BBC TV "WDYTYA?" Series 9 Episode #10 TRACEY EMIN

[Nick29]

Unfortunately I think Ms Emin is famous for all the wrong reasons.   Whether you consider a photo of her sitting with her legs wide open, clutching coins and banknotes to her crotch is art, is a matter of personal opinion, of course 

[Suffolk Mawther]

I have just tried Find My Past and BBC websites to discover the name of the archive that had all the information on the travelling folk - it was they who produced the photographs and had all the information on her family - having already researched many of the travelling families.

Tracey did have a troubled, and at the age of 13 a very traumatic, childhood and yes her father had two families.  She surprised me as I had an opinion before watching the programme as her ideas of what is art and my ideas seldom meet.

I did enjoy this programme and I learned from it - which is all part of following this series for family historians surely?

Pat ...

[Plummiegirl]

Was unable to watch this episode last night nor able to tape it far too many programmes on a the same time (4 that I really wanted to watch and already using the =1hr facility on them!!!!)

Anyway will be watching this via laptop.

But my contribution is that some time last year she was interviewd in Sky Arts and they showed some of her normal art work and the interviewer commented on how good this work was.  She commented 'Well I did go to art school and you do have to show some talent to get in'.  Very tongue in cheek, with a wry smile on her face.
I do not know very many people who like her more famous works of art, but she is an accomplished artist.

A woman who knows and speaks her own mind.  Love her.

[cati]

I have just tried Find My Past and BBC websites to discover the name of the archive that had all the information on the travelling folk - it was they who produced the photographs and had all the information on her family - having already researched many of the travelling families.

The genealogist who specialised in gypsy genealogy is Eric Trudgill: his webiste is here:

www.gypsygenealogy.com

Cati

[Sandymc47]

I dont really know much about her so had no pre-thoughts of what she would be like.
By the way Nick29 a child can be given the Fathers name even though
you dont marry them if the Father goes to register the birth at the
same time as the Mother. No mystery there.

Having seen them all I still think the equal best were
Larry Lamb and June Browns
with Emilia Fox and Paul Madeleys 3rd and 4th.

They seemed to have changed the format back to the original
with Tracey and she didnt have to travel far like some of the others.

Love the series and hope they bring it back again next year

regards Sandymc   

[Nick29]

Having seen them all I still think the equal best were
Larry Lamb and June Browns
with Emilia Fox and Paul Madeleys 3rd and 4th.

I couldn't agree more !   

[danuslave]

www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com

are asking for comments on the series and you can vote for your favourite episode.

Now's your chance to tell them what you really think!   

Linda

[bykerlads]

Never been a fan of Tracey Emin's work. She always seemed to be deliberately vulgar and provacative but now, having seen the programme and listened to her talking, she really does seem to be a lovely person - so much for my judging her on superficial impressions! Mea culpa!
She has such a gentle voice and manner and was genuinely affected by the revelations about her ancestors - what a nice lady!
All credit to her in her professional life for achieving that very rare thing for an artist: fame and a decent living in her lifetime. ( though I'm still not sure I like all that she produces).
She has also done a lot for the artistic and cultural life of her home town.

[PFG]

Like many of you I watched this episode prepared to be a bit sniffy about Tracey, but she came across as very genuine and engaging.

What particularly grabbed my interest, however, was the segment of the program with Eric Trudgill discussing gypsy families.  A large chunk of my family tree comes from the villages around Solihull in Warwickshire and it includes a Sarah Hodgkins (1798-1888) and an Ann Smith (1876-1963), both surnames mentioned in the program.  My family tradition even has it that the Smiths were gypsy stock.

I've e-mailed Eric Trudgill with my details, although I expect he'll be inundated with enquiries.