloured area, which has obviously been designated for parking, whereas the outer area has not. Seldom does a driver just place a car in a parking space, but more often are they very careful to ensure that they centrally line the vehicle up, by reversing and pulling in again if necessary, in order to leave adequate space for the next vehicle. However, there is no-one to oversee this process, and it is one of society's unwritten rules of conduct and behaviour that motorists automatically comply with. In this instance it is the supermarket, in which the car park is found, that is enforcing its authority on its customers, and ensuring that they act in a polite and social manner to each other even before they enter the store; this indicates that a degree of structured behaviour is expected from the potential customers even before they enter the store in order to make any transactions.

Ordered by lines

Here is an interesting view of a car park. The solid white lines, as in the photo above, are indicative of where vehicles should be placed. The white lines in this photo have a small cross bar at the end showing where vehicles should not extend beyond. All cars in this park have complied and are parked between the lines, centrally as well. But the very interesting point occurs when the pedestrians are taken in to account. The pedestrians are not walking outside of the lines, in fact they are walking directly across the lines, bisecting them to a degree, and are obviously not headed towards any parked car; a car would never be seen bisecting white lines/parking spaces within a car park. This proves that the white lines are specifically aimed at motorists, and that they have no meaning for the pedestrian since they are not avoiding walking in areas designated for vehicles, and crossing these areas in a manner that a motorist would never consider. The lines are for the ordering of the motorist, and hold no meaning to any other person in society, unless they happen to be driving at the time, in which case they will automatically obey the lines marked out on the ground.

A choice

Solid rail near the ramp but also allocating handrail usage near the steps. This photo indicates that the ramp is for wheelchair users, people with prams, walking difficulties, and so forth. The steps could have been eradicated but have been kept, in order to give people the choice, and the steps take up a larger ground space than the ramp, which has obviously been put in to comply with disability laws and so forth; this can be ascertained by the fact that the entrance up to the steps is only as wide as the ramp itself, but where the steps occur the steps cover a wider entrance point than the ramp. Half of the ground space has effectively been removed in order to allocate the ramp; but the steps have also been left, which in itself is an enigma, since able-bodied and disabled can both use a ramp, therefore there is no need for the steps. Where steps and ramps are found, in unison, an able-bodied person, even if there is no-one else about, will tend to use the steps, indicating that society avoids using structures that in theory have been put in place for the use of other people, i.e. disabled. This is a very common occurrence and a subtle way in which society is primed to behave.

Steps and ramp

Handrail only near the steps; this set-up of a ramp and steps is favouring the walker that has no problems. It can be considered that the ramp is not meant for people with walking difficulties, but rather, either for a wheelchair user or for a parent with a pram, mainly because there is no handrail alongside the ramp. The handrail up the steps is a solid structure which is obviously designed for support, and will take a reasonable amount of pressure being put upon it, but the same facility does not exist for those needing to use the ramp; this is purely a compliance with the law, making certain that a ramp is available for people that require it. Disabled, and people with pushchairs, may consider that the establishment in question have done this for their benefit, whereas in reality it appears that it is in fact for the benefit of the establishment itself.

Choice of entrance

Steps, ramp, and handrails on both; here there is a choice of entrance that people may take. Both entrance possibilities have been allocated with substantially set handrails. The one to the right is obviously designed for disabled, and people with pushchairs and so forth; basically for anyone where the steps will become an issue. The steps are for those that can navigate them without a problem. But, here again, society is being shepherded in to different categories; those that are unable to use the steps have to approach the building from the side-on, and those that have no problems with the steps are permitted to approach the door head-on. This may seem a relatively obvious statement, but there is ample room for the placement of a ramp that allows for everyone to enter the building from the front, and not have to be restricted to walking alongside the building in a differently designated area. Basically, this structure ensures a form of division of space exists between the able-bodied and those that are not capable of using the steps for whatever reason makes it cumbersome for them to do so. Segregation of a form is going on in this instance.

Wide steps

Handrails galore; this wide step leads to the doors of a library. The width permits for people not to have to vie for space when wishing to enter the building whilst seeing someone exiting the building at the same time. There really is no reason for such a wide step set-up and no need for a handrail in the middle, unless the middle rail is attempting to act as a divider as found on the public highway, and therefore acting as a flow for human traffic in a similar way to that found on roads where vehicles are concerned. The rails are substantial indicating that they are for repeated usage and by a multitude of people; it is also possible that the width of the step in the design feature itself, which would allow for more people to use it simultaneously, was deliberately employed as a means of portraying the importance of the building in relation to how many people in society will make use of it; but not necessarily all at the same time, so these steps appear somewhat out of place. The edge of the steps has been strategically marked by the placing of circular inlays, so that the edge of the wide steps cannot be easily misjudged when entering or leaving the premises.

