Nintendo Hosts Exhibition On Pockets

[Metal Mario]

*Source: Planet Gamecube

London's West End plays host to an extraordinary exhibition celebrating the humble pocket in all its forms. The exhibition is taking place to mark the launch of Nintendo's sleek new Game Boy Advance SP, and will be open to the public from Friday 28 March until the following Friday 4 April, at 51 Poland Street, London W1.

Opening with an introduction from Wayne Hemingway, designer and co-founder of Red or Dead, this retrospective look at all things pocket incorporates a number of themed multi-media installations, which examine the pocket from a range of intriguing and surprising angles. The first section takes a stroll through time, tracing the origins of the first pockets and how their appearance and use has evolved. A second area takes a closer look at the role of the pocket in the world of fashion and clothing, from its early incarnations, to perhaps the ultimate in trouser storage facility, the cargo pant.

Another part is dedicated to the representation of the pocket in film, music and literature, showing how this simple cloth device has infiltrated the rich cultural tapestry of the world. To really pique the curiosity of visitors, the pocket contents of famous people as they died is also described in detail, revealing the secrets of icons as diverse as Kurt Cobain and Abraham Lincoln.

Pocket sized technology naturally features heavily, with examples of the first machines & gadgets designed (perhaps optimistically) to fit into pockets, through to the latest remarkable advances in miniaturized surveillance technology.

An area of the exhibition is dedicated to the Game Boy Advance SP, a genuinely pocket-sized games console, giving visitors a chance to try the machine, along with some of the best games available for the handheld. The critically lauded Game Boy Advance SP is designed to appeal to the latest generation of pocket-sized technology users, who demand high performance and dashing good looks from their tiny technology.

The exhibition is open to the public from Friday 28 March which is the launch day of Nintendo's Game Boy Advance SP, until Friday 4 April, at 51 Poland Street, London W1. Doors are open from 11am until 7pm daily, 11am – 5pm Sunday, and entry is free.

[Anti Guy]

So, what are all the new functions?

"Do you feel the Wang?"

[Metal Mario]

^Of the GBA SP? Well, basically it's smaller and has a built-in light.

[Metal Mario]

*Source: Planet Gamecube

London's West End is currently playing host to an extraordinary exhibition celebrating the humble pocket in all its forms. High profile guests were invited to the exclusive private viewing of the exhibition and to attend the launch party on the evening of March 27th. Attendees included Ralf Little, artist Dan MacMillan, models Sienna Guillory and Catalina, and the infamous Cheekie Chappie from Channel 4's Banzai.

The party took place in the same space as the exhibition allowing guests to preview the pocket retrospective with a drink, some pocket sized nibbles and music from Rob Da Bank (Sunday Best/Radio One), Norman Jay (Good Times), and The Bikini Beach Band. Guests also received the exclusive Nintendo goodie bag containing a Game Boy Advance SP in sleek metallic silver and the independently designed limited edition bespoke carry case. Designed and produced by couture accessories designer KIMCHI, the premium leather piece is the highest form of function for style aware gamers - perfect for the preview attendees.

Guests were able to take a stroll through time, tracing the origins of the first pockets and how their appearance and use has evolved. They took a closer look at the role of the pocket in the world of fashion and clothing, from its early incarnations, to perhaps the ultimate in trouser storage facility, the military cargo pant. Hugely popular amongst all the guests was the opportunity to enjoy the gaming experience of the Game Boy Advance SP prior to its launch. Closet skater Ewen Macintosh, star of 'The Office', was spotted getting gnarly with Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 whilst Catalina and Danny Goffey of Supergrass enjoyed bone crunching with Bruce Lee. Competitive gamer Ralf Little quickly mastered the art of one hand gaming without drink spillage.

Further elements of the exhibition are dedicated to the representation of the pocket in film, music, and literature, showing how this simple cloth device has infiltrated the rich cultural tapestry of the world, and to really pique the curiosity of visitors, the pocket content of famous people as they died is also described in detail, revealing the secrets of icons as diverse as Kurt Cobain and Abraham Lincoln. Pocket sized technology naturally features, with examples of the first machines & gadgets designed to fit into pockets, through to the latest remarkable advances in miniaturized surveillance technology.

Curated by Wayne Hemingway, the exhibition opened to public on Friday 28th March and is taking place to mark the launch of Nintendo's sleek new Game Boy Advance SP.

Exhibition open to the public from Friday 28th March to Thursday 3rd April 10am - 5pm Admission Free

[Super_Mario_1987]

Originally posted by Metal Mario:
^Of the GBA SP? Well, basically it's smaller and has a built-in light.

True. The SP is different though. I'll try it out at my local mall.

O.o

I might go tomorrow. It sounds so odd, how could I pass it up?

Here is a weird tongue-in-cheek article on the history of the Pocket.

