I found the collage essay an effective form in rapidly highlighting patterns and equivilencies across time. It's an elegant format - thank you for sharing this! I personally was craving to know as I read the essay from which source and author and time-period each snippet came from and found myself scrolling often to the list of sources at the bottom, which made for a bit of a jumpy reading experience...I also wanted to see the original texts, to experience the essay almost as a photo collage as well as a collage of texts.
Hello Bethany. Thank you for reading. I share a lot of 19th century writing on Instagram and I'm finding the collage essay an interesting way of fusing these with current issues, which I rarely have space to do there. Your comments are very helpful. I went back and forth on whether to use footnotes. It's definitely something I can use in future. I love the idea of photographing the original texts too, especially where they are handwritten, which is something I hadn't considered before.
A Fascinating read Natalie. Im reminded of an area in Newcastle called 'Scotswood', it was an area synonymous with heavy industry in early to mid 20th century, All the older people Ive met who lived there praised its community spirit. But with the decline of industry and rise in unemployment both social and physical rot set in, so much so it was eventually leveled and the residents dispersed. And much like 'The Old Nichol]' of London and the mould spot on the ceiling the social problems were spread all over the city like spores dispersing. Nothing with humanity changes much over centuries and millennia It seems. The pursuit of wealth and profit overrides all factor for the common good. And yet how much money does anyone really need? A lot of people have far to much, so much so they don't know what to do with it, I've personally heard that several times. I know of two retired recently retired doctors who go on holiday constantly, staying home only for a week or so between trips. I feel sorry for them actually as i think its a symptom of mental health problems, being lost and having no more focus in life. I dont deny anyone the chance to do well for themselves, but really how much do we need to live on when compared to the struggle of most in the whole world?
Thanks Phil. The more I read from history, the more disillusioned I become - we keep making the same mistakes. In many ways it feels like we're going back in time with wealth inequality worsening again. I'm very concerned about the cuts to services we're facing here, which will only make things worse. I find it shocking that housing services are so slow to make repairs to people's homes and have, even recently, blamed problems like damp on the residents themselves. What you say about Scotswood is interesting - simply moving people on isn't the answer, what we really need is investment in job creation, transport and public services. I have a piece in the pipeline for Instagram about the Victorian tenements around London's Regent Street - the housing conditions were terrible but people praised the community spirit. Everyone pulling together to help each other when they needed it.
I share your disillusion, I think humanity is doomed to repeating mistakes, partly because not enough history is studied. From reading Chaucer's Canterbury Tales to modern works I see people have never really changed either. Look forward to your Regent street series.
Thank you. Chaucer's Canterbury Tales is something I'd like to read in the future. I studied The Wife of Bath's tale at school many years ago and really enjoyed it.
More than two months later I've finally found some time (quiet time) to read your essay with the due attention. It's the same old story, isn't it? The poor pay for being poor. The 'have-nots' are to blame for their own problems. Right now, as we face the greatest flooding in Brazilian history, our mayor dared to say that its a problem when people 'make the choice' of living in 'difficult' areas. Because you choose to live in areas running the risk of flooding. Damp levels here have risen to what's been a month of almost constant rain. And reading your essay I've finally understood why I've been sneezing so much, why I have a runny nose and why my skin is bothering me: mould. But perhaps its my own fault for having chosen to live in a difficult and rather cheap building.
Hello Diana. Many apologies, I thought I replied to your comment weeks ago. It is too easy for politicians and businesses to shift the blame. 'Lifestyle choices' are just an easy way out for them. Last year one of our politicians had the audacity to claim 'rough sleeping' in tents was a lifestyle choice, when in fact it is the result of her own government's lack of investment in basic services. I'm so sorry to hear that you are suffering from the affects of mould. Our homes should be a place of comfort, not a risk to our health. And it is utterly outrageous that your mayor should blame people for being affected by the floods. There is such a lack of empathy among politicians today.
You'd think that it is rather obvious that poverty is not a lifestyle choice, but truth is sometimes the obvious must be said. I agree, There's a huge lack of empathy. An indifference that borders cruelty. I live with my father, and we've been trying to move out of our current flat because of (among other things) problems with our upstairs neighbour (he makes noises from the time he gets up to the time he goes to bed). But everything is just so expensive. There are many building sites around here, but all of it is targeted at the upper middle-class. It seems like working-class and lower middle-class people have to make do with old buildings, and the rent is high because that's the only choice left. It's outrageous.
I think we have similar problems in our cities too. London is full of developments for 'luxury apartments' few of which are affordable to the average person. The property market feels out of control. I do hope you're able to find somewhere soon, living with noise can be so damaging to health and wellbeing. I feel for you.
Sorry for the late reply. Its a hard-fought battle, but we'll keep trying. We feel, however, that the only possible way to rent something 'decent' would be to be able to pay more. As always, only the wealthy are privileged with choice.
Fascinating, it gave me so many ideas. It felt like a kind of mental montage taking me from story to story, I liked the linking motif of the black mould. So effective.
Thank you! I was quite nervous sending this out as it's so different to my usual posts on here. I'm really happy that you enjoyed reading it and I'm looking forward to sharing more in the future.
