When presenting my findings last month I decided to overcome a somewhat fallow period in my participatory investigations with a side project: namely, to involve the audience to a presentation I was giving, in a small scale version of the existing residency, in which they would be asked the same set of questions, but this time with the aim of determining what the artist had in common – not with people sharing my name, but those who were in the same room as me, involved in the same course and mostly in a similar occupation.

Let’s start with A.

 

A, like the artist, saw themself to be like Kick-Ass, this time because of his/her blind confidence and little ability. Strangely, I have only seen one of Kick-Ass’s favourite films (The Vanishing, the others being Suspira, Audition and Irreversible) and even more strangely, we seemingly had nothing else in common.

B

Was also born in September (1976) and like me, also loves Amelie and Lars and the Real Girl. Whilst they, and lots of their family, are teachers, they found it impossible to choose a superhero for their alter ego. Like C, D, H, and I they supported Liverpool – like G they count and salute magpies. Like me, B has lucky and unlucky clothes, notices patterns and number sets, and has lots of twins in their family.

C

 

C was another Liverpool fan, whose choice of films was interesting, consisting as it did of two New York movies (Manhattan, Man on Wire) and Rear Window – presumably not the Christopher Reeve version – plus Ken Loach’s Raining Stones which again, the artist hasn’t seen. Those were the only connections we shared.

D

 

D chose two superheroes because “they are lovers and have a great house” and the film The Lovers – again, never seen – and has gums like an eighty year old, apparently. We seem to have little else in common (and yet another Liverpool fan)

E

 

E had another September birthday, two years after mine, whose wisdom teeth apparently grow inwards. Chose Superman (like me) because they “always wanted to fly” and is superstitious, especially when it comes to ghosts, which perhaps explains the choice of The Hours as a favourite film, which has the familiar story of a narrative connecting characters across different time periods. Oh, and this teacher’s mum is a twin.

F

 

F is allergic to antibiotics, just like the artist. Loves Empire Strikes Back, too. Would be Iron Man, a character with whom I have developed an affinity. Like E, believes in ghosts, though most intriguingly, is left-handed, which they maintain means they were a twin as an embryo…

G

G and SIX of their cousins are teachers, and they once found a fortune cookie in a second hand car they were test driving apparently – after buying the car, the message came true! And, like B, worships magpies, even though their favourite film is The Rebel, and even more weird given that they have an allergy to shellfish, quite surprising given the cat’s love of seafood.

H

Also a teacher, though could not offer an alter ego, like B, so will be known by a character from their favourite film, which the artist has unfortunately not seen. Still, allergic to lactose, and a Liverpool fan just like B, C, D and I.

I

 

I, another Liverpool fan who is averse to fairy liquid. This person’s favourite film is Marley & Me which again, I’ve not had the pleasure of watching, so it would seem their qualified teacher status is our only other connection.

J

 

J teaches at my first ever school, where their dad’s cousin also once worked. Very superstitious – in fact, there was a programme about Stevie Wonder on earlier this evening – he / she finds new habits and beliefs all the time, and is currently into magpies just like B and G. Also like G, is allergic to seafood, and loves The Truman Show, as you should know, all about a guy whose life is uncovered as an elaborate ruse, his narrative pre-determined by scriptwriters until he finds the way out.

K

 

K is a lover of classic movies – my lookalike Dustin Hoffman features, The Graduate and Midnight Cowboy (like L), A Clockwork Orange and BACK TO THE FUTURE (just like the artist) – this teacher has no allergies but sees themself like Hit Girl, the eventual companion of Kick-Ass, who was picked by A. An Everton fan like myself, too…

L

 

L, another Midnight Cowboy fan, as well as Indiana Jones (a childhood favourite of mine) who suffers from hay fever (like my fiancée and ex-flatmate) and follows the tradition of acknowledging magpies, just like J, B and G, as well as knocking the other elbow if they hit one first. I really like that they chose Ben 10 because of his ‘multi alien personality’ which I think I share.

M

 

M

The Matrix, featuring as it does the notion of an alternate reality determined by ‘others’ which is an intriguing concept to link to my own beliefs, is, along with Finding Nemo, M’s favourite. Allergic to sticking plasters, which I was for a short time growing up. They also claim to support the losing side ‘because everyone should have a chance’ which is the exact same reason I started supporting Everton all those years ago.

And, N

N, the only participant who might have family in Nice, and, like the artist and F is allergic to penicillin whilst also chose the real-life persona of F. Also very superstitious, supports Everton like K and myself, and shares films with B, F, K and me again.

 

That’s it for now.

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