This third volume in the acclaimed Drawing Support series by sociologist Professor Bill Rolston, first published in 2003, serves as a vital historical record of imagery related to conflict and peace. Focusing on the years 1996 to 2003, it features 114 full-color photographs of political wall murals, encompassing both loyalist and republican themes. The murals illustrate the lead-up to the Belfast, or Good Friday, Agreement and what Rolston describes as ‘the frustrating politics of transition.’ In republican areas, the murals address themes such as political prisoners, sectarian harassment, and memorials commemorating the 20th anniversary of the 1981 hunger strikes, alongside representations of the RUC/PSNI, British Army, and plastic bullets. Conversely, loyalist murals highlight memorials, the peace process, mythology, loyalist military groups, territory, Ulster Scots history and culture, and royalty. This collection also includes unique photographs of murals from inside the H-Blocks, captured shortly before the prison's closure. The book comprises an introductory essay covering the history of murals, the evolving nature of republican and loyalist representations, and thematic explorations across both categories. It features 12 pages of text and 60 pages of photographs, offering a comprehensive view of this significant period.
Bill Rolston Bücher
