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Saturday 12 March 2011

The Canopied Penny Farthing Bicycle

    This is without doubt a resounding symbol, which Patrick McGoohan attributed to the speed of progress of technology. That the penny farthing bicycle suggests that perhaps man should slow down when it comes to progress. That man should assimilate what he has achieved so far. Well that was back in the late 1960's, and technology never slowed down. In fact technology has if anything, speeded up!
    As for the canopy of the penny farthing bicycle, symbolic perhaps how the government takes care of it's citizens. By forcing people to wear seat belts, crash helmets back in the 1960's and 70's. And in more recent times, cycle helmets, and Health and Safety which has gone mad. Stopping children from playing 'Conkers' in the plaground, and generally any form of recreation which may put peoople in harms way! You see they take care of you, for as long as you live. And today 'they' want you to live as long as absolutely possible!
Be seeing you

2 comments:

  1. Can you find this as a poster?
    TF

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    1. Hello TF,
      I do not kow how well you know the 1960's television series 'the Prisoner,' but I have only seen this Penny Farthing design on one poster which orginates from the 1980's. However incorporated into the poster was the dialogue from the opening sequence. Apart from that I've only seen the design used on postcards. I have trawled the Internet to see if I could find such a poster, but to no success. However I have seen a poster such as I described for sale from time to time on ebay, so it's worth keeing an open eye there.

      Very kind regards
      David
      BCNU

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