The people have texted

Source: 160characters

A book compiled from the comments people sent in SMS in Antwerp and Leeds has been freely published online STADSchromosomen (CITYchromosomes) is a project from Antwerp, in which the people of Antwerp were invited to write a biography of the City through SMS. Earlier this year, on September 19th, a book was released under Creative Commons license gathering these text messages.

The original report in June can be viewed here: City Points To Texting

During the launch of Belgian Creative Commons licenses on December 10th 2004, C.H.I.P.S. vzw - the organisers of the CITYchromosomes project - announced the English translation of the original publication.

Former elderman from the city of Antwerp Eric Antonis sees the book as an important contribution to the debate about cultural participation. "The sms messages present an interesting insight into how residents and visitors feel about Antwerp" he says.

"The Antwerp citizen has a unique relationship with his city. He likes nothing better than to complain about it. “Zagen ”,this is called.It is an awkward declaration of love.He expresses his loyalty to the city by complaining about it."

City,millstone round my neck...marvellously unmarvellous city...I am a piece of you,you are a piece of me.

Taintlikeitusedtabe,he complained. Nevermind,I said,patting him on the shoulder.

But many of the messages are more optimistic:

sun,panpipes and pavement cafés filled with chattering people.No,this is not a square in the south,but a place in front of the Rubenshuis,in April.

Hush!A palace is hidden behind those concrete walls.

As well as messages from the Antwerp project, messages from a similar project in Leeds are also included.

CITY MORNING They say nights R best in cities but I disagree.Early mornings R unwritten poems waiting to happen,with the milk's clink,the first bus's cough.

GHETTO Some say Chapeltown is a ghetto. But them talk what them don ’t know.Because Chapeltown is the right place to go.

The pdf of 'CITYchromosomes - story of a city' is available for download here (77MB): www.stadschromosomen.be