Fraught with technical issues, my presentation of where I’m at with my practice felt rushed and disjointed. However, the feedback I received from my peers reassured that I had achieved something of what I wanted to get across. After reflecting upon the feedback given to me, I can see how I can target down my intent to really grasp the concept for my project. The ideas that I have presented and have been working through come from some clearly different approaches. By identifying these I feel I can then look to what to aim towards. Two distinct areas I have chosen to concentrate on are:  

Psychogeography 

Rebecca Solnit, in her book “wanderlust” talks about the lack of connection with the outside world as we tend to move from one interior to another: 

“Many people nowadays in a series of interiors – home, car. Gym, office, shops – disconnected from each other. On foot everything stays connected, for while walking one occupies the spaces between those interiors. One lives in the whole world rather than in interiors built up against it.” [Solnit 9:2014] 

Ironically, the advent of Covid-19 in 2020 not only forced us to retreat to our home but also gave us the opportunity to reconnect with the outside world. The first lockdown in the UK restricted the public to one hour of exercise outside per day. This resulted in an increase in foot traffic on the streets across the country. 

For me it was walking the streets of Bath, exploring the urban and suburban landscape many do not associate with the World Heritage City. As with many towns and cities in the UK, Bath has medieval origins. A defensive measure, medieval cities would use complex networks of streets and alleyways to slow invading forces. This complexity creates a labyrinth of vernacular housing stretching back across two centuries, as the city expanded.  

Solnit quotes canon Lauren Artress when referencing the metaphor of the labyrinth:  

“Labyrinths are usually in the form of a circle with a meandering but purposeful path, from the edge to the center and back out again. Each on has only one path, and once we make the choice to enter it, the path becomes a metaphor for our journey through life.” [Artress in Solnit 2014:70]  

And this is where I return to the notion of how our environment shapes the way we live and grow and ultimately, who we are. Through a series of images illustrating the topography of the city as a labyrinth, being navigated by it’s inhabitants, whose choices are dictated by the twists and turns of the streets, roads and alleyways.  

Society and identity 

Working with the concept of how the environment impacts on our growth and development as humans. The idea of a society shaped by the economics of space is one that is that of a social hierarchy that have not changed in centuries. The largest demographic of Bath’s makeup is that of the working class, some 30%, many of which live in the south side. The city is divided north/south by the physical barriers of the river Avon and the Victorian railway line to Bristol and beyond.  

In the 1990’s, documentary film maker Patrick Keiller produced a series of films documenting the ‘Problem of London’ and later the ‘Problem with Britain’, in which he describes that for such an affluent 1^st world country there is a tendency towards adapting what we have above investing in new. Pointing the finger at Tory capitalism Keiller states: 

“Capitalism both destroys and creates places, but the places it creates seem always, at least to begin with, less substantial, less rich, than the places it destroys…” [Keiler 2013:136] 

He further uses the writing of Saskia Sassan to identify those dwelling within the dilapidated places as, what we now know as key workers, shop workers, delivery drivers, nurses, and teachers:   

“There is a whole infrastructure of low-wage, non professional jobs and activities that constitute a crucial part of the so-called corporate economy.” [Sassan in Keiller 2013:109] 

Places like Twerton show the signs of a “Make do and mend” society, with its post war prefab housing that was meant to be a temporary fix until more appropriate social housing was built. The signs of dilapidation here, are in stark contrast to the Georgian city center that has been restored to its former glory.  

The key to telling this story is the gathering of oral histories and interviews from the south side society. Learning about how the city shapes them and how they perceive their socioeconomic standing. This may take the form of portraits, documentary images or self-portraiture.  

Peer Feedback 

“Well done Tim, enjoyed your presentation. Your description of how sprawling housing and flats have become the hillsides and mountains of today really resonated with me. We do as humans,, seem to go out of our way to leave our mark on nature and sometimes not in a good way. I also find it interesting that in a place like Bath, who most associate with sweeping curves of large Victorian houses and as a ‘posh’ tourist destination has the same social housing issues as Northern towns and cities with a silent majority struggling to get by. Important and interesting work.” [Douglas Stenhouse] 

“I thoroughly enjoyed your presentation and I totally relate to how we relate to the environment and how this influences us as individuals. You’ve captured some great shots. Especially like Figure 9 – I think most of the population can relate to this – feeling trapped in our own environment with the effects of lockdown and looking through our window as the world goes on during these unprecedented times.” [Eamon Ward] 

“’Psychogeography’ is always a fascinating topic. I found your photographic suburban exploration and documentation somewhat haunting yet gentle especially your decisions to shoot in the fog. Questions of ethics and stereotypes are relevant and well researched, your inspirations give your presentation a pertinent context. I always associate Bath with Victorian / Georgian architecture and its historical context so this documentation shows another side and perspective which is less known. I look forward to seeing more of work. The imagery I find suggests a ‘lonely’ quality which reinforces the pandemic’s hold on all of us. Well done.” [Layla Perchal Neal] 

“enjoyed your presentation.  I like the idea of an allotment being an ‘oasis’.  Your practice is well informed, I like the work you showed of Todd Hido and think that is a good road for you to go down with your work.  The blank homogenous houses with “occupants inside” is an intriguing thought. I think the self-portraits element is also another interesting avenue.  

I would have liked to have seen a bit more of your work in the presentation so I could get an idea of your intent and a touch more clarity. 

Absolutely love your photograph of the row of terraced houses!  I would be interested to see more of your work in that vein.” [Tim Young] 

“I really enjoyed interacting with your hometown during your presentation. As we have mentioned before when we last spoke, sequencing and ‘mode’ (the look of the images, specifically the distance of the viewer from the subject of your image) will be integral to presenting the gaze or representation of the voice you wish to achieve and therefore it’s commentary on class and the people of Bath. From your images you are representing the view of a local, which is refreshing and, in my opinion, the most interesting and intimate viewpoint. You do achieve the curiosity that Hido achieves in his work but also a greater sense of intimacy when looking from the window/ including portraits. Both compliment each other and is a difficult balance to achieve. 
 
How do you feel you are commenting on class of Bath as opposed to class in general? 
 
Did you deliberately not use the word identity? As this project seems to be framed with identity as an over arching theme. If so, is that because you’re focusing on photographing the space rather than the location as a portrait?” [Damien Williams] 

“Hi Tim, I very much like the idea of Bath, class, and geography, in particular the geography of property.  

There are some great broad brush strokes in there and these connect to some of the discussions we have had. The idea of the allotment of oasis is interesting, the idea of the narratives of life behind the window are all interesting.  

I think perhaps drill down into the areas which you are really interested in and build your research around those interests (so Sontag might not be in that research ). 

 The self-portraits are also interesting, and tie in well to the overall theme. I think the subject matter (which we talked about in tutorials) is really interesting and if you get a focus on it, some of the elements featured here might not be needed.  

The point about Jon Tonks (a neighbour here in Larkhall) is the story really mattered for him. What’s the story is the question is what he’s still struggling with on his current project.  

Well done on a well-thought out presentation. [Colin Plantall – course tutor] 

References 

Keiller, P “The View from the train: Cities and other landscapes” 2013 Verso books 

Solnit, R “Wanderlust: a history of walking” 2014 Granta Books