The History of Pockets
By: Sigyn

Where to start! There is so much... The definition of the word Pocket is "a small bag or pouch carried by a person, esp. a small bag inserted into a garment for the carrying of small articles, such as money..." The word is probably Teutonic of origin

The reason for this odd definition is because the pocket was not originally sewn into the garment as it is today. In fact, the first pockets were actually small purses hung, usually at the belt, where one would carry ones valuables.
Purse and pocket, incidentally, have the same root word, only one is plural and the other singular...

However, as the pocket was on the outside of ones clothing it was, unfortunately, subject to, well, pick-pockets. The more prudent of the purse carriers realized that if they kept their purses INSIDE their trousers, it would deter the pick-pockets by making it more difficult to get at them. (Wouldn't life be so much better if people decided to keep things INSIDE their trousers?)

But there came a realization... Keeping ones purse inside one's trousers made it more difficult for pick-pockets to get at the purses, all right. But it also made it more difficult for the OWNER of the purse to get at the contents! And as the point of the purse in the first place was to make it easy to carry one's money, making it impossible to get at without great embarrassment was not the greatest of solutions... (Imagine, there you are, in the market, and you want the buy yourself a loaf of bread for the midday meal. In order to buy it you must drop your trousers and moon the entire marketplace! [the pre-pocket period was also pre-undergarments].)No. Clearly another alteration to the method was required.

The next step in the evolution of the pocket was what most pockets are at first seen as today... a simple slit in the clothing. A slit cut into the side of your trousers, (or by this time your skirt as well, as women have never been known for dropping their skirts in the marketplace... much) would enable you to reach into your purse with ease, while others would find it difficult to reach with out your knowledge and acquiescence.

This act of the clothes slit caused a revolution in the shape and the angle of the opening in the purse, and it was around this time that they began to be called, properly, pockets.

The pocket flattened out, and became two pieces of cloth, one solid, (the one at the back) and the other shaped almost like a "U". Admittedly, a pregnant "U" that has had too much to eat, but never the less...

The pocket also was attached to it's own, usually cloth, belt at this time, and was often elaborately embroidered and decorated. You can still see some of these beautiful works of pocket artistry in museums which are dedicated to original period costumes.

But, if history had been left to the rich and carefree who had time to make and elaborate on the undergarment pocket, then our pocket history might have ended here. In many ways, that would have been a prettier solution... imagine, pocket factories, we'd have them made out of all sorts of materials, because, after all, they were often right up next to the skin. Angora pockets, velour pockets, pockets made of polar fleece with silken tassels on the bottoms...

As it was, we have to go back to the trousers again... We are now in the late 1700's. 1784, say, before some poor soul gets sick and tired of having to remember to tie his pocket on every day before he gets dressed. Most likely you know a guy like this. This is a guy who has problems remembering to put his pants on before his shoes, let alone remembering to tie his pocket on before his pants.
Yet, absent minded as he is, he is no dunce. And so, in a fit of pique, he asks his wife to sew the pocket right to his trousers, so he will never forget it again. And suddenly, there you have it. The pocket. The real, the true, the ultimate pocket, the friendly pocket you and I know and love, who has been our most intimate friend since childhood... warming cold hands, holding fluffy allsorts, bits of string and useless notes from friends long past and best forgotten.

The pocket has gone through many changes since that fateful day. People have placed pockets in other places than the waist... on the knee, the thigh, and the infamous "breast pocket". People have even returned to the practice of Inside Pockets, again requiring people to pull down their pants and moon the supermarket in order to get at their cash.
And still, in this day and age, it is a wonder that the human race is STILL unable, with over two hundred years of true pocket history behind it, STILL UNABLE to make women’s clothing with decent pockets in it. STILL!!!!!!!!!

And so, for all of you who thought you knew all about the pocket... think again. It is an elusive creature, hiding deep in the folds of the clothing of time, and it is clear that there is still far, far that it has to go to make itself useful and accessible to all. Now you know.

And now you also know just exactly how much useless trivia is cramming young Sigyn's skull. I could have made it longer, but I didn't want to bore anybody... I didn't have to look any of that up, by the way.


(Pocket Addendum, by Cae.)

Almost-useless pockets in women's clothing is no accident. men (who make and design more women's clothing than women do) purposely install wimpy pockets so that women have to carry purses. these purses are an extra burden that women have to keep track of. they also allow husbands to say to there wives "put this in your purse" so that when "this" is forgotten or lost, it's the woman's fault because it was in her purse--not the fault of the lazy bum who didn't keep it on his own person.

[ March 30, 2003, 11:07 AM: Message edited by: Metal Mario ]

[Metal Mario]

^I went to the website and copied and pasted the article you linked to in your post, because the website itself seemed to contain some rather objectionable material. This way it doesn't need to be linked to.