Photo by Paul HallidayVisual sociology is a still emerging but exciting form of social practice as researchers seek to harness the powers of multimedia to contribute to understanding social life.
At Goldsmiths College, University of London my colleague Paul Halliday recently completed a 20-year photographic project of London faces and public places first inspired by a series of walks around Greenwich with his late father that opened up a new way of thinking about history, place and memory. As a module leader in Live Sociology Paul inspired my own first attempt in Deptford at exploring visual practices as an input to sociological methods.
Paul leads the MA in Photography and Urban Cultures at Goldsmiths and outlines his approach to his London photographs on the project website:
"The work is a kind of auto-ethnography of my day-to-day life harnessing the power of photography to speak a language that resonates with a part of my on-going experience of being a Londoner - in a city that fascinates, infuriates, perplexes and at times leaves me utterly lost for words. A city that I have a deep sense of shared belonging with, that continues to intoxicate me, and that I am happy to call my home."
Labels: academia, culture, london, photography, sociology
When considering life living in London I am equal parts Samuel Johnson ("bored of London, bored of life") and the Guardian's Lucy Magnan ("sit in a bathful of your own sweat and burn twenties"). But there is a quiet sensitivity to the city that is often underplayed. As life moves in a buzz, most of what you find comes later, like after the shutter clicks. London demands reflection.
Labels: culture, london, photography
Visit Fight Night photos in the Media Gallery
Over 12 rounds ropes on all sides of the ring sag under the mass of two heavyweights. The fight is a brawl. When it finishes Danny Williams sits on the edge of the floodlit mat with the golden belt over his shoulder, joking with reporters. His mother, stage right, keeps knocking the back of the head of his trainer, pointing at his nose, pointing at his ear. A drop of blood leaks from his right nostril but he inhales it back in before the cameras catch it in light.
His mom isn't paying any attention to what he is saying, just rubbing her hands together and licking her lips with post trauma nerves. Her mouth curls in a smile when the reporters laugh and she looks with pride to her son. A TV monitor in the foreground replays highlights of the fight but the sound of glove on body sounds so mute compared to the BOOM BOOM BOOM of real life just minutes before.
Boxing in Britain is a heartbeat of multicultural representation. When Takaloo enters the arena an Iranian beat shakes the speaker stands as the Margate, Kent fighter grooves his way through a gauntlet of fans. His trainers are garbed in the red and green of his native land. Later Amir Khan will showcase his fists of fury in his sixth professional fight and 9,000 fans will pay tribute to the rising star of the British boxing scene. Late in the first round, halfway through the Round 3 destruction of his opponent, Khan gets hit by an uppercut and his gaze drifts for a moment. You wonder if his life is flashing before his eyes and he sees himself in 10 years looking bloated and considering an ill-advised comeback like Prince Naseem Hamed sitting ringside.
But Prince Naseem is a real gentleman, like so many of the fighters we meet ringside. Time for the fans, always equipped with a quip or charming gesture. Maybe Amir Khan is just taking a moment to glance at a group of Muslim youths sitting in the front rows chanting his name. Later these bearded young men will go more Malcolm X than Muhammad Ali challenging British whites who complain to stewards that they weren't sitting in the right seats and were obstructing their view. Men from each group grab the ringleaders before any clash can occur but the simmering heat remains. Fight night all around. Nowhere in my experiences is the social context and struggles of post-London-bombings more evident. "WILLIAMS, BOMA-YE, WILLIAMS, BOMA-YE" starts behind us in an Ali-like tribute to a Muslim convert (Williams, Kill Him) and spreads to quarters of the crowd. SKELTON, SKELTON, SKELTON echoes in response. But nothing compares to the spine-tingling rhythm of the crowd in response and in unison chanting Khan's name with feet on metal stands proving the CRASH, CRASH, CRASH of goosebumps.
The ideas swirl in the air doing somersaults and occasionally crashing into each other with a sound louder than the BOOM, BOOM, BOOM of big men hitting each other. You just have to listen. Racism, Violence, Compassion, Entertainment, Multi-Bloody-Culturalism. In a matrix when you change your position you don't just change your perspective on a matrix, you change the whole matrix. Everything is different. This is true of any social interaction but boxing is one of the more demonstrative social pursuits.