Closed

Thick wood structures bar the way. This is seen by society as a place that is permanently closed, or at least on a long-term temporary basis. The two indicators of this are the thick wooden beams that bar any attempt at access, which have also been firmly wedged up to the wall on either side of the door, as can be seen; the other indicator is the smeared-out glass panes in the door, which do not permit people to gaze through in order to see what is happening inside. The double doors with no handle on the outside indicate a store that is used by a lot of people, and a store that makes ease of access of prime importance for the customer. The bottom of the doors also allow the viewer to note that they expect to have a good deal of wear and tear, because the bottom of the door is reinforced with metal coverings to afford a degree of protection from feet that might otherwise damage the doors through repeated knocks.

Extended height on a fence

Extending the security in an upward direction, and showing history at the same time. The wall was initially a lower stone structure, one that allowed for a degree of privacy in the form of a boundary marker; it could easily have been climbed and access gained to the premises. The heightening of the fence shows two things about society; firstly, it indicates that the premises now serve a very different function, or function in a very different socially constructed arena, than the previous low stone wall; and secondly, it indicates that society values the remnants from the past because it was not just removed and replaced with the newer structure. The old wall and the new higher fence, act in unison; they are there now for the sole purpose of maintaining that absolutely nobody can gain access via the outer wall/fence area, but that a person must gain access through a specified designated entrance. Whatever is inside the boundary is informing those on the outside that they are not permitted to be a part of what is occurring on the other side, and that they are relegated to the position of Other within the same society.

Exit/ no way in

No entry allowed. This is the exit point for people that are within the library area of the Kirkwall Library. The barrier is situated about hip height for an adult, and is a swing barrier, which means it is for ease of usage and not intended to fully restrict people. Two important features exist here; firstly, this is a sign normally found on the public highway, which means 'No Entry'; secondly, this is a manner in which to direct the flow of people within the library itself. No-one can or should enter via this point. A library is full of books, which are by default full of words, but a visual cue is being used by the library as a means to inform people of what it expects from them, and with cues that do not necessarily hold any meaning for the younger generation who are not legally old enough to drive, and will therefore not be familiar with the Highway Code. Red, of course, signals stop where traffic lights are concerned, and small children may be aware of this; but to use visual cues in a place that deals primarily in books does indicate something about society; maybe society considers that visual cues, and the more recognisable ones that are inherent in the daily lives of people, have more sway than the mere presence of words. By the use of traffic signs, there is a part of society that is being excluded in this use of instructional visual signs, namely those that are not of the age to understand what the Highway Code signs are supposed to mean. The use of traffic signs is also relevant when considered in the way in which the library signs themselves are acting to direct the people to follow a set route both in and out of the library itself; the public highway has been in a sense brought in to the building and the same signs that a motorist would obey are in effect being used to ensure compliance within a structure, because of the lawfulness that they enforce on the public highway itself; this makes them an ideal and forceful means of shepherding society in a set manner, and in a way that they might not be immediately aware of. The discourse of the Highway Code is shown here to be as effective indoors as it is outdoors.

The way in

Directing the flow: the use of yet another Highway Code symbol is found at the entry point in to the library area of the Kirkwall Library. Familiarity with the Highway Code has already been touched upon above, so this photo will also focus on the 'No mobile phones' sign. The barrier for entrance in to the library is obvious by the white arrow on a blue background, which normally stands for 'One Way'; not only does this show the way in to the area, but also indicates from the outset that the premises expect people to follow one route only, because 'One Way' means 'one way' by default. Maybe this is working at the level of instructing users of the library that they will comply with following a set route once inside the library area, since they have been subconsciously programmed to by the very visual cue of the sign recognised by the consciousness before they even enter. This can ensure that there are no crowd problems within the building because the flow of human traffic is in theory only going one way; and nobody will collide with anybody on the way in or out because these signs ensure this does not occur. The 'No mobile phones' visual cue is obviously not seen to be as familiar to people, because it has the words beneath the symbol of the mobile phone; maybe this is in case it is mistaken for another object such as a calculator. However, in theory, an image of a mobile phone will be more instantly recognisable to a minor than a Highway Code sign will be, but apparently society does not deem this to be the case, and have therefore opted, in this instance, to use road sign symbols in the knowledge that minors will comprehend them, even though they do not drive, but may own a mobile phone, and therefore not need to be informed in words as to what the latter symbol indicates. It may be the case that the Highway Code signs have been in existence for longer than the mobile phone and as such it is expected that everybody is able to have acquired a familiarity with those particular signs, and that in the future as new technology appears, only the signs relating to them will have written words for clarification and that the mobile phone signs and so forth will no longer require a written explanation.

Enter

Door handles, a thing of the past? This item is a press-pad which allows for access in to the public library in Kirkwall. There are no handles on the doors, so there is no other way in which to gain access other than by the use of the pad itself. Society, or more specifically, the immediate members of society that dwell in the vicinity of the library, are well aware of the function of this object. Not all people in society understand this concept; on many occasions there have been Europeans looking at the doors attempting to work out how to get inside the building, but this does not mean that these objects cannot be found within their own countries, it just means that people expect to find a door handle when looking for access and that they are still not fully accustomed to searching for a press-pad. The word 'Open' can be seen, but the word press is represented by a single remaining letter 'P', indicating heavy usage of the pad. The fact that there is a symbol depicting a disabled person, not necessarily a person in a wheelchair, indicates that this may be specifically aimed at disabled people. However, since there is no other means whereby to gain access, the symbol of the disabled person is slightly misleading to everyone concerned, because this is by default the 'door handle'.

