THE NORTH RIDING PROJECT

Terrorism was an effective form of protest.  Revolutionary or religious fundamentalist groups took hostages to publicise their cause.  The son of John Paul Getty, president of Getty Oil and one of the richest men in the US, was taken hostage and held for months.  A huge ransom was requested, and the kidnappers cut off Getty Jr’s ear and mailed it to his father.  Randolph Hearst was a newspaper magnate whose granddaughter Patti was kidnapped by the Baader Meinhoff gang for a huge ransom.  Terrorists were quite often women: for example, Astrid Proll who was one of the Baader Meinhoff gang.  Howard Hughes was a multi-millionaire terrified of being taken hostage.  He made his fortune in various businesses including aeronautics and although he had houses all over the world he was never happy. An eccentric, he travelled everywhere in his private jet and became increasingly reclusive.  Towards the end of his life, he took to his bed and lived in extreme isolation, seeing no-one.  He had an oxygen tent and slowly wasted away, refusing to allow his hair, beard, or finger and toenails to be cut.

Kay/Worldview, 1999