Pin Badge (left) courtesy of Hakes Auctions, NY, USA
PX Pixels
Unlike signal flags and semaphore, light signalling by Morse code does not lend itself so readily to visual interpretation. There is no playful colour of the flags or the tactile exuberance of Amalia Pica’s installations, but nevertheless representations of Morse code have also found their way into popular culture and merchandise.
Probably the earliest example comes from the 1952 election campaign contested by General Dwight D Eisenhower, best known for the slogan ‘I Like Ike!’, in this pin badge shortened to the three characters IKE in Morse code. More recent is Barrington Pheloung’s iconic 1987 score for the television series Inspector Morse with the subtly coded motif M-O-R-S-E. running through it.
With greater visual impact is the interpretation of the W/T distress signal from the stricken RMS Titanic in the Titanic Belfast exhibit depicting the sinking, in which the now familiar S-O-S call was made alongside the original distress call C-Q-D. Rather less dramatic is the usual collection of mugs, tee-shirts and merchandised messaging that draw with varying degrees of success on a visual representation of Morse code.
Pin Badge (left) courtesy of Hakes Auctions, NY, USA
PX Pixels
Tee Public
QCDHDU
Event Communications/Titanic Belfast
Distress signals in Morse code add dramatic effect to depiction of the sinking of the Titanic at Titanic Belfast.