Ordering the queue

Forming a queue: many establishments direct people where to stand without having to communicate in the manner of speech or written signs. The moveable barriers, seen above, can be found in many establishments, and serve as a means of informing people where they should line up for certain purposes. Due to security restrictions, other barriers of a similar nature could not be photographed, however, some barriers are deliberately set-up in a manner that ensures that people within a premises follow the barrier around, and so the queue of people from the front to the back can be controlled; with many such barriers not allowing space for people in the queue to bypass each other either forwards or backwards, as found in Post Offices and banks. The barriers that are used are normally similar to the above and they are not very solid but in fact very flimsy and could, if desired, be moved by anybody, but nobody does move them and the authority of the person that placed them remains upheld by those people using the services of the establishment. The barriers, in the photo above, really do not require to be placed where they are, because there is a counter that people will approach in order to do their business, and this is obvious when the building is entered; however, the main function they serve is to ensure that people do not crowd the counter, at specific points that require a certain degree of privacy between staff and customer, and that they remain in politely formed queues until they come to the front of the queue themselves.

The pane

The divider pane of Perspex. A pane of see-through material, glass, Perspex, is normally considered to be for the pure purpose of visual access. The pane above, however, is a communication tool, as well as for visual purposes. Holes in a piece of see-through material, are known to society as areas whereby communication can go back and forth. Some such pieces of communicating Perspex designs have a few holes which are set further up the pane, but people still endeavour to get close to where the holes are in order to speak to the person behind; it is not viewed as odd, by society, that holes have been bored in to a piece of Perspex in order to allow a degree of communication and closeness to the person on the other side. This is also an indication of a certain degree of protection for the person behind the pane, and as such separates them from the people on the other side whilst also giving them a more authoritative status.

Time pieces

This was an arranged photo, for good reason; the fact that a jeweller's would not permit a photograph within any premises. Time pieces are used so that society knows what time it is, but to what end? Time is only there for one purpose, and that is to order society. Many households will have at least 3 of the 4 items in the photo; an alarm clock, a wall clock, a wrist watch, but possibly not a stopwatch. Not all societies are governed by time, generally people in African tribes do not necessarily have time pieces, but go about their daily activities as the sun comes up and cease them when the sun goes down. To highlight further the fact that society is governed by time, when British Summer Time and Greenwich Meantime occur, everybody alters their clocks so that everyone is in sync with everyone else where time is concerned. If a family were living in isolation, there would be no need for this, since time is relative, however some time piece may still be found in their abode. It is not necessary to know what the time is, since this is irrelevant; it is only necessary to know the time, if a person is ordered and following a set time pattern, for example, they must be somewhere at a set time. Time is not governed by individuals, but by people in authority. Highlighting further, if two watches are out of sync with one another, there exists the need for the two to be put back in to sync even if it is only by a few minutes, which in theory would not make the slightest difference; but society likes to be in sync with one another to the degree of being accurate to within seconds on their time pieces.

Timetable

The bus timetable, a simple enough item. Society believes that it is in order to permit the reader to know what time the bus will arrive, and it also gives an indication that the bus will pass, or stop, at the point at which the timetable is found. It also serves the purpose of informing people to be at a set point at a set time, should they wish to take the public transport on offer, which in reality could be seen as its ultimate purpose. The timetable is authoritative and non-negotiable, and society is very aware of this fact.

Speedometer

The speedometer, what is its function? A speedometer is supposedly there to inform you of what speed you are doing; this theory is fine initially, but it is not the case, unless it relates to a racing car driver. The speedometer, within society, is there for one purpose alone, and that purpose is to inform the driver of how fast they should not be going, not how fast they are going. If there were no speed limits, or it was an area, such as the desert, there would be no purpose in knowing what speed the speedometer registered, as long as the motorist had full control of the vehicle. When a motorist drives along they are constantly monitoring not how fast they are going, but rather whether they are going too fast, and the two are complete opposites. The speedometer is there in order to control society, and not for the purpose of registering the speed being done by the driver. At every maximum speed sign along the road that a driver encounters, the motorist will check that they are in compliance with society's rules, and will adjust their speed accordingly if they are going too fast, but seldom will a driver speed up if they are not going as fast as they are permitted to within any particular area. The speedometer relies on the driver being an honest and responsible member of society, because speed limits in every location cannot be monitored at every hour in throughout the day; there is the fear of those in authority taking action against a road user that does not comply with speed limits, so this could also place the speedometer in to the realm of those in authority being ever present within a vehicle that is being driven, and the anxiety of breaking society's rules and therefore being forced to adhere to those very rules is what the speedometer really symbolises.