I found the collage essay an effective form in rapidly highlighting patterns and equivilencies across time. It's an elegant format - thank you for sharing this! I personally was craving to know as I read the essay from which source and author and time-period each snippet came from and found myself scrolling often to the list of sources at the bottom, which made for a bit of a jumpy reading experience...I also wanted to see the original texts, to experience the essay almost as a photo collage as well as a collage of texts.
Hello Bethany. Thank you for reading. I share a lot of 19th century writing on Instagram and I'm finding the collage essay an interesting way of fusing these with current issues, which I rarely have space to do there. Your comments are very helpful. I went back and forth on whether to use footnotes. It's definitely something I can use in future. I love the idea of photographing the original texts too, especially where they are handwritten, which is something I hadn't considered before.
A Fascinating read Natalie. Im reminded of an area in Newcastle called 'Scotswood', it was an area synonymous with heavy industry in early to mid 20th century, All the older people Ive met who lived there praised its community spirit. But with the decline of industry and rise in unemployment both social and physical rot set in, so much so it was eventually leveled and the residents dispersed. And much like 'The Old Nichol]' of London and the mould spot on the ceiling the social problems were spread all over the city like spores dispersing. Nothing with humanity changes much over centuries and millennia It seems. The pursuit of wealth and profit overrides all factor for the common good. And yet how much money does anyone really need? A lot of people have far to much, so much so they don't know what to do with it, I've personally heard that several times. I know of two retired recently retired doctors who go on holiday constantly, staying home only for a week or so between trips. I feel sorry for them actually as i think its a symptom of mental health problems, being lost and having no more focus in life. I dont deny anyone the chance to do well for themselves, but really how much do we need to live on when compared to the struggle of most in the whole world?
Phil (Frogman)
Thanks Phil. The more I read from history, the more disillusioned I become - we keep making the same mistakes. In many ways it feels like we're going back in time with wealth inequality worsening again. I'm very concerned about the cuts to services we're facing here, which will only make things worse. I find it shocking that housing services are so slow to make repairs to people's homes and have, even recently, blamed problems like damp on the residents themselves. What you say about Scotswood is interesting - simply moving people on isn't the answer, what we really need is investment in job creation, transport and public services. I have a piece in the pipeline for Instagram about the Victorian tenements around London's Regent Street - the housing conditions were terrible but people praised the community spirit. Everyone pulling together to help each other when they needed it.
I share your disillusion, I think humanity is doomed to repeating mistakes, partly because not enough history is studied. From reading Chaucer's Canterbury Tales to modern works I see people have never really changed either. Look forward to your Regent street series.
Thank you. Chaucer's Canterbury Tales is something I'd like to read in the future. I studied The Wife of Bath's tale at school many years ago and really enjoyed it.
More than two months later I've finally found some time (quiet time) to read your essay with the due attention. It's the same old story, isn't it? The poor pay for being poor. The 'have-nots' are to blame for their own problems. Right now, as we face the greatest flooding in Brazilian history, our mayor dared to say that its a problem when people 'make the choice' of living in 'difficult' areas. Because you choose to live in areas running the risk of flooding. Damp levels here have risen to what's been a month of almost constant rain. And reading your essay I've finally understood why I've been sneezing so much, why I have a runny nose and why my skin is bothering me: mould. But perhaps its my own fault for having chosen to live in a difficult and rather cheap building.
Hello Diana. Many apologies, I thought I replied to your comment weeks ago. It is too easy for politicians and businesses to shift the blame. 'Lifestyle choices' are just an easy way out for them. Last year one of our politicians had the audacity to claim 'rough sleeping' in tents was a lifestyle choice, when in fact it is the result of her own government's lack of investment in basic services. I'm so sorry to hear that you are suffering from the affects of mould. Our homes should be a place of comfort, not a risk to our health. And it is utterly outrageous that your mayor should blame people for being affected by the floods. There is such a lack of empathy among politicians today.
You'd think that it is rather obvious that poverty is not a lifestyle choice, but truth is sometimes the obvious must be said. I agree, There's a huge lack of empathy. An indifference that borders cruelty. I live with my father, and we've been trying to move out of our current flat because of (among other things) problems with our upstairs neighbour (he makes noises from the time he gets up to the time he goes to bed). But everything is just so expensive. There are many building sites around here, but all of it is targeted at the upper middle-class. It seems like working-class and lower middle-class people have to make do with old buildings, and the rent is high because that's the only choice left. It's outrageous.
I think we have similar problems in our cities too. London is full of developments for 'luxury apartments' few of which are affordable to the average person. The property market feels out of control. I do hope you're able to find somewhere soon, living with noise can be so damaging to health and wellbeing. I feel for you.
Sorry for the late reply. Its a hard-fought battle, but we'll keep trying. We feel, however, that the only possible way to rent something 'decent' would be to be able to pay more. As always, only the wealthy are privileged with choice.
Fascinating, it gave me so many ideas. It felt like a kind of mental montage taking me from story to story, I liked the linking motif of the black mould. So effective.
Thanks so much Francesca. It's really nice to hear that you enjoyed reading it.
This was an incredible read for me. I can't wait to read more!!
Thank you! I was quite nervous sending this out as it's so different to my usual posts on here. I'm really happy that you enjoyed reading it and I'm looking forward to sharing more in the future.