Alarm.
Alarm noun
an anxious awareness of danger.
Alarm verb
1. (someone) feel frightened, disturbed, or in danger.
2. be fitted or protected with an alarm.
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Alarm. The ninth artwork from the Law on the Wall series by Lawyers Arts Club.
The title Alarm. is taken from the Public Order Act 1986 section 5.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ONE WORD
One word as powerful as Alarm is an ideophone, a word that can evoke an emotional response that matches the description. Just saying the word can make you feel more aware or even uneasy.
WHY ALARM
Our lives are full of alarms. Internally when we sense danger, externally everything from our phones, houses and cars are alarmed.
WHAT LAW IS ON THE WALL
Alarm is taken from the Public Order Act 1986 section 5.
Public Order Act 1986 section 5 Harassment, alarm or distress. (1)A person is guilty of an offence if he— (a)uses threatening [or abusive] words or behaviour, or disorderly behaviour, or
(b) displays any writing, sign or other visible representation which is threatening [or abusive], within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress thereby.
(2) An offence under this section may be committed in a public or a private place, except that no offence is committed where the words or behaviour are used, or the writing, sign or other visible representation is displayed, by a person inside a dwelling and the other person is also inside that or another dwelling.
(3) It is a defence for the accused to prove—
(a) that he had no reason to believe that there was any person within hearing or sight who was likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress, or (b) that he was inside a dwelling and had no reason to believe that the words or behaviour used, or the writing, sign or other visible representation displayed, would be heard or seen by a person outside that or any other dwelling, or (c)that his conduct was reasonable.
THE LAW IS CLEAR
We must always act by an old saying that has been passed down through generations. “Treat others as you would like to be treated”. Nobody wants to feel threatened or alarmed.
“For these cultures, getting rid of the pain without addressing the deeper cause would be like shutting off a fire alarm while the fire’s still going.”
THE FIRST ALARM
The first alarm system was invented by Boston local Augustus Russell Pope, the records suggest that it was patented on the 21st June 1853. Before the alarm was created people would rely on the animals on their property to make a noise if there was an intruder. Pope however created a circuit by connecting his windows and doors to a bell, if the the entrances were opened it would close the circuit sending an electromagnetic pulse to trigger the alarm. Many people believe that Edwin Holmes was the pioneer of the first alarm system due to being the first to set up an alarm company. However, Holmes actually bought Pope’s alarm design off of him to then mass produce.
Pay Up or Shut Up, 2015 by Shepard Fairey
THE RIGHT TO FEEL THE WAY YOU DO
Whether you have ever are been catcalled or verbally threatened the sense of alarm within you is completely natural and a lot of the time out of your control. Do not feel you have to keep this feeling hidden as it will ultimately make you feel worse. Have a conversation, have a discussion it’s always better to talk it out.
INTERACTIVE ART THAT SPARKS DISCUSSION
This is an on going, ever evolving interactive artwork to keep people engaged with the law and the discussion that comes from it.
WHY IS ALARM SO IMPORTANT IN 2021 AND BEYOND?
Whilst freedom of speech is integral to having a diverse and opinionated world. Alarm does not disagree with this point but it does highlight the importance of understanding that there is a line. If you have been the victim of feeling alarmed or threatened by someones words or behaviour you don’t have to feel powerless. Alarm makes sure that you know that freedom of speech does not mean you have to sit back and do nothing. If you’ve got something to say get it off your chest - don’t be alarmed!
The Alarm, 1867 by Edward Hughes
FIGHT, FLIGHT OR FREEZE
We all have a built-in alarm system in our brains that inform us that we might be in danger. When we are presented with a situation that could potentially be dangerous the alarm clock in our head starts to go off, which fills our body with energy. The human body then uses this adrenaline to cope with the danger in either one of three ways, fight, flight or freeze. It is in fact a common misconception that in moments of danger that we choose to either run away or stand up to it. Your body’s natural reaction will be of that to survive, for example it is only after one hides that they get the courage to face the danger head on.
FALSE ALARMS
The internal alarm system that everyone has reacts from triggers and events, whether it be a speeding car or tiny house spider. False alarms can activate differently for each person, it completely depends on your past experiences. However, when a trigger is experienced your brain still produces the energy needed to either face it, run or stop. The sensation of containing this energy and not allowing it to be used could be a cause to a certain level of anxiety.
False Alarm II by Tim Head, 1978
HOW MANY ALARMS?
How many alarms do you have set to wake up in the morning? Are you a part of the 51% of Brits who press snooze on your morning alarm at least once? Do you relate with the 80% of people who wake up that feel dreadful, annoyed and anxious upon hearing the first alarm? When in a peaceful sleep hearing a noise like an alarm shocks the brain and body into waking up. This is subconsciously very stressful, by staggering our wake up cycle it feels as if we are battling this but that’s not completely true.
WAKE UP!
According to sleep physician Dr David Cunnington, the natural body clock is around 24 hours and 17 minutes. This means that if we hear an alarm to wake up before this time our mind and body are not ready to process this information. It is a common misconception that the more alarms we set the easier it will be to wake up as we are coming from a deep sleep to a light sleep. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The staggered alarms or consistent snoozing means you are dipping in and out of deep sleep which confuses your body. If you are trying to cling on to every moment of zzz’s you can it is more beneficial to set one alarm at the correct time.
LOUDEST ALARM
The loudest alarm clock available to buy is called the Sonic Boom from Sarabec’s catalogue of loud alarms. The small device can be set to reach 113db if required (when is that ever necessary!)
“Work is a necessity for man. Man invented the alarm clock.”
LUKE JERRAM
Luke Jerram is a British artist known best for his large scale installations and live art shows. In 2019 Jerram debuted his Harrison’s Garden exhibition as an homage to famous clock maker John Harrison. Harrison was know for struggling for a large part of his life to make sea navigation safer, eventually he was able to create the most accurate clock in existence. The exhibition consisted of around 2000 clocks ranging from alarm clocks, to wall clocks to carriage clocks. “Harrison’s Garden is perhaps a reminder that we are all here now, simultaneously moving through time together.” - Luke Jerram.
ALARM IN MUSIC
Interestingly when the alarm appears in music is usually a representation of the police. This is due to the ever changing dynamic between artists and the authorities. This police siren can feel people with security knowing that help is on its way. However, in music it is used as an alarm of something that is should be feared.
BACK TO LAW ON THE WALL
Lawyers Arts Club is an organisation creating content by uniting the law and the arts for the purpose of sparking discussion.