At one point my friend and fight night companion Ilyas Mohammed turns to me as Khan shoots past the adoring crowd down the gauntlet with his hands on top of his head, bridged, and his path uncrowded by a posse of minders: "He's a pro." And my mind wanders to the Muslim boys, Williams' mother, the glory of Khan, the ring card girls, Takaloo's disarming charm, Williams climbing in the ring, and the crowd. Fight fans all looking different. Some of them drunk, some of them involved and a whole bunch of observers. Do we really have to listen that hard to hear the rumblings of the sweet science? Long live the fight game. Real Sociology Live.
Labels: london, photography, sport
Visit Faces of Deptford photos
Participating in Live Sociology at Goldsmiths College is an inspiring experience. The first workshop focused on photography as a method of sociological representation. The 20 participants from around the UK are a diverse group with lots of good ideas. Phil Mizen, senior lecturer in sociology at Warwick University, joined me in snapping shutters. He even posed for me. We all went out and took photographs for a couple of hours in the afternoon as a form of experimental sociology in southeast London following an inspiring introduction to the topic from Les Back and some practical photography training from Paul Halliday.
For my project I selected Assignment 1 in the workshop suggestions: "Produce a series of portraits of people in Deptford". You can see the results by visiting Faces of Deptford in the Chris Brauer Media Gallery. The topic of the first workshop was "Redesigning the Observer" and you won't need to look further than the steady gazes of the portrait subjects to understand what this means. Who was the observer and who was being observed?
Live Sociology is similar to the London Project we have planned at City University as a study of London people, places and things through journalism. Interestingly this is the same title as a project Paul Halliday has been conducting in photographing London over the past 15 years. What was fantastic about this workshop experience was interacting with the people. The subject of the photograph featured in this post was a very cool guy. Anyone who participated indicated a willingness at the first question but this gentleman was particularly responsive. In cropping and editing I noticed the Jose Morinho ad in the top right corner. My decision to not include any text of words with each photograph was a conscious one. Introducing the photographer's terms of reference for these photos would in my opinion and in this case only further complicate your interpretation.
Labels: internet, london, photography, sociology
Spent an incredible summer day watching the first Monday of Wimbledon with some new Canadian friends. Watched Sharapova, Henman and Nadal (see picture right) practice. Watched a number of matches and just reveled in the atmosphere which was the best I remember at the old English club.
See the pictures in the
Chris Brauer Media Gallery for a sense of how close you get to the action.
Off to
Glastonbury this weekend so will report on return. Suppose there should be a few stories ...
Labels: london, photography, sport
Football fans worldwide are tingling with anticipation at the thought of this afternoon's FA Cup Final in Cardiff between Arsenal Football Club and Manchester United.
Arsene Wenger's magic, he wears a magic hat
And when he saw the FA Cup,
He said I'm 'avin that!
Check out my new Arsenal photo album of a few matches this season. For some reason I keep getting assigned seats that are very low down on the field. It's not great for action down the other end but there's no feeling like it when they are coming at you!
Hopefully Man U play football and not foul by rota this afternoon. Otherwise we could see a lot more like this picture showing midfield stalwart Patrick Viera getting chopped down by an oaf from Liverpool.
Labels: photography, sport
So you are thinking of escaping the costliness, congestion, and breakneck pace of London? Seeking the perfect retreat in a seaside resort only one hour by train to London Bridge or Charing Cross but a world away in spirit and priorities? Brighton on the south coast of England is the place for you. The waves caress the long and winding seaside boardwalk filled with artists, musicians, pints and wines, and the cheerful resonation of a child's laughter. Only one problem. You are too late. Make that WAY too late.
Find yourself another seaside retreat because this one is full, spilling over really, and your wallet will empty faster than the away section of Arsenal fans at White Hart Lane after another thumping victory. Don't get me wrong Brighton is a fantastic city but at 3 pounds a pint, rents that put all but Chelsea to shame, and an increasing squeeze on the turf of the artisans this is not Blackpool. Take a day trip or spend a weekend in blissful retreat but seek your secret garden elsewhere. Saying that, after a weekend you might not be able to resist the thought of a London home away from home. Just make sure you have your baby carriage full and a little weasely dog on a leash. Or at least a baby on a leash. The young profesional and hedonists who flocked here in the nineties have all grown up. There still a load of fun but kind of like Fatboy Slim resident Norman Cook, they pick their spots these days.
Check out the photos in the Brighton album of the newly launched Chris Brauer Media Gallery for an idea of the attracting and sublime beauty of the place.Labels: photography
