Images processed with a preset to emulate Kodachrome film. This film was designed for light skin, and made brown skin darker.

Social inequality occurs when resources in a given society are distributed unevenly, typically through norms of allocation, that engender specific patterns along lines of socially defined categories of persons.

It is the differentiation preference of access of social goods in the society brought about by power, religion, kinship, prestige, race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, and class.

7th May 2019

Using Colour Manipulation for Equality

Images processed emulate Kodachrome and Lomochrome film.

Inequality: Kodachrome was designed for white skin, but made brown skin darker.

Equality: Lomochrome adds purple to both white and brown skin.

Untreated

Kodachrome 25

Lomochrome Purple

27th May 2019

Using urban decay to represent inequality of opportunity, outcome and membership.

A digital camera was used to test exposure, like taking polaroids before I took the shot with the M3. Shutter speed was not important only the exposure settings. The outcome some of the images are blurred. Thinking about equality and the blurred images I realised conceptual that they represented how equality solutions were found. There are compromises, the end product is not perfect, but an attempt has been made to make things better, even when all the resources are not available to get the job done as you would wish.

While 99.9% of human DNA is the same, your parents, where you were born, the country on your passport will play a big part in how your life is played out. Inequality was first traced back over 11, 000 years ago and the debate of how to reslove such inequalities as opportunity, outcome, membership, income, wealth and asset to name a few, still persists today. With an online survey showing 78% voting that it is not possible to find a solution to inequality.

The video below is 20 minutes long, with nothing much happening, you might be lucky to see a blink or two. The video represents how little is being achieved to make equality a reality. The blinks represent what little is being done, but without much effect, and is forgotten after a short while. If you watch long enough you will see the first face morph into the second, and the second into the third right up to the sixth into the seventh. This represents our genetic similarities to each other, remembering we have 99.9% of the same DNA.

Problem - I was unable to describe in words my project to Peter Fraser on 11 June 2019. Peter suggested I use a piece of A4 paper and write down a list of words important to the project to help me better articulate my objective for using urban decay to portray inequality.

Solution - I created a mindmap based on research conducted from the internet to better explore and understand the relationships between urban decay and inequality. A list of words from the urban decay and inequality mindmap with be selected to better focus the meaning of the project. With greater focus and understanding I will collaborate with Celia to put myself in a position that I can explain how I intend to use images of urban decay as a visual connection to inequality.

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20 June 2019: A word cloud was created based on the mindmap above to assistance with collaboration.

Project Idea Draft

The goal of my conceptual project is to create the visual language to depict social inequality through images of urban decay. Urban decay shares many causation problems with inequality such as economic break down, system failure, poor planning and loss of services through ineffective government policy decisions, such as redlining.

4 July 2019 - Project Description Draft # 1

As a rethink project I have been challenged not to follow my normal practice. My normal practice for this social inequality project would have been to included images and stories from the people who are suffering from various forms of social inequality.

My rethink approach dealing with the theme of social inequality is to put this theme in the context of urban decay. I have also chosen to shoot film instead of digital, further adding to the rethink approach, i.e. stepping outside of my comfort zone and aesthetic approach.

While social inequality has been present in complex societies for over 8,000 years the struggle continues to create societies that are equal in terms of distribution of economic assets and income. My project aims to raise awareness of social inequality through images of urban decay that visualise the breakdown of economic systems to illustrate in a compelling way the plight of those who have found themselves as have “the have nots” due to discriminative government legislation (e.g. redlining) that discourage access to social goods and service such as education, healthcare, quality housing and transportation.

Social Inequality - Discrimination legislation leading to unequal distribution of economic assets and income.

Voting rights
Freedom of speech and assembly
Property rights
Access to education, health care, quality housing, transportation, social goods and services (social goods are products and services that could be provided through private enterprise, but are instead provided by government or non-profits).

Urban Decay - Deterioration of the urban environment caused by

Lack of investment and maintenance
Economic breakdown
Failure of businesses
Increase crime rates
Growing unemployment
Rising poverty

13 July 2019 - Project Description Draft #2 after first collaboration

The challenge of my ‘rethink project’ is to take the person out of the equation. My normal practice for a project titled social inequality as illustrated in urban decay would have included images and stories from people who are subjected to social inequality.

My ‘rethink’ approach is further enhanced by shooting film instead of digital. This would force me to step outside of my comfort zone and preferred aesthetic approach.

Social inequality has been a feature of complex societies for over 8,000 years (reference needed) and irrespective of the isolated attempts to resolve inequality the issue remains: that is the distribution of economic assets and income. By illustrating urban decay in any given community, compelling the viewer to reflect on the breakdown of economic systems as represented by discriminative government legislation (e.g. redlining), access to social goods and services, education, healthcare, quality housing and transportation highlights the plight of those who have found themselves as “the have nots”.

Social Inequality - Discrimination legislation leading to unequal distribution of economic assets and income.

Voting rights
Freedom of speech and assembly
Property rights
Access to education, health care, quality housing, transportation, social goods and services (social goods are products and services that could be provided through private enterprise, but are instead provided by government or non-profits).

Urban Decay - Deterioration of the urban environment caused by

Lack of investment and maintenance
Economic breakdown
Failure of businesses
Increase crime rates
Growing unemployment
Rising poverty

24 July 2019 - Project Description Draft #3

Stepping outside my comfort zone for my rethink project has helped me to pursue a conceptual photography project that reimagines Social Inequality figuratively through the symbolic image of Urban Decay, taking the person out of the equation.

Urban decay shares the same characteristics to have failed to sustain an acceptable standard when compared with other more affluent areas in the society.

Characteristics such as enough money to sustain an equivalent standard that is generally accepted as appropriate to society. Poor planing or discrimination leads to urban decay and social inequality.

As part of society if we don’t stop and see these social inequalities then we are set to continue the failure history of those that have and those that have not.

Don’t we all the the right to be the best we can through opportunites of education, healthcare, housing, transport.

Doesn’t everyone have the right to pursue opportunities and not have barriers due to their race, faith or beliefs.

Like Urban Decay, Social Inequality is an ugly scar on our humanity that collectively we must strive to solve. Not turn our backs because we belong to the ‘haves.

7th August 2019 - Project Description #4

Social inequality occurs when people within a population are not given an equal chance to pursue their dreams. A young child can be denied a good education, A bread winner can’t get transport to a potential job or an expected mother does not have access to appropriate health care.

A countries limited resources, its political will are discriminating, isolating and leaving communities, ethnic minorities on the edges of society to fend as best they can for themselves.

This injustice is portrayed through images of urban decay. This visual representation of social inequality through images of urban decay shows the inhuman treatment of this section of society. Left to fend for themselves, the hopelessness of no future, except life getting worse.

Who will help these people?

Continuing to raise awareness of social inequality as a photographer is my contribution in a hope that those who have the power to affect change will be inspired to make a difference.

24th August 2019 Celia’s Response - Draft #5

Social inequality occurs when individuals within a population are not given an equal chance to pursue their dreams. A young child may be denied a good education, a family’s main income provider is unable to access transportation to a potential job or an expectant mother does not have access to appropriate health care.

A country’s use of resources and/or its political will is discriminating, may be isolating and leaving vulnerable communities and ethnic minorities on the edges of society to fend as best they can.

The symbols of injustice are portrayed through images of urban decay. This visual representation of social inequality through images of urban decay shows the inhuman treatment of this section of society.

Continuing to raise awareness of social inequality as a photographer is my contribution in a hope that those who have the power to affect change will be inspired to make a difference.

Waterfall Sanatorium, New South Wales, Australia 1st September 2019

(Garrawarra Tuberculosis Hospital)

Waterfall Sanatorium, at Waterfall near the Royal National Park near Sydney, was a hospital for the treatment of patients, including children, who had advanced tuberculosis (TB). Patients were sent to Waterfall, often against their will, and were not released until cured. People who died there are buried on the site. Waterfall Sanatorium closed in